Avid angler Caleb Wistad gives his latest Hayward Wisconsin fishing report on January 30th, 2024.
Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report: 1-30-24
Ice conditions have finally improved over Northwest Wisconsin. We are seeing ice between seven and eleven inches in most places with very little snow on the ice.
Machine travel is doable however no full sized vehicles are recommended at this point, but at least we can get around on snowmobiles and wheelers for now.
The fishing has been fantastic as the fish have had very little pressure this season due to the poor ice conditions.
That said, the light snow and ice cover have kept fish in their early ice locations far longer than usual so be prepared to find them in places you normally wouldn’t this time of year.
Crappies
Crappies are being found in the same green weeds they were in at first ice and we’ve been catching them in the green weed beds in less than eight feet of water.
There are a few crappies to be found out in the basins but they seem to be scattered and not grouped tightly so forward facing sonar is a must in order to stay on those fish.
Small tungstens tipped with a wax worm has been the best presentation. A few fish can be caught on jigs paired with plastics and small tungsten spoons.
Bluegills
Schools of bluegills can be found in the shallow weed beds mixed amongst the crappies. They have been biting all day long. Focus on depths less than eight feet of water.
Live bait has been very key to catching the shallow panfish as they are still a bit shy in the shallow water so a tungsten tipped with spikes is definitely the hot bait.
If the fish are really aggressive you can use a small tungsten jig tipped with a plastic or a small spoon tipped with a couple of wax worms.
Bass
Largemouth bass are biting well in the Hayward Area.
Look for largemouth bass in the shallow weed beds in those same spots you are finding the panfish.
Focus on those weed beds in less than fifteen feet of water.
Minnows on a set line has been a great way to target them. You can also catch them jigging on glidebaits, jigs and plastics, and small rattlebaits.
Northern Pike
Northern pike can be caught in the weeds and weed edges. Focus on depths less than fifteen feet of water.
Large sucker minnows or shiners on set lines have been taking a bunch of nice fish.
The bite has been really good for pike. Anglers can expect to chase flags all day if they set up in the right spots.
Walleyes: Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report
We are finally able to get to our key walleye spots and the typically early morning and late evening bites have been very good.
Lots of walleyes are still shallow and being caught in less than fifteen feet of water. Target main lake points, humps and reefs.
Walleyes are biting a number of different presentations, but it seems most of the fish are being caught on spoons tipped with minnow heads, glide baits and set lines rigged with smaller shiners and sucker minnows.
