Wisconsin fishing guide Jeff Evans gives his latest Hayward Wisconsin fishing report on October 8th, 2024.
Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report: 10-8-24
Things have pretty much stayed the same over the past week. We’ve had unseasonably warm weather and the fall bite hasn’t really started yet. Most lakes in the Hayward, Wisconsin area have water temperatures in the mid-sixties. The bite has been inconsistent, but anglers are still catching walleyes, panfish, bass, and northern pike.
Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report: Walleye
We are still finding walleyes between thirty and forty feet of water on lakes with good water clarity. The water temperatures haven’t dropped enough to push those fish in shallow and they are still hanging out on the deep water structure. Look for walleyes on humps, points, and saddle system on the main lake. We are still catching them trolling crawler harness paired with snap weights. Troll the crawler harness around 1.1 miles per hour. If you find a big school of fish you can catch them on slip bobbers or on Rapala Jigging Raps.
Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report: Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass are really scattered right now. You’ll find bass as shallow as five feet of water and as deep as twenty-five feet of water. No matter what depth you target smallmouth bass the key has been rocks. If you can find rocky structure it’s a good bet that smallmouth bass will be on it. Suspending jerkbaits and swimbaits has been the best way to catch them.
Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report: Panfish
The crappie fishing has been great in the Hayward Lakes area. We are still finding fish in the mid-depth basins between fifteen and twenty-five feet of water. The crappie schools show up great on your electronics and are relatively easy to find. Small jigs paired with plastics have worked best. Fish them right over the side of the boat and suspend your bait a foot or two above the crappies. Slip bobbers have also worked well.
Hayward Wisconsin Fishing Report: Musky
As the water temperatures continue to cool off the fall musky bite should pick up soon. In a couple weeks suckers, big rubber baits, and crankbaits are all going to move fish. Right now muskies can be caught on blades, topwater baits, and tubes.
Lake Superior Tributaries
We are still seeing fish to push into the rivers, but the water levels are extremely low. Anglers are catching salmon, brown trout, and a few steelhead on the Lake Superior tributaries. Spinners, spoons, egg sacs, and nightcralwers are all producing bites. Fly fisherman are having success on nymphs, streamers, and egg patterns.
