Hayward Area Lakes

Any ice that’s left at this point is rotten.  I wouldn’t trust it.  It’s just panfish action right now, so here’s the scoop on that:
 
Panfish: 
Crappie fishing is good, with fish still spread from shallow to mid-depths and deeper (do not go there!) weeds and weedlines, often suspending, so check the entire water column! Baits of choice include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, spikes, Gulp! baits, and plastics on small jigs, plain hooks, and spoons. 
Bluegill fishing is good to very good around shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, and other cover. Best baits include waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, plain hooks, and spoons. 
Perch fishing is fair to good. Find them on shallow to mid-depth weeds and weedlines, as well as on mudflats. Crappie minnows, fatheads, rosy reds, minnow pieces, waxies, spikes, and plastics on small jigs and spoons all work. 

Fishing is good for most species and very good for others. Reports on ice thickness range from 4-11 inches ‑ maybe more and maybe less. Flowage lakes and lakes with springs can undergo changing conditions quickly with the current fluctuating temperatures, sun, and wind. Exercise extreme caution and use common sense. 
Please note: Wisconsin’s general inland gamefish season closes this Sunday, March 3! 
We are nearing the ice shack removal dates, but it is legal to remove those shacks before the removal dates, and doing so sooner rather than later ‑ if you have not done so already ‑ might be a wise choice. It is your decision, but... 
The upcoming ice shack removal dates in March are as follows: 
• Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters by March 1. 
• Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters by March 15. 
• Lake Superior and inland waters north of Highway 64 by March 16. 
Anglers can use portable shelters after these dates, but must remove them daily when not occupied or in use. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair and somewhat slow, with anglers having the best luck in early morning and evening into after dark. Look for fish on weeds, weedlines, cribs, rock, and other structure, in depths from 5-25 feet. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups suspending baits near the bottom, as well as jigs, jigging spoons, Jigging Raps, and various other jigging baits, are all catching fish. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is very good to excellent around weeds, cribs, rock, and other structure in 5-25 feet ‑ and anywhere you find concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Top baits include northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners under tip-ups (and similar rigs). Jigging the baits work, too, but tip-ups are currently the most productive. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good in basins and around weedlines in 12-30 feet and deeper, depending on the lake. Electronics make a huge difference in locating the suspending fish and improve your fishing success. Be sure to check the entire water column! Crappie minnows and jigging baits and spoons tipped with waxies, minnow heads or tails, and plastics work great, and rattlebaits are producing action, too. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good to very good for fish close to weeds and other cover, in basins, and on the bottom in 6-20 feet. Baits of choice include waxies, minnow heads and tails, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, spoons, teardrops, and plain hooks. 
 
Perch: 
Perch fishing is good on weeds, weed edges, in basins, and on mudflats. Small jigs, jigging baits, and spoons tipped with waxies, minnow heads/tails, and plastics are doing the job, as are minnows fished under dead-sticks. 

Fished a Sawyer county lake last Wednesday through Saturday, as it was our annual family fishing weekend.  Our lake had 9" of good ice.  It was our best walleye fishing ever in the last 20years of the family outing.  Iced a rough total of 50 fish, about 15bass, 15pike and 20walleye, all on med/large shiners on tip-ups.  We don't jig, so can not comment on that bite.  Great time.

Fishing remains good to very good for most species, ice conditions improved a bit in the past week, and most lakes report 3-10+ inches of ice. It is inconsistent, however, and extreme caution and checking as you go remain important. 
Please note that Wisconsin’s general inland gamefish season closes March 3. 
The upcoming ice shack removal dates in March are as follows: 
• Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters by March 1. 
• Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters by March 15. 
• Lake Superior and inland waters north of Hwy 64 by March 16. 
Anglers can use portable shelters after these dates, but must remove them daily when not occupied or in use. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye action is slower and fair. Early morning and dusk into dark offer the best success. Find fish in 6-28 feet on weeds, weedlines, rock, and shallow to deep transitions to lake basins. The most effective baits include walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups that suspend baits near bottom, jigs, jigging spoons, Jigging Raps, and other jigging baits. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is very good to excellent for various size fish. Pike are in 6-28 feet, on weeds, weedlines, weed edges, shallow to deep transitions, and wherever you find panfish and baitfish concentrations. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners on tip-ups, jigs, and jigging spoons, Jigging Raps, dead bait, and rattlebaits will do the trick. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good for fish suspending in lake basins in 15-30 feet, and anglers are catching some slabs. Check the entire water column! Crappie minnows, minnow parts, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, plain hooks, and spoons are producing good action, as are small jigging baits and rattlebaits. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good to very good, with anglers finding schools of fish around weeds and near the bottom in 8-22 feet. Waxies, spikes, minnows and minnow parts, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks work well, with small spoons also productive. 
 
Perch: 
Perch fishing is good as fish begin their move to mudflats to pre-stage before spawn begins. Find them in 10-25 feet from weeds to mudflats to in between. Minnows on dead-sticks and minnow heads and tails, waxies, and plastics on jigs and small spoons are working well. Pounding baits in the mud to stir up the bottom will attract fish. 

This will be a warm week, as high temperatures hit or approach 50 degrees and with lows in the mid-30s. Coming on the heels of a warm weekend, it is affecting ice conditions rather quickly. Anglers reports fishing on ‘safe’ ice one day, and the next day, at the exact same location, finding only one or two inches of ice. This is a far from normal winter in the North Woods! If you decide to get on the ice, fish with a friend, use extreme caution, check as you go, and make sure to have whatever could be necessary safety equipment, such as PFDs/float suits, spud bars, rope, ice picks, cell phone, and creepers, etc. In addition, know before you go what to do IF an emergency arises ‑ you might not have the luxury of the time to ‘Google it.’ This is an excellent time to review the DNR ice safety website. 
Anglers please note that Wisconsin’s general inland gamefish season closes March 3, less than a month distant! 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing slowed a bit, is fair to good, and with the best success in early morning and evening into after dark. Find fish in shallow to deep water, in 5-25 feet, on weeds, weed edges, rock, and transitions between shallow and deep. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups, jigs, and jigging baits and spoons, are all effective at this time. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is very good in 8-20 feet on shallow to deeper weeds, weed edges, transitions, and wherever you find concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, shiners, and dead bait on tip-ups and jigs, and spoons and rattlebaits are all getting the attention of pike of various sizes. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good. Anglers are catching some nice fish in the basins in 18-35 feet, as well as on cribs, drop-offs, breaklines, and other cover types. Many fish are suspending, so use electronics to locate them ‑ and make sure to check the entire water column from top to bottom. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks offered under tip-ups, tip-downs, and dead-sticks. Small jigs, spoons, and rattlebaits are also productive, sometimes more so if tipped with live bait or plastics. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is good. Bluegills are on shallow to mid-depth weeds, cribs, and other cover. Waxies, spikes, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small minnows on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks are working well. Perch are in weeds and moving to mudflats for pre-spawn. Fatheads, rosy reds, and crappie minnows on dead-sticks, jigs, and small spoons are catching fish. Bounce baits on the bottom to stir it up and attract fish. Waxies, and minnow heads on jigs also produce. Each lake can fish differently, so use your electronics to locate the schools. 

Thanks to last week's cold snap, most lakes have 7-10" of ice.  You still want to check ice as you go, and vehicle traffic is not recommended.

Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair to very good, depending on the lake ‑ and the angler. Look for fish on the edges of weeds, weedlines, and flats in 4-18 feet. Lack of snow cover has fish themselves “on edge,” so lessening any noise and disturbance on top of the ice will improve success. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups are most productive, but some anglers report success jigging fatheads. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good to very good around shallow to mid-depth weeds and weedlines, and near concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Tip-ups with large northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners are producing good catches of pike in assorted sizes. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good, but fish continue to move and drilling numerous holes is necessary to stay with them. Some fish are around shallow weeds, weedlines, and other structure, while many are in deeper basins in 12 to more than 30 feet. Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished on tip-ups, tip-downs, and dead sticks work well, as do small spoons and rattlebaits. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good in shallow green weeds and weedlines, and near/in deeper weeds and cribs. Waxies, spikes, small minnows, plastics and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks work great with or without floats, and try minnows and spoons for bigger bluegills. 

Ice conditions are improving rapidly for anglers. Double-digit subzero lows and single-digit (above zero) daytime highs, combined with little to no snow cover, are doing a good job of growing ice thickness. Current thickness estimates run an inconsistent 3-8 inches, so checking as you go is still a must-do when on the lakes.
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair to good, with some fish still shallow, patterns remaining similar to earlier this winter, and the shallow fish still somewhat nervous and very aware of disturbances above them. Find fish in 4-16 feet on weeds and weed edges leading to basins. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups, and jigged fatheads, are working best. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action remains good to very good for fish in and around shallow to mid-depth weeds and weedlines in 6-10 feet, especially those that lead to lake basins. Large northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners on tip-ups are very effective. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good, with most fish in 15-30 feet in lake basins. Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks are productive, as are small spoons. Fish continue to move, so plan on drilling numerous holes to stay with them. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good to very good. Some fish are still in shallow weeds, but many, if not most, have moved to deeper weeds, cribs, and other structure. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks work well, as do small minnows and spoons for larger fish. 

Ice conditions are highly variable, ranging from 0-6 inches.  Check ​ice carefully, and don't drive on the ice yet.  ​A cold snap is rolling in this weekend.

Walleye: 
Walleye fishing remains fair to good, with best success during early morning and late evening into dark hours, the prime feeding times. Focus on shallower weedlines and outside weed edges holding food and offering nearby access to deeper water. Walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups, and fatheads on jigs, are the go-to presentations. A quiet approach and keeping some distance from tip-ups increase catches of wary walleyes in shallow water under clear ice. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is very good on weeds and weedlines in depths out to about 12 feet, as well as near concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Top baits include northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners on tip-ups and dead sticks. If you use big bait to target trophy pike, remember that it is illegal to fish with a minnow 8 inches or longer unless using a quick-strike rig or non-offset circle hook. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good when you find the fish. Shallow to mid-depth weeds and weedlines still hold some fish, but many have moved to deeper locations where ice is still, for now, somewhat questionable. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs, rattlebaits, spoons, and plain hooks with or without bobbers, and jigging rods, tip-ups, tip-downs, and deadsticking, are all very effective. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good in and around shallow weeds, weed beds, and weedlines. Baits of choice include waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks, with/without floats. Try slightly larger spoons and minnows to deter the small bait robbers. 

Thank you for the info.

Ice in the area is thin, with some open water on bigger lakes.  However, temperatures will be colder for the next week, and we'll be making ice.  Meanwhile, carry safety gear and do not bring vehicles or shacks onto the ice.

Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair good as fish are still on shallow weedlines and flats in depths to 12 feet. Lack of snow cover and thin ice allows sunlight to reach the weeds, enabling them to continue to growing while providing good cover for baitfish and panfish. Best fishing is in early morning and in late evening into dark. Use a stealth approach. Top baits include walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups, and fatheads on jigs. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good to very good in depths to 12 feet around weeds, weedlines, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners on tip-ups and dead sticks work well. Use bigger baits for trophy pike, but remember it is illegal to fish with a minnow 8 inches or longer unless using a quick-strike rig or non-offset circle hook. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good for the fish that remain on shallow weeds and weedlines. Basins hold some fish, but they are not currently accessible due to poor or non-existent ice conditions. Productive bait options include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, plain hooks, small spoons, and rattle baits. Jigging rods, tip-ups, tip-downs, and deadsticking all work, too. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good, and fortunately for anglers, the fish are in/on shallow weeds and weedlines. Bait offerings include waxies, spikes, mousies, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, teardrops, spoons, and plain hooks, with or without bobbers.