New to the Hayward area lakes

[rustiest1]

I'm heading to fish the Hayward area next week for muskies. Does anybody have any advice to which lakes are good lakes and how and maybe where to fish them? The lakes that I am going on are lakes that you cannot troll on. Can you move around the edges with the electric trolling motor or do you have to drift or use the oars to move around?

[Muskycrazy]

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[MUSKY18]

I just spent a week up at our family cabin on the Chippewa Flowage. We use our trolling motor all the time to move around the structure. You just can't troll in the traditional method of dragging lures behind the boat. As long as you are casting, you should be fine. But check the lake restrictions,as there are some lakes in WI that don't allow the use of any motors while fishing, as posted above.

Also, a word of caution. The lakes are extremely low in that area, and I know on the Chip, they are lowering it an inch and a half DAILY until Labor day. What was low water is becoming extremely low water!

[MuskyBrian]

Despite it's hype, Hayward is actually a very difficult area to fish in my opinion. Your best chances for numbers are the Spider Chain and Lost Land/Teal to the East of town. Lakes like The Chip, Lac Court Oreilles, Grindstone...you can find some of the bigger fish in the area, but you will be dealing with heavily pressured waters.

[markkstanley]

I second Teal/Lost Land. If you want to just catch a musky or two and aren't looking for the big one try Moose (Pete Mania's original stomping ground) and the Tiger Cat flowage especially Placid and Upper Twin. The Chip is always a good choice but it gets hit pretty hard. These lakes are off the path a bit.

[rustiest1]

Actually I am going to lost land and teal lake. Do you have any advice on where and how to fish it?

[markkstanley]

Hit the cabbage with bucktails. Teal has a little more structure. Hit the island points and saddles and try some of the mid lake humps. On Lost Land I have had good success in Wilson's Bay and the East shore between the Teal River outlet and the small bay farther north.

[rustiest1]

What about Ghost Lake next to Lost Land and Teal. I know it's a small lake but how is the fishing?

[Jim Hudson]

Ghost is a numbers lake... A good lake to get connected with a fish... Lost Land and Teal has a little bit bigger size average.. Also, there is the Spider Lake Chain, size average is like Lost Land and Teal...

Down the road to the east, you have Day, where is a very good lake to catch fish, but small ones.. The Clam Lakes that are also good to catch a few, but the size average is smaller..

If your looking for bigger fish.. Grindstone, LCO, Namekagon, Eau Claire Chain, the Flowage, and Round hold some monsters.. Less fish, but by far way bigger fish then any other lakes..

[castmaster]

You CAN use your trolling motor to position your boat while casting, its called postion fishing vs trolling. You CANNOT drag a sucker on one line while casting and moving with the trolling motor, that is considered trolling and you may be ticketed.

Callahan lake is another good one for numbers. Easiest to pay to launch at the resort than putting in at the public access on Mud Lake especially when the waters low.

[Muskycrazy]

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[castmaster]

"We were casting he was dragging a sucker ."

Right there you said it all...."he was dragging a sucker". YOU WERE TROLLING.

Simply casting your lure, retrieving it, casting again while running your trolling motor IS NOT TROLLING. YOU WILL NOT BE TICKETED IF THAT IS ALL YOU ARE DOING. Leave a line in the water dragging behind and you will be ticketed if they catch you. Really not that hard to figure out.

[Muskycrazy]

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[castmaster]

it doesnt matter if it was in 3" of water or 30' of water. Doesnt matter if he was holding it or had it in a rod holder. IF IT WAS BEING PULLED UNDER MOTOR POWER YOU WERE TROLLING! HE WAS NOT CASTING AND RETRIEVING THE SUCKER. REALLY PRETTY SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

I'd suggest calling the WI DNR and asking them for the definition of trolling and for the definition of POSITION FISHING. Then maybe you wouldnt be passing out erroneous info. You think everyone fishing the Chip drifts around casting all day, or anchors and casts?? Not a chance, THEY RUN THE TROLLING MOTOR WHILE CASTING.

[B420]

Yet another good reason not to musky fish WI. The land of position fishing and 36" trophies.

[castmaster]

"Motor Trolling

“Motor trolling” is trailing a lure, bait, or similar device used to attract or catch fish from

a boat while being propelled (forwards or backwards) by a motor or a sail or while being

towed by a boat being propelled by a motor or sail. Motor trolling is illegal except in some

counties and waters as listed in the section titled Special Regulations—Listed by County,

beginning on page 19. Casting and immediate retrieval of a bait or lure while positioning a

boat is not trolling. “Backtrolling” is only legal in waters where motor trolling is allowed.

“Position fishing” is fishing from a boat where the fishing line extends vertically into the

water while the boat is maneuvered (forwards or backwards) by a motor used to position

or maintain the position of the boat over underwater structure. Position fishing is allowed

statewide in all waters."

This was taken directly from the WI DNR online regs. If you'd like to look it up its on page 16 of the online hook and line regulations.

I will admit I used "position fishing" as the terminology for casting while it apparently refers only to vertical lines ...i.e. jigging.

[Muskycrazy]

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[castmaster]

Your the one not seeming to understand...

The CO has no way of knowing whether or not your trolling motor is on or not(although I agree 100% that it was within her discretion to not issue a ticket upon seeing the trolling motor was non funtioning...BROKE) just as she had no idea your buddy was merely keeping his sucker wet and not actually intending to troll(based solely on your comments I'll accept it was unintentional) and not actually fishing it.

BUT if you reread your initial post it would be VERY easy for this guy to get the impression he couldnt CAST while using his trolling motor which is just not the case. He could very well end up with a less than enjoyable time trying to fish without one of the most useful tools on your boat.

Had your friend not have had the sucker in the water I can guarantee you you wouldn't have been ticketed for casting and retrieving lures with your trolling motor in the water and it was working. CO's have discretion yes, they do not have the power to ticket you for LEGAL behavior.

Furthermore, you get all [PoorWordUsage]y with me, why not with he first reply who also said casting with the trolling motor was just fine? Instead you make it out like I'm some (Contact Us Please) whose trying to get this guy a ticket. Again all I was doing was helping point out what he can and cant do. I dont make the laws, I just read them before I fish.

And I agree, stop in at Pastikas. ASk them if you can use your trolling motor to move, WHILE CASTING.

[castmaster]

Rustiest1,

In addition to asking at Pastikas, shoot this guy an email. If he doesnt get back to you someone from the WI DNR will to give to an "official" answer so you have no doubts.

[email protected]

[Jim Hudson]

Basically when it comes to sucker fishing on a non-trolling lake... You best not be dragging a sucker while the trolling motor is in the water.. Drifting a sucker is a different story.. Sue or whatever warden you might run into will handle this situation the way they see fit when it comes to "trolling".

But in no way is it illegal to use your trolling motor to motor youself along while casting a lure and reeling it in.. Just as it wouldnt be illegal if you were to cast out a sucker and reel it in.. But dragging a lure or live bait behind a boat while "under power" is considered trolling.