Hayward, Wisconsin & Chequamegon Bay Fishing Report 9-7-15

The 2015 fishing season will definitely be remembered for some crazy weather with extreme swings.  We began the Labor Day weekend as heat and humidity continued to dominate with temperatures close to 90 and air so thick you could cut it with a knife.  Dave Evans (Willow Brook, IL) along with father/son Mike and Nick Kenaga from Downers Grove, IL had originally planned to spend two days on Chequamegon Bay with me, but a flat water forecast and recent success with crappies changed their mind.  We spent Saturday on a really good crappie bite catching suspended fish in 20′ – 30′ of water.  This was Mike’s first fishing experience, and he did one heck of a job figuring it out.  By the end of the day, he was a crappie catching machine!  All of our fish were caught on plastics with a lot of nice slabs up to 12″.  Nick added a fat 34″ pike landed on light tackle to make it a “Red Letter Day” in Dave’s words.  Water temps climbed over 75 degrees on a day that felt like we were somewhere in the Deep South.  Even though Dave and I aren’t related, fishing is definitely in his blood.  What a great start to the weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thunderstorms rolled through on Sunday morning, and we got a late start on Chequamegon Bay.  After the storms we had a favorable forecast, and decided to give it a shot.  Our first spot turned out to be a dud with only one smallmouth landed, and we had to search around for a bit to find some active fish.  Once we did, it was on!  The boys got busy in a hurry, and put a bunch of nice fish in the boat as we used the stiff south wind to drift in 12′ – 15′ of water with minnows.  Most fish were in the 18″ – 20″ range as we had a very steady mid day bite that ended late in the afternoon when the wind began to lay down.  Water temps were pretty consistent across the bay holding at 65 degrees.  Even though the action slowed, Mike ended the day in a HUGE way when he put our third 22″ smallie of the season in the net.  Are you sure you haven’t fished before Mike???  Looks to me like you’ve got a new hobby!  That’s a magnum fish and one heck of a way to wrap up a two day trip.  Congratulations on your trophy, and job well done to the gang from Illinois!  Have a great Labor Day everyone.  Bring on the fall bite!!!