Jenks Bait & Tackle
Jenk’s Bait & Tackle has been serving the Hayward Area for over 75 years! We are your One Stop Shop in the Chippewa Flowage Area! Located conveniently between the Chippewa Flowage, Round Lake, Callahan Lake, Moose Lake, and the Quiet Lakes, our knowledge of the surrounding waters and woods has been invaluable to our guests and community for many years.
We are a full service One Stop Shop as we offer a variety of products and services from Live Bait, a full line of name brand fishing tackle, ice, cold beer & soda, propane cylinders, firewood, rod & reel repair, line winding services, special order firearms, and firearm transfers!
Jenk’s Bait and Tackle is more than a local tackle shop. It is an experience, and more importantly–a tradition. We are very passionate about the Hayward Lakes Area, and we love bringing you the best quality and up-to-date products while still maintaining that nostalgic and rustic mom & pop bait shop feel like back in the old days. We thank you for choosing Jenk’s Bait and Tackle as your One Stop Shop for all your fishing needs in the Chippewa Flowage Area!
Complete Line of Fishing Tackle and Live Bait
13 Miles East of Hayward on County Hwy “B”
Our rod and reel prices are competitive with, and often priced lower than the discounters and catalogues. Give us a call at 715-462-3055 for more information, or stop by and see for yourself.
Located conveniently between the Chippewa Flowage, Round Lake and Callahan Lake, our knowledge of the surrounding waters have been a help to visitors for many years.
Whether you seek hunting and fishing information, want to hire a guide to fish the Chippewa Flowage or surrounding Hayward Lakes, or if you simply want to chat about the Hayward area, we’re here 7 days a week to help make your stay a pleasant one.
Open Water, and Ice Fishing Guide Services through Hayward Guide Service which is headquartered at Jenk’s
Fishing Report / News
2026-08-29
Walleye
The Walleye bite is still solid in the later evening hours. Fishing around weed edges with Leeches and Crawlers in 6 to 12 feet of water is very effective right now. In recent weeks the daytime Walleye bite has been tough, but one of our Hayward Guide Service guides has cracked the code a bit and graciously shared with us some info. Eric Schuelke stopped by the other day and said the trick to daytime Walleye fishing right now is trolling #5 Jointed Flicker Shads and Shad Raps in the Firetiger and Shad Colors, #7 firetiger Flicker Minnows. Troll the jointed flicker shads and shad raps about 40 feet back and troll the flicker minnow about 25 to 30 feet back. Target submerged bogs and timber and run your baits right through or right below the baitfish you mark on the screen.
Musky
The Musky action has been ok. some days people are reporting some solid success while other days people report seeing a good amount of fish but not a lot of connections. It seems that the early morning and later evenings are great for casting Bucktails and surface baits, while trolling seems to be the hot ticket during the day. Important note…make sure you figure-8 after every cast. A lot of these fish are hitting in the 8 and not further out.
Northern
Pike continue to be active in the weeds. The Chatter Flash along the weedlines has been overly effective this week putting Northerns in the boat. When fishing the thick weeds, Spinnerbaits and Weedless Spoons are the hot ticket. As per usual, the West Side is outperforming the East Side.
Crappie
Crappie fishing on the cribs and deeper timber and cover has been good this week. Crappie Minnows, Gulp Minnows, and Bobby Garland Mayflies have all been deadly. The bog bite has been slower but more from less people fishing at night this week than anything.
Bass
Smallmouth have been biting on the far east side. Ned Rigs and to a lesser extent surface baits have been effective. Neds however are consistently the bait that produces the most smallmouth action week in and week out. The Largemouth have been in the weeds and are hitting on a variety of baits. Frogs have been very effective particularly the Big Foot Frogs. The ChatterFlash has been producing some nice fish as well. Target weeds and Lily Pads.
Weather
This week's weather is looking to be fairly warm. This weekend and next week highs are forecasted to be in the low 70s to low 80s while lows are forecasted to be in the high 50s to low 60s. Expect some rain on Saturday and Wednesday.
Water Temp at time of this report
71 Degrees
General
The drop down menu measures the water by every half of a foot. So on there it is marked -3 feet but in reality it's about -2.8 feet. Leech Availability Report: Good News! Leech Season has been extended! We got another batch of leeches in stock and they are really really nice for this time of year! Come on in to Jenk's Bait and get them while they are available and fresh.