There are many places in North America where one can fish, but there are few places where fishing is so engrained in the culture of a place as the small town of Hayward, located in northwestern Wisconsin.
While Hayward is known as the home of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and the location of one of the largest muskies ever caught (Louis Spray’s mammoth 69 lb. 11 oz. muskie), what really gets anglers in these parts into a fervor is a good ol’ fashioned fish fry, accompanied by good friends, some cold suds, and lots of fish tales.
And that’s where we catch up with Jeff Evans in a new video series produced by Drink Wisconsinbly, titled Fish Wisconsinbly. A well-known Northern Wisconsin fishing guide, Evans teams up with NFL All-Pro Joe Thomas who played for 11 seasons with the Cleveland Browns after playing for the University of Wisconsin Badgers.
The pair head for an undisclosed lake in mid-summer where they tackle the area’s legendary crappie bite. While Hayward may be known for its muskies, when it comes time for a fish fry, all eyes turn toward the crappies. Using VMC® Wingding, Boot Tail Spinnerbait, and Luv Bug baits, Evans and Thomas put the crunch on eater-size crappies hanging just off the weed line in water that’s in the high 60 to low 70-degree range.
Boot Tail Spinnerbait
Luv Bug
Afterward, Evans and Thomas head to the legendary Angler’s Haven Resort on Lac Court Oreilles, one of the many bodies of water surrounding the Hayward area, for a fish fry prepared especially by Kelsey Gensmer. Kelsey and her husband Jordan own Angler’s Haven.
Beyond the awesome fishing and the mouth-watering fish fry, Fish Wisconsinbly reminds us about the joys of two old friends getting together to enjoy a great day on the water.
If you haven’t found your way to Hayward, Wisconsin, don’t wait another minute. Give Jeff Evans a call and let the fun begin.
And don’t forget to pick up a few VMC jigs and Rapala lures at the Hayward Bait & Bottle Shoppe and fill up your thermos at the Backroads Coffee shop, both located near downtown Hayward.
