Minocqua Area Fishing Report2-19-2013
By Professional Guide Kurt Justice
With the exception of Saturday’s high pressure shut down, things have been picking up this past week out on the ice. Gamefish are lagging from our long early ice season, but even with these fish, a pickup of action has occurred.
Perch: Good. Some of the best reports surprisingly are from water less than 10’ deep. Lots of perch have moved into mud flats and areas of dead weeds in 8-10’ just outside of standing green weeds of 5-7’. These fish have been very aggressive taking Vinglas, Slender Spoons and Forage minnow spoons loaded up with waxies. Medium fathead minnows have been a good choice to target larger perch. The deep water mud flat perch anglers are finding perch in 18-27’, dropping Hali jigs and #2 pimples tipped with red spikes or wigglers. Both areas producing good catches, though the shallow water bite has more fish, but deep water bite has better average size.
Crappie: Fair-Good. Shallower weed fish have been smaller and fewer lately. It is best to search out deep water crappies (18-30’) over mud along gravel/rock transition areas. Rosie reds on tip-downs on less windy days, otherwise drop Moon Glos. Little Cecils tipped with waxies, Gulp Alive grubs for big females being found in deep pockets outside spring spawning bays.
Pike: Fair-Good. Action picking up on big shiners/suckers along green weed edges where perch are being found just outside over dead vegetation. Get out early on warm days (+20) as bites will start at dawn. High pressure cold morning bite starts later, not as often.
Bluegill: Fair-Good. If not high pressure/wind, bite good on small tungsten jigs, lead darts tipped with single spike or waxie. Lake type dictates location. Shallow, darker water in heavy weed pockets – use bright colors. Deep clear water move out away from weeds for bigger gills in 12-17’ on small dark jigs and red spikes.
Walleye: Fair – Improving. Not great, but some better bites occurring about dusk. Suckers over sandgrass floats of 17-28’, shiners near standing cabbage of 8-14’. Not much on jigging lures, but should change as fish become more aggressive.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Warming days providing good action on tip-ups with shiners meant for walleye/pike. Jigging Rattle spoons with minnow head fun method for rod/reel anglers.
Only 2 weekends left for gamefish. You can fish till midnight on March 3rd. After such a strong December and January, February has been a tough month. If we can get out of these below zero mornings and east winds, fishing should pick up all over.
Ice thickness averaging 23-27”. Snow limiting car and small SUV access. Pick-up trucks and snowmobiles best. No ATV’s as of now. Carry a shovel and tow strap. Some lightly used areas seeing slush.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com