Minocqua Area Fishing Report 08/15/16
Usually by mid-August, we will see a night or two cold enough to start just a few sugar maples turning- hasn’t happened yet. Still warm, although cooling down a bit. Surface temps averaging 75⁰ on most lakes.
The heat has unfortunately brought about a cisco kill on the Minocqua Chain, as the thermocline deepens and these fragile, cool water fish have a tough time coping with the lower oxygen levels. Could be happening on other lakes, but this one is the only one we’ve heard of.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good. Despite a few days of unusual wind (N.E) and some high pressure, largemouths continue to provide the fastest action in the Lakeland area. Wacky worming is far tops. Carolina rigging 4” and 7” Power worms as well as Beavers and Yum Ultimate Craws also providing good catches. A few of the warmer evenings are giving up good top-water frog action also.
Smallmouth Bass: Very Good- Good. Outside weed edges of 12-16’ producing nice smallies (15-18”) on lipless cranks counted down as well as skirted grubs on 1/8 – ¼ oz. jigs. Tube jigs also working along these edges. Off-shore humps of 22’-28’ anglers are drop-shotting 2 ½“Gulp minnows and small craws scoring well.
Northern Pike: Good. Spinnerbaits (Boonies, Booyah and Chatterbaits) over heavy weed flats. Weedless spoons such as Johnson Silver Minnows and Northland Jawbreakers also working. Chubs, suckers always a good backup.
Bluegills: Good. Best on warmer days. Mini mites, tiny tubes tipped with waxies. Use small leeches on 1/50 oz. jig heads under small floats.
Musky: Good-Fair. More fish being seen (and caught) of late. Bucktails and Spinnerbaits as well as twitch baits in 7-10’ weeds. Top-water is also bringing up fish. Most reports this week are of 34-38” fish.
Yellow Perch: Fair. Best on warmer days. Medium fatheads, medium leeches.
Crappie: Fair. Best at dusk and after dark on medium fats and lighted slip-bobbers.
Surface temps should remain stable this week, rising on sunny days. The typical August cool down doesn’t show any signs of coming soon.