1-2-14 Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Great week till the bottom dropped out of the thermometer. A 62 degree temperature swing from Saturday December 28 through Monday December 30. Anglers were out in force on Saturday enjoying the above freezing temps and the holiday weekend. While there have been some conflicting reports, most reports were of good fishing though out the Lakeland area. Numbers and size was the talk of the weekend. Come Sunday, though, action and participation fell off precipitously. By Monday morning (-29 degrees) very few anglers ventured out.
Walleye: Very Good-Fair. What started out as a great bite, slowed way down with the drop in temps, rise in barometer and lack of anglers due to cold temps. A very good bite during the warm days occurred oddly enough from noon till 2pm. Walleyes were found cruising 8-12’ weed flats by day taking shiners meant for pike on tip-ups. Several walleyes from 26” to 29 ½” were caught during that mid-day bite. Evening bites continued for anglers using suckers on tip-ups. Jigging raps, slender spoons and vibratos accounted for good catches also during the warm spell.
Pike: Very good-Fair. During the warm spell flags were flying! Lots of good action on tip-ups baited with chubs, suckers and shiners. Big fish active as catches of pike in the 30-40” range were regular.
Perch: Good-Fair. Tip-downs with medium fatheads/rosie reds accounted for nice catches of larger perch in 10-12’ weed/wood mix during warm spell. Deep water perch (20’+) taking wigglers presented on Hali jigs, Pimples. Cold slowed the action, but weed bite still produced Monday for angler using minnows inside shacks (too cold for tip-downs).
Crappies: Good-Fair. Tip-down action good for crappies during warm spell. Also slow-dropping plastics on #10 rockers in white, chartreuse, and orange. With the cold weather, action stalled. Anglers hunkered in shacks picking up an occasional crappie on 3mm tungsten jigs with tiny red or purple plastic tail.
Bluegills: Good-Poor. Warm weather promoted active fish and fishermen alike. Good catches using Gill Pills or Gill Getters tipped with waxies, spikes or mousses. Lots of action with enough eaters from the 7-10’ weeds to make effort worth it. With the cold, few anglers willing to target gills.
Largemouth Bass: Very good-poor. The action for bass during the warm spell was exceptional, as expected during times of warmer temps. Few anglers target bass through the ice up here, yet they make their presence felt hitting shiners and suckers meant for walleyes and pike as well as jigging raps and spoons tipped with meat, but, the cold shut them down.
This extreme cold is scheduled to lift by the weekend, with Saturday being the warmest. Hopefully with temps in the 20’s and a dip in the barometer, the bite will return to what it was last weekend.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop