12/16/14 Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Well some very odd weather for mid-December, 40's, rain, fog, making for melting snow and ice! The story for the weekend... don't put tip-ups out more than 20' away, you'll never see the flags! Some anglers returned with tales of having a hard time finding their way off lakes due to the fog and no snow to follow their tracks back.
Walleyes: Fair-Very Good. Mid-week the bite was off, but overall very good. Reports with lots of large walleye being caught and released. Several fish of 26, 27 1/2 (2), 28,29 and even a 31"er (C&R) on chubs, suckers and shiners, up along 8-12' weeds at and just after dusk. Morning also producing all the way up into the 10 o'clock hour. Jigging Raps and the new Jigging Rattlin Raps as well as Slender Spoons and Tinglers tipped with a minnow head producing very well for the jigging crowd.
Crappies: Good-Very Good. While not a consistent bite all day... when the bite is on, crappies are very vulnerable to minnows on tip-downs. Anglers report running / sliding to keep up. Mostly 10-12" fish with a few 13"+ slabs to keep things interesting. As the bite slowed, anglers slow dropping plastics (white) on rockers and moon glo's.
Northern Pike: Very-Good. Mid morning is best. Big chubs & suckers on tip-ups in pockets / clearings in big weed flats. Jigging large Slender Spoons and jig Raps (use a wire leader) also effective and very fun on a rod and reel.
Bluegills: Good-Very Good. Action a bit spotty, but when fish on- lots of bites. Sorting necessary to collect a meal. Small tungsten jigs tipped with a single spike, moussee on red plastic.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good. Best action surprisingly deep (20-30') already. Vinglas, #2 pimples, #25 Halis tipped with wiggler or a pair of waxies. Takes some searching to find the active schools. Punch bottom of lake bed to stir up mud and attract fish using heavy jig with flash.
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good. Lots of action at times on tip-ups with medium shiner. Jigging also productive, use #5 jig Rap, tip middle hook with a couple of waxies or minnow head.
Warm up (40-44 deg.) over weekend took snow off ice and left 1-2" of water (some areas water is running down holes). We lost 1-2" of ice with warm up. Since then the temps back into the 20's and light snow (12/16) should firm things back up. Most lakes still averaging 8-10". A few reports of ice over 12", but not confirmed. While some people are driving cars / trucks on certain lakes, we at Island Sport Shop can't recommend it. But we do recommend ice cleats for now as the little snow we are receiving won't add enough traction to the ice. New moon period coming up should only improve the daytime bite.
Thanks,
Kurt
Island Sport Shop
Minocqua, Wi. 54548