9/23/14 Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Well after enduring some brutal wind on Friday and Sunday...not to nice on Saturday either, looks like a gorgeous week of weather ahead. Lows only in the low 50's, highs in the 70's and lots of color to look at!
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very good. Following an unusual absence of activity, smallies are being found in water of depths of 14-22' taking suckers, chubs on Lindy style rigs and drop-shotting 2 1/2-3" Gulp Alive and Jackall minnow soft plastics. Big smallies of 18-20"+ this past weekend, even with all the wind.
Walleyes: Good. Catches improving over deep gravel humps. Vertical jigging with 1/8oz to 1/4oz jigs tipped with large fatheads. Lindy rigging suckers and chubs also producing. Even on lakes of less than 25' walleyes are deep. Flowages, work 14-19' depths. Deep lakes....22-34', just past where smallies are working.
Musky: Good. Bucktails and big spinnerbaits good over weeds. Twitchbaits and small jerk / gliders also working. With week of nice warm, calmer weather, try top-water always a good choice under the right conditions before turnover.
Crappies: Good. Tough with the heavy wind, but returning to a better bite with calmer weather. Deep weed lines of 14-18' holding crappies suspended 3-5' off the bottom. Flowage crappies relating to wood. Big slabs of 13-14" being caught daily.
Northern Pike: Good. They like these cooler temps. Anglers casting swimbaits of 3-5" over weed tops as well as shallow running minnowbaits finding pike of mid 20" to low 30" range in cabbage beds of 6-9' of water. Chubs and suckers always a good, relaxing choice.
Largemouth Bass: Good. Action improving. Shallow weeds and inside weed lines holding bass active on shallow, square lipped cranks in bluegill patterns. Jig and pig as well as wacky worms also doing well. Just like with musky, some top-water action in shallow warm bays.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good. Wind hampered perch anglers over the weekend. Flowage anglers picking up scattered jumbos using 1/2 crawlers on 1/8oz jigs over wood in 12-18'. On lakes, perch moving through warming, shallow flats feeding on small minnows.
Bluegill: Fair. Wind not favorable for gill anglers. Watch for action to improve with mild weather this week.
A forecast for mild weather, light to light/moderate wind and a new moon period bodes well for anglers coming to the Northwoods this week. While chubs (redtails and blacks) are hard to come by, musky suckers are becoming a bit more available. Colors are at about 25-30% and becoming better everyday. Its the big Beef-A Rama event this weekend, so get out on the water early!
Kurt
Island Sportshop
Minocqua Wi 54548
715-356-4797