Minocqua Area Fishing Repor
Finally! Accessibility will not be an issue for the opener, a first in the past couple years.
With ice out in the rear view, most all but a few large lakes are done with the walleye spawn and a gradual warming trend for the weekend means things look good for opener.
While cold nighttime temps and mild daytime temps saw surface water lose about 5-6 degrees from the highs of a week and a half ago, plenty of sunshine is bringing some of that warmth back to the lakes.
On lakes without major deep water, walleye spawn is over and recovery is on the way. Key in on any bright green weed patches, using light weight jigs to thread large fatheads through the weeds. Also try casting minnow style stick baits (Rapalas, Rattlin’ Rouges, Thundersticks) over tops of these weed beds. Slip-bobbers with fats are also effective, but use one of the afore mentioned first to locate green weeds.
On certain larger, deeper lakes (and a few mid-sized lakes further north) the spawn is just wrapping up. Deeper water just off the edges of the spawning areas will hold some fish. Use 1/8-1/4 oz jigs tipped with chubs or 3-5” suckers.
As usual, redtail chubs and dace are in short supply to start the season. Blacktail chubs, walleye suckers and rainbow chubs will be a little easier to find. For most use, large fatheads are a very good bait. Due to the early ice out and warming trend, leeches are also a viable bait choice.
New regulations for a 3 fish (walleye) limit across the Ceded Territory brings some new size limits, most notably any lake with a 15” minimum will also carry a protected 20-24” slot with only one fish above the slot (24”) allowed.
Concerns about the zero bag limit on the Minocqua/Lake Tomahawk chain affecting fishing elsewhere? Due to an extreme lack of walleyes (DNR nets found mostly old females or small, recently stocked fish) very few anglers have been charging the chain for walleyes. There are a lot of lakes to fish walleyes up here and with the increased bag limits (plus the Lac du Flambeau lakes have a reduced size limit from 18” to the new 15” with 20-24” slot) there are plenty of places to fish while the Minocqua chain has a chance to recover.
Best of Luck to all anglers for this 2015 opener!!!
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop