Minocqua Area Fishing Report 08/21/16
Lots of rain to end the week, kept most anglers off the water. Things had slowed for certain, though enough action overall to keep anglers’ attention.
Largemouth Bass: Good. The most consistent action all summer, yet a bit slower this past week. Wacky worming in 7-12’ weeds is best, warm up by mid-week should bring top-water back into play, frogs, Jitterbugs, buzzbaits. Twitching stick baits over weed tops produced well for and pain of local anglers this past week.
Smallmouth Bass: Good. Outside weed edges of coontail in 14-18’ using skirted grubs Carolina rigged. Countdown lipless cranks over sandgrass flats of 16-22’. Gravel humps topping at 22-26’, 2 ½ “minnows, leeches.
Northern Pike: Good. Best on double-bladed Boonie Baits as well as Chatterbaits over 6-10’ weeds. Live baiting with chubs and suckers are working well.
Bluegill: Good. Fewer, but nicer gills are working cabbage flats. Seem to be more gills as predator fish leaving some of these areas. Small leeches are best and Mini mites- red, purple.
Musky: Fair-Good. Best on bucktails, twitchbaits. Top-water is producing early and late. Many anglers are choosing to soak smaller suckers (8-10”) despite surface temps in upper 70’s to low 80’s.
Yellow Perch: Fair. Not a lot of reports. Mostly anglers are fishing other species (Walleyes, deep crappies), and catching a few nice perch- ½ crawlers are best.
Crappies: Fair. Anglers are targeting crappies, finding few fish in typical August haunts. Doing best in tall, curly, leaf cabbage at 10-14’. Small minnows are best.
Walleye: Fair-Poor. This could be a time of transition on some lakes. Despite warm temps, this species will tend to migrate to deep gravel on certain lakes. Shallow wee bite has slowed, after dark is best on lighted slip-bobbers and leeches or casting deep running minnow baits along outside wee edges.
Despite a short term cool off for Sunday/Monday, Mid-week looks to hit low 80’s again. Prolonging early fall patterns from happening. More rain means flowages continue to be full as well as lakes.