Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Down to just four weekends of the gamefish season left! Luckily things did improve some this past week, not great, but definitely better than that two week "dead zone" we had a couple of weeks ago.
Walleye: Good. The bite is improving, especially for the after dark crowd. Sandgrass flats or humps of 18-28' producing #'s of nice eaters for anglers using suckers of 3-5" or Lake Shiners on their tip-ups. Jig fishermen have seen an increase in action on Jigging Raps(#7), Rattlin Raps (#4), Chubby Darters and Vibratos. On shallower lakes, deeper cabbage edges (10-14') producing some trophys this past week on shiners on tip-ups as well as a 28 1/2" & 31" by one angler alone. Jigging is also working on these weed edges.
Yellow Perch: Good. Biggest obstacle has been access to the mud flats where the perch are feeding. Lack of traffic on the slushy areas keeping things from firming up. Once out, anglers finding perch over 18-30' mud flats feeding on wigglers (mayfly-larvae)and blood worms. #2 pimples, Flicker spoons, Flash Champs, Hali's and Perch Talker jigs tipped with wigglers or red spikes. For perch up shallower in weeds, Forage Minnow jigs tipped with 2-3 waxies or a medium fathead on a slip-float or tip-down (when warm enough) producing well. Look for weeds of 7-12' preferably with some deep water nearby.
Bluegills: Fair-Good. Some bites can be time of day specific, but decent catches (few limits) coming from 10-14' weeds. Tungsten jigs have been used to get jigs down quickly to bottom. Tip with single spike, moussee or neutral colored plastic (red, black, brown). Some anglers having success over deeper water, working sandgrass flats, using #4-#5 Tungsten jigs to catch these deep water gills.
Crappies: Fair-Good. Like gills, they can be spotty. Bites in the bays coming back. In these areas slow-dropping rockers with white, pink or silver plastics are producing. Over deep water, minnows on tip-downs and slender spoons (1/16oz.) tipped with waxies are best. Watch for suspended crappies 4-7' off bottom during the day. Hug transition edges towards dusk.
Northern Pike: Fair-Good. While the flag action is still not hot, nice sized pike of 28-33" were reported over the weekend. Big suckers and shiners on tip-ups were the rule. Work sets out to 12-14' depths with a few shallower just in case.
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good. Warmer days bring more action, yet some nice fish of 17-20" caught this past week. Medium shiners on tip-ups working the best for this fish in 8-12' of water.
While ice thickness continues to average 14-18" on most lakes, continue to use caution. Some areas of high traffic have over 2 feet if ice/packed slush, while others have less than a foot under virgin snow/slush. While cold this a.m. (2/2 -2deg. at open) temps into the 20's by Friday-Saturday should make for good ice fishing conditions.
Thanks,
Kurt
Island Sportshop
Minocqua, WI