Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Winter came back! A week after the balmy 50’s were here, temps dropped back into the teens and 20’s. Snow and wind made it feel even colder. Wind had the most limiting effect on anglers, especially now that most have removed their permanent shacks.
Despite the conditions, some surprisingly good reports came from the hearty souls who toughed it out recently.
Crappies: Very good-Good – Best in the afternoons and through dark. With cold and wind effecting tip-down use (which was still good when manageable) anglers fishing minnows below small floats doing well as are “dippers” with rocker jigs tipped with plastics or Lethal Cecils tipped with waxies. The bite has been good with lots of limits reported.
Walleyes: Good – First time this high up on the charts in a long time! Despite lack of walleye suckers for bait, some very good action after dark…and even during the day, including a 25 ½” derby winner from only 7’ of water. Small to medium shiners, jigging Raps and Hyper Glides as the aggressive bite has lent itself to some good jigging action.
Northern Pike: Good-Very good – Some nice fish in the 32-34” range the past couple days. Big shiners and suckers (if you can find). Flags not flying, but better quality fish of late.
Yellow Perch: Good – Still two distinct bites. The shallow, cabbage flats of 7-10’ producing best #’s with some real big perch mixed in. Minnows best, but a Demon tongue or Vingle Spoon with 2-3 waxies threaded on working also. Over deeper water, mud flats of 16-32’ producing using Hali jigs, Pimples, Flash Champs-tipped with wigglers or red spikes. Punch holes and move around to find roaming schools of perch.
Bluegills: Good-Fair – Wind affected these anglers the most, keeping them from moving about. After last weeks heat wave, some bodies of water with incoming stream saw gills move in as shallow as 5-7’. Small dark jigs tipped with dark plastics or Chena doing well.
Ice is a concern for anglers even up here. We never received the snow that was forecasted (got about 4”) but reports of ice thickness vary from highs of 20” (on heavy traffic lakes) to as little as 10-12”. Caution is advised! So far ATV, snowmobile and foot traffic is fine. We can’t advise safe truck travel though. Most permanent shacks have been removed (or should be)! Night time temps in teens have been firming ice up, not making any, just keeping what we have where it’s at.
The game fish season for inland lakes ends this Sunday, March 5th. You can fish for walleye, pike and bass up until the stroke of midnight on March 6th.
I’d advise watching websites or calling your favorite shop for ice reports in the coming weeks.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
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