Minocqua Area Fishing Report
A very warm week of weather, air temps touching 80 degrees, has lake and flowage surface temps in the upper 60’s to 70+ degrees on some lakes. It has changed patterns noticeably on some waters, throwing a monkey wrench into what has already been a very “off” early fall season.
Crappie: Good-Very Good – Starting to set- up nicely over deep wood in 14-18’. Yet on some waters, with rising water temps, those same Crappies became tough to find yet, showed up in only 3’ of water. Big slabs of 13-14” in water where you would usually only find them during spawn.
Northern Pike: Good – While a cool down will likely help pick this bite up, still good action on spinner baits, Mepps #3’s and chatter baits in 3-8’ cabbage. Nice fish reported into mid-30” range.
Smallmouth Bass: Good – Best over deep gravel humps of 18-28’. Drop-shotting 3” Gulp minnows and small craw imitations scoring action, with some big 19-21” fish reported.
Musky: Good – Top-water still in vouge as subtle baits such as Flop-tails and creepers doing well on calm, overcast mornings. Big bladed spinner baits and buck tails also working. Sucker bite slowed, but should pick up late in week as waters cool a little.
Largemouth Bass: Good – Deep weed edges have been most consistent, using jig & creature combos or Texas rigging sweet beavers. Tube jigs also working, some vertical fishing tight to edges.
Walleye: Fair-Good – Warm weather has changed some things. Catching Walleye in shallows on overcast days on large fatheads or small chubs on 1/16 oz weedless jigs. On larger lakes warm up changed pattern from move into deeper water. Walleyes very scattered.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Mostly incidental catches while fishing for Crappies and Walleyes.
Bluegill: Few reports
Hopefully this warm up has been a blip and a steady cool down will be coming. Odd to see temps rise 6–8 degrees as we near last week of September. Warmer water will prolong the open water season, but many anglers and sportsmen have their plans mapped out, and as we’ve seen, Mother Nature isn’t always on the same page.