Minocqua area fishing report
By most reports, this September has not been a typical September. Very high water and above average surface temps could be the culprit. What is usually a great month for walleye, crappie, bass and the start of the musky fall bite has fallen well short of expectations. Still 10 days to go, but, without a major change in weather or a draw down on the flowages, things look to remain fairly tough.
Bluegills: Fair-Good. Not often listed this high in September. Bluegills being found in 7-10’ weeds. Anglers using leeches, waxies, worms, tubes.
Pike: Fair-Good. Spinnerbaits best late mornings over 6-10’ weeds. When action slows try jig and chub combo.
Musky: Fair-Good. Fish starting to relate back to structure. Fish can be found on deep weed edges in 10-20’. Best tactics have been casting large rubber baits (Alien Eel). Depth Raiders with a jerk/pause retrieve have also produced. Anglers starting to use smaller suckers.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Deep humps best. Drop-shotting pin-minnows, plastic craws or jig/skirted grubs best.
Walleye: Fair. Better earlier in the week. When bites going, deed gravel/mud transitions using 1/4oz jigs or Lindy Rigs to fish Redtail chubs or ½ crawlers. Bites extremely light. Be patient and pay attention to any extra weight.
Perch: Fair. A few reports of anglers catching nice perch on crawlers or medium fatheads in 8-12’ weeds.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Some reports of smaller fish in weeds, but, seemed to have fallen off the map.
Crappies: Fair. Flowage bites haven’t been great. A few fish near drowned wood.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news with a not so great report, but, hopefully as we get out from under full moon and high pressure, we will see a little more drop in surface temperature. That will help us salvage fishing the last 10 days in September and have a great October.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com