Minocqua Area Fishing Report 1/4/2013
By Professional Guide Kurt Justice
Winter has finally arrived and has been good to us here in the Northwoods. Not much snow and enough cold to build ice. Anglers are enjoying a lot of good access to lakes—though most is foot traffic. ATV’s and snowmobiles are being used, but caution is advised as reports of both types of vehicles and an ice shack have gone through.
Overall, ice depths of 6-10’ are reported on most lakes, though larger lakes and those with current have to be used with caution.
Walleye: Very good. While things have slowed at times, some very good catches and large fish are being caught. Most activity is at dusk and after dark, though some big fish (25-27”) have been caught during mid-morning by anglers fishing crappies. Daytime and weed anglers using shiners having success in 8-12’ cabbage. Evening and after dark anglers using suckers and large chubs on tip-ups as well as jigging raps, the new Snap Raps, Chubby Darters and Foo Flyers to score nicer walleyes of 20-28” from off shore humps topping at 12-22’.
Pike: Very good. Lots of pike activity for the flag chasers using shiners. Anglers opting to use large suckers and slab shiners also on deeper edges of 10-14’ being rewarded with nicer pike of 30-36”.
Crappies: Very good. After a bit of first ice slow down, action picked up nicely in weeds. Slow dropping chena, spikes or plastics on small black or purple jigs in 8-12’ tall cabbage best. Tip-downs baited with Rosies in these same areas also picking up nice slabs to 14”. Reports of limits coming from such area usually from dawn till 10 am., then picking back up towards 3pm – dusk.
Bluegills: Very good. Waxies, spikes mousees (when available) and plastics all working. Unlike the crappies, seems like the gills are preferring brighter colored jigs. Chartreuse, Orange, Gold tear-drop and mall bodied Tungsten jigs hot! Gulp Alive and Northland Impulse baits also working.
Perch: Good. Not being targeted as much as crappies, gills and pike but some very nice catches none the less. Shallow water fish making up the bulk of the reports. Fish in the 4-9’ taking crappie minnows, rosies and several waxies clumped on forage minnow spoons taking fish. Some very nice 12+” perch on tip-ups and small shiners.
White fish: Good. Travel across traditional white fish lakes requires caution, but nice catches on Swedish Pimples and Slender Spoons tipped with waxies.
With below zero temps forecasted for the coming nights and daytime highs in the teens this week, ice should really build well.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com