Minocqua, WI Area Fishing Report
So much for the last weekend of gamefish season. Last Wednesday's dumping of snow (20-22" on average) put a halt to getting out on the ice. Prior to that, fishing was very good, but now access is tough. Two days of warm weather (mid 30s) compacted snow down some, but still truck and ATV travel are out of the question. Foot traffic and some snowmobiles will work. Be carefull, take a friend with a good back, a shovel and tall boots. Actually, things should get a bit easier as the weekend approaches and snow packs down. But, slush will remain a problem.
Perch: Very good to Excellent. Prior to the storm, perch very aggressive. Fish Gapen Flicker Jigs (1/32oz), #2 pimples, #2 jigging raps, and #25 Hali jigs in 15-26' of water. Bait Raps with minnow head or waxies on center hook. Other jigs, use wigglers and red spikes. Tip-downs with rosie reds also very effective. Lots of nice 9-11" eaters.
Crappies: Good to very good. Bays with standing weed in 8-12' holding lots of crappies still tight to the bottom. Finesse with bright colored rocker jigs tipped with Wedgee plastics in chartruese, yellow, white or silver. Other anglers reporting big crappies to 14" on Russian Spoons and #2 pimples tipped with waxies or Gulp Alive spike in 20-28' of water 6-10' off bottom. Tip-downs with rosies have also been working well for these fish.
Bluegills: Good. Small tungsten jigs tipped with a single spike or piece of Chena bait in 8-12'. Deep water gills over sandgrass in 15-23' taking waxies, wigglers tipped on Moxy jigs. Good sized gills in the 7 1/2 to 8 1/2" range out over the deep mixed in with some perch.
As far as gamefish, not much to finish up. A few nice pike to 35" caught and released along with some walleyes to 25". Snow really hindered movement, so not a lot of reports.
The panfishermen that got out said if they got where they wanted to go, it only took a few holes to get the action started.
Average ice depth 20". Snow on lakes 12-14". Snow should protect ice for few extra days once warm weather returns.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com