2-26-14 Minocqua Fishing Report
And we thought it couldn't get any worse.... Last weeks two days above freezing was followed by nearly a foot of new snow, making access on most lakes next to impossible.
Trucks, snowmobiles, even Rangers & Quads with tracks are having trouble getting stuck.
Conditions have been bad enough to keep most lakes angler free. A few with fishing not far from boat landings (Minocqua, Carroll, Big Arbor Vitae)are receiving some anglers, but even on these lakes travel is iffy.
There were some reports of northern pike on tip-ups using big shiners. Some bluegills. Yellow perch over deep mud using wigglers produced some decent catches of 8-10" perch. A few crappies mixed in with the gills in 6-10" weeds, a few crappies found over transition mud lines in 18-24" taking rosie reds.
Few walleye reports, though a 26" reportedly showed up at the Carrol Lake Derby this past weekend.
Check conditions daily before traveling up here. Cold to stay for another 10 days. Game fish season runs through this Sunday at midnight. Getting shacks off the lakes has been a big problem. Shacks should be off by March 15th, should you feel you can't get yours off, try calling your local warden, let him/her know your name and location of the shack and your situation to see if they will give you an extension.
Better to ask ahead. DON'T burn your shack! They have shacks GPS'd so you WILL get a ticket if you leave a mess!
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop