4/29/14 Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Things are looking a lot like this time last year... maybe even worse! At the time of this report (3:00pm. 4/28/14) average ice thickness on the surrounding lakes is 22-26". Some anglers still reporting drilling to the gear box (32-34") but these are on areas that received heavy winter traffic with crushed down snow and slush. 12-16" of hard black ice is still the norm, though lake edges on the north and east sides in particular are pulling away, to the point of making access iffy.
Last year on April 29th (a Monday) we had 25" of ice on lake Minocqua This year April 28 (Monday) it's closer to24". The Rainbow Flowage is locked up to just where the Wisconsin pours in. The Willow down by the dam is only ice free about 100ft. out. Stacks Bay is iced up, but I don't recommend access. Carroll is accessible to ice. South end of Big Arb is good. Pickerel and Sweeney are iced up, but not accessible to ice.
Anglers are still getting on School House Bay and Sunny... but access is getting poor. Unfortunately we are looking at a mix of to much ice to launch boats on lakes, but not enough ice to get out and ice fish. Check out our website for updates.
Crappies: Very Good-Excellent. Both tightliners on plastics and tip-down users with minnows scored very well this weekend lots of numbers, some sorting to keep limits of crappies north of 10".
Yellow Perch: Very Good. Perch feeding up prior to spawn. Minnows, waxies and spikes, fairly large jigs.
Bluegills: Good. Larger jigs with waxies, Chena and plastics all working well.
It will be close as to having any open water. Depends entirely on how much warm weather we get- rain and wind will also help.
Thanks,
Kurt
Kurts Island Sports