Minocqua Area Fishing Report 12/22/14
A week of stable weather meant no ice loss, but little gain. A heavy fresh snow on Sunday afternoon (12/21) will mean you can leave the cleats at home. New snow accumulation was about 1.5 to 2", forecast is for sporadic snows over the next week, but fairly mild temps in the low to mid 30's. New moon period this week should provide daytime anglers with good action.
Bluegills: Very Good. This species had to get top rank this week due to the goliaths being caught. A verifies 11 and a 11 1/4" plus several others in the 10"+ range. Lack of snow cover has allowed anglers to venture out on to usually unfinished waters. While the standard jig/wax combo helped catch many of the gills caught this weekend (including the 11"er caught by a (9yr. old girl), jigging Rattlin Raps tipped with waxies accounted for the 11 1/4"er. Tungsten jigs tipped with a single spike or sliver of plastic (red, white, black or purple) accounting for fish when bite slows.
Walleyes: Very Good. The bite has shifted to earlier, just before dusk and even some good mid-day bites (typical of new moon patterns). Chubs, suckers and shiners all producing on tip-ups. Chubs and shiners for weed relating fish, suckers over gravel, sand grass or mud. Jigging Raps, Vibratos and Buck-shot spoons also producing nicer (22-28") walleyes for anglers with the "twitch".
Crappies: Very Good- Good: Action a bit slower, but still productive. Seems you have to "wait'em-out". Pockets of hot action on tip-downs with minnows followed by having to "finesse" with rockers tipped with waxies. Most anglers keeping 10-11" fish a few 12" being caught.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good. If you just want to see the flags fly set some tip-ups with medium shiners out over weed flats or 6-10". Lots of action! A few larger fish of 18"+ reported, but most in the 13-16" range.
Northern Pike: Good. Big chubs, suckers and shiners on tip-ups along outside of weed edges of 10-14' for larger pike. (a couple of out of season muskies to 41" this week- quick catch and release)
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good. Still not up to par, but reports of good catches in some areas of shallow weeds on forage spoons tipped with waxies, deep water mud flats on Halis and #2 pimples tipped with wigglers, red spikes and some Flowage, wood relating perch on rosie reds.
This week the nice weather continues, though by Saturday(12/27) cold will move in to remind us its winter. Not much change on ice conditions, averages of 10-12" with a few lakes as little as 6" so be careful. New moon period should bracket most of the best action between 6am and 6pm. this week. Late night walleye anglers have noticed a slow down to the after dark bite already.'
Thanks
Kurt
Island Sportshop
Minocqua, Wi 54548