Minocqua Area Fishing Report [9-26-13]
After a late week hiccup, water temps are finally being forced down just a bit. Water temps were dropping, but, Thursday’s high of 80 degrees rose surface temps back above the mid 60’s. Sunday morning had low temps of 28 degrees. Flowages and shallow lakes saw surface temps dip to 61-62 degrees, while larger lakes hover around 65 degrees.
Crappies: Very good. Still the best bite going so far. Any drowned wood is worth probing with slip-floats and minnows, jig and minnow or twister combos. Continue as last week, working 2” twisters over weed tops or look for suspended crappie 3-5’ off bottom outside of 14-17’ coontail edges.
Largemouth Bass: Good. Action changing with colder mornings. Working twitch baits (X-raps, Husky Jerks, Rattlin’ Rogues) over inside weed edges producing nice bass to 18” this week. Late mornings best. Spinnerbaits and shallow cranks also working.
Walleye: Fair-Good. Catches improving with drop in water temps. Best results using chubs, but, large fats and crawlers also working.
Musky: Fair-Good. Catches slowly improving. Just starting to get some decent reports on sucker fishing. Bucktails, gliders and twitches best among artificial use.
Pike: Fair-Good. Spinnerbaits up in shallow weeds being used by schools of perch producing catches. Not a lot of size this week, but some nice 28-29”
Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good. Still work gravel humps of 17-25’, use sculpin imitation/colored jigs/plastic to pick up some nice smallies to 19” this week.
Perch: Good-Fair. Bite slowed. Continue to fish shallow weeds of 4-7’.
Bluegills: Fair. Few reports.
Taking longer than expected, but low 60 degree temps showing up. A bump in the walleye and musky action at the end of this week, but, should only improve from here. Next three weeks are sucker time, best time for action musky fishing.
Maple trees are suddenly showing good colors. Birch, Popal, Ash are on the verge.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop