Minocqua Area Fishing Report
A very cold first half of September has lake temps dropping quickly from averages of 71-73 degrees just two weeks ago to surface temps plummeting to the 57-59 degree average. Certain species are still active, while fishing for some others has nearly come to a complete halt.
Crappies: Fair-Good (and improving). Big slabs of 12-14" being caught on area flowages around deep wood. Medium fatheads have been the bait of choice, though these fish will take larger minnows also. On natural type lakes, deep coontail edges are holding nice crappies suspended 3-5' off bottom. Minnows, mini-mites and small tubes in white, silver and pink best.
Walleyes: Poor-Good (improving). After a bust of a couple days mid-week, action improving. Natural lakes work deep hard bottom areas of 14-24'. 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigs tipped with 1/2 crawler on large fatheads. Edges of humps best. On flowages, slowly dragging/hopping 4" minnow over drowned wood in 14-19'. Chubs are best if you can find them, otherwise suckers are working as well.
Musky: Fair-Improving. Best action on bucktails, big spinnerbaits. Twitch baits in the 7-8" variety. Most fish/sightings coming from weedy areas of 6-10'. Full moon period last week may have been part of the slow daytime bite.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Deeper gravel, 18-22' usually 8-10' higher if walleyes present at deeper levels. Lindy rigs with suckers of 3-5", creature baits on football jigs and tubes on 3/8 oz heads.
Northern: Fair. Surprisingly slow despite cooler water. Live chubs, suckers best with slow bite. Spinners, spinnerbaits and 4-5" paddle tail minnow imitations also good.
Largemouth Bass: Poor. Activity very slow, need to plunge deep into weed cover to draw any attention. Cold really had a negative affect on this species. There is a small window in the afternoon from noon to 4pm they are taking spinnerbaits, then shutting back down.
Bluegill: Poor. A few scattered fish in 8-12' weeds. Another species very negatively affected by sudden drop in water temps.
Perch: Poor. No reports.
This coming week looks to warm somewhat. Mornings of launching to air temps of 33-35 degree is very late October/early November like. Trees about 5-10% color change. Wild bait (suckers, chubs, mud minnows) very difficult to come by, high water keeping bait collectors out of rivers.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop