Minocqua Area Fishing Report May 28, 2014
A weekend such as the last could almost make ya forget about the winter and opener of 2014.... almost!
A truly gorgeous weekend of weather brought anglers out by the droves as they pursued their favorite species all over the Lakeland area.
Crappies: Excellent! Anglers found crappies in both pre-spawn and the start of spawning modes. Flipping tiny 1/64 oz jigs such as Gapen's Freshwater Shrimp as well as Hotties and Falls Fine Ball jigs under tiny floats produced limits for 10-13" crappies throughout the Lakeland area. Big fish topping out at 15" succumbed to small minnows suspended 2' under floats outside and through just about any downed timber. In a matter of hours a shoreline devoid of nesting crappies would fill up with nesting pairs. With many lakes just hitting their peak this week, action should continue through the coming weekend.
Walleyes: Very Good. The tribal spearing counts are in and the bag limits on many- but not all lakes bounced up from 1's and 2's to 2's and 3's. Check the new bag limits at the Wisconsin DNR website. Lots of big fish being caught after dark. Fish of 24-28" hitting long switchbaits with Rapalas Scatter Minnows #11 tops. Anglers casting from shore and piers doing the best. Daytime bite mostly on jig minnow combos with Dace and chubs (where available) top choices.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good. Action picking up as largemouth moving into shallows to pick up heat and feed on small pan fish and insects. Even had reports of top water action as local angler caught 20 LM in one evening on Baby Bully 45 frog. Spinners, spinner baits, small shallow running cranks all producing nice catches to 20"ers. A 24" was caught on a fly rod with a white streamer (reportedly).
Northern Pike: Very Good. Pike following pan fish toward shallows of 3-6'. Jigs and sucker combos accounting for lots of action on fish of 24-32". One 35" caught by crappie angler. #3 Mepps spinners also effective.
Bluegill: Good. Not as heavily targeted due to crappie bite, but bug hatches bringing gills up high to surface. A few larger gills taking minnows meant for crappies. Small leeches tough to beat here.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good. (catch and release only) Big fish staging outside spawning areas. With temps on many lakes warming to mid 60's in a hurry- watch for beds to appear
Jig & Creature, Jig & Lizard and top water lures such as Chug-Bugs good way to go.
Muskie: Poor-Fair. Not many reports and the ones we have received not good. Could have caught the midst of spawn or post spawn with how warm it got so quickly, tough to know. Disappointing opener for most.
Sun and little wind caused lake temps to soar into the 60's. Shallows becoming active with insect life and small bait fish pulling in the larger fish. Weed growth weeks behind making any standing green growth valuable real estate.
Good Luck,
Kurt
Island Sportshop, Minocqua, Wi