Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Though not as bad as last year, it's been a cold February that has been keeping anglers off the ice and fishing tough when they do venture out. This final weekend of game fish season shows promise as temps look to get into the 20's. Walleye, Northern Pike and Bass season ends at midnight Sunday!
Northern Pike: Fair-Good. Action slowly increasing since last week. As expected mostly on tip-ups with large shiners or large suckers. A few anglers scored some nice pike, jigging Raps and Swedish Pimples (#5-#6) dressed with a minnow head in 8-12' weeds.
Yellow Perch: Best catches over mud in 18-30' but bite is spotty. Wigglers on Hali's & #2 Pimples. More action yet less average size in weeds of 6-12' using Forage Spoons with waxies or medium Fats-Large Rosies. In the weeds, the larger perch have been bigger (11-12") but few, lots of little perch (3-7").
Walleye: Fair. Best at dark and after. Golden Shiners and Lake shiners in weeds to 12' on tip-ups. Off shore anglers using suckers and Lake shiners over 18-24' humps surrounded by 40+ feet. Jigging spoons also effective.
Crappies: Fair. A few anglers catching fish in bays on plastics or waxies. Best catches in these areas coming after dark using small rosie reds. Deep water action is best on rosies or crappie minnows from 3pm till dusk, along transition areas of mud / gravel in 17-24'. It's been too cold for tip-downs so anglers have been resorting to setting up inside shacks.
Bluegills: Fair. Best catches over deeper water, some in areas anglers typically fish for perch and crappies. In depths of 14-24' over mud, anglers using Tungsten jigs to get moussees and spike down quickly. Around weeds, fish deeper at this time, 10-12' edges for the better gills using rockers with waxies, Gulp waxies.
Largemouth Bass: Poor. Cold temps slowing the bite. Use medium shiners on tip-ups for best action on warmer days.
Hopefully the game fish season will end on a high note- the past two years have not. Check out the Carrol Lake Tourney, over $10,000 in prizes, food. Tourney is Sat. Feb. 28th, we'll be opening the shop @ 5 am. that morning!
Thanks,
Kurt
Island Sportshop
Minocqua, WI