Minocqua Area Fishing Report
A combination of weather and time helped to pull the fishing up a bit by weeks end. With some shallow weeds showing signs of dying back (despite surface temps averaging 70-72), a shift to deeper weeds has been the focus for fish and anglers alike. Those deeper weeds of 13-16’ are holding a lot of species (Walleye, LMB, SMG and gills) that were missing from catches earlier in the week.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Got to move out a little deeper than a couple of weeks ago. Best action along 13-16’ coontail edges using Wacky style worms as well as Carolina rigging creature baits/skirted grubs. Fast working deep diving jerk baits (dive 8-12’) scored LMB, SMB and walleyes from one angler’s report.
Smallmouth Bass: Good. Also utilizing deep coontail edges (14-16’), sandgrass flats (18-26’) and off-shore humps topping at 22-28’. Tubes and Wacky worms on weed edges, skirted grubs and drop-shotting 2-3” Gulp minnows and Jackall pin tails over grass and gravel.
Bluegills: Good. Moving away from dying plants. Work coontail edges of 12-16’ using small leeches, worms or 1” plastic tails for suspending gills.
Northern: Good. Casting spinnerbaits (Boonies, Booyah) over green cabbage where available. Otherwise work 5-6” chubs and suckers along outside weed edges.
Musky: Good. Bucktail and twitch bait action good. Big spinnerbaits worked over weed flats then allowed to “fall” just past weed edge drawing fish out. A few reports of musky on live suckers, seems early and warm, but, verified reports.
Walleye: Fair-Good. Rebounding a bit as anglers finding walleyes along deep weed edges taking leeches, crawlers and redtails. After dark, lighted slip-bobbers with large leeches best.
Perch: Fair-Good. Best on ½ crawlers on jig. Sandgrass flats on clear, deep lakes. Next to drowned wood on Flowages or darker water.
Crappie: Fair. Tough find. Some anglers fishing base of coontail edges catching some slabs (11-13”) on medium fatheads. Few other reports.
Finally see a sugar Maple with a little color here and there. Not any real cold nights, but, definitely cooler. Water temps buoyed by warm days. Lots of water thanks to even more rain. Lakes are full and Flowages even more so, unusual for late August.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com