Minocqua Fishing Report
Finally some true cold winter like weather to help make the ice we need to be able to safely venture out.
Air temps shot down into the negative degree marks, enough to expect a good inch plus of ice to be made per day over the next five plus days. Once some lakes become safe for vehicle travel by next weekend, dispersing the fishing pressure and adding new water should help reports.
Walleye: Fair. Action slowed as the week went on. That big fish from last week ( 14.94lbs) was followed by a reported 31” er released the next day. Dusk has been best, but window of activity was small, giving anglers just 30-45 minutes of action. Suckers on tip –ups over 18-24’ sand grass on deep lakes best.
Crappies: Fair. Anglers having to work for best bites. Tip-down action will slow with recent cold, best to try jigging Lethal Cecils tipped with waxies, plastics on rockers (white, yellow, and silver). Anglers seeing/ marking lots of crappies, very tight lipped.
Northern Pike: Fair. Less active than weeks past, bite windows smaller. Big suckers, shiners on tip-ups best. Some nice fish (30” plus) but not many.
Bluegills: Fair. Anglers working to keep ½ limits of 7” fish. Small pockets of biters, but lots of just lookers. The tungsten jig flys have continued to produce, tip with a single spike, moussee or waxie.
Yellow Perch: Fair. A few anglers venturing out on safe ice over deeper water (18-24”) finding some perch cruising sand grass. Hali jigs, Perch talkers, Flash champs and Kastmasters tipped with red spikes. In shallower areas of 6-10”, small minnows working, but a bit of sorting. No reports of limits, 7-10 keepers a good catch right now.
LargemouthBass: Poor. Cold put clamps on the species. Look for action to pick back up by weeks end with temps peaking in the 20’s Thursday and Friday.
With morning temps hitting -16 degrees and I’m sure even lower in some parts, Ice will be thickening quickly. Caution still important, but by weeks end it will be time for power augers and quads, maybe small trucks on some lakes.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop