Minocqua area fishing report
While not as warm as the previous week, the continued warm weather meant some stable patterns and fairly consistent fishing. A few high sky days meant the best times were early or late, but, overall the bite has remained good.
Smallmouth Bass: Very good. Off-shore humps remain best. Rock and gravel of 18-28’. Drop-shotting rubber craw imitations, 2 ½” Gulp minnows. The outside weed edges have also produced well for anglers tossing tubes and wacky worms.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Top water action in the evenings on plastic frogs, Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers and weedless spoons. During mid-day work spinnerbaits and chatter baits as well as pre-rigged plastic worms over cabbage beds of 8-12’. Early mornings twitch baits are drawing fish up.
Walleye: Good-Very good. Must fish prime times to get best bites. Mid mornings to mid afternoons not so good. Crawlers and leeches are most effective for walleyes up in shallow weeds during low light periods. Redtail chubs doing well also as fish are feeding heavily on small perch. A few reports of casting #6 Shad Raps and Flicker Shads at dawn and dusk.
Bluegills: Good-Very good. Actively taking poppers towards dusk around emergent vegetation (Lily pads, etc.). During the day 6-10’ cabbage on most lakes though deeper lakes seeing best fish suspending off coontail edges in 12-18’.
Pike: Good. Fish bladed baits (#4 Mepps, Boonie Baits or Chatter baits) as well as 4” swim baits over heavy cover.
Perch: Good. Drowned wood (tree stumps or cribs) best as these fish love to pick crayfish off these areas. Half crawlers, medium leeches, medium fatheads best.
Crappies: Good. Fish tops of tall, narrow leaf cabbage. Small minnows and jigs or 1-2” twister tails.
Musky: Fair-Good. Surprisingly best action on recent outing on 7” twitch baits. Though typically bucktails this time of year. Throw top water early and late in the day.
Surface temps have cracked 80 degrees on many lakes due to lots of sun. Mid days have been a bit slower on high pressure days. Best to chase bluegills and Largemouth during those times.