Minocqua Area Fishing Report 2-5-13
These reports are so much easier to write when fishing is good! Real cold and high pressure kept the bite down again. Anglers experience much of the same as they did the week before – fish very negative and not in the mood to bite. We had been spoiled with all of the thin ice and good fishing. Actually this isn’t uncommon for mid-winter, but a few bites are even worse than usual.
Pike: Fair. Most action has been slow with the extreme cold, especially early mornings. Late morning through mid-day has been best for some pike anglers. River shiners and large golden shiners best on tip-ups, not much jigging due to cold (unless in shacks).
Perch: Poor-Fair. This is one species that usually produces mid-winter, but hasn’t been very well. A few lakes had some bites going, but have shut down. This is most likely due to weather. When the bite has been good, mud flats of 17-26’ where perch are sifting for blood worms and mayfly larvae are best. Heavy lures such as tungsten jigs in the #4 and #5mm sizes tipped with a red spike as well as #2 pimples, #25 Hali jigs, Gapen Flicker jigs and slender spoons tipped with a wiggler are best.
Walleye: Poor-Fair. A few decent reports last week when the weather warmed. Action stopped with high pressure. Deeper sandgrass flats of 20-30’, especially humps near deeper water best. Suckers preferred for these deep fish.
Crappies: Poor-Fair. Try the same deep mud as you would for perch, though areas near gravel transition better. Glow jigs tipped with waxies and tip-downs (weather permitting) baited with rosies catching some nice slabs (12-14”) from 20-26’ depths.
Bluegills: Poor. Cold keeping anglers stationed in shacks – bites few. Along with traditional 8-12’ weeds, some adventurous anglers finding gills over 16-20’ sandgrass flats taking Fiska jigs tipped with spikes.
The good news is the weather is breaking. This morning (2/5) it was ten degrees at 6 am vs. 17 below yesterday. Moderate winter temps in the 20’s by weeks end should bring about better action.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop