Minocqua Area Fishing Report 8-13-2013
Cool weather persists so lake temps continue to hover at the upper 60 degree mark with a nice warm afternoon cracking 70 degrees. Little hope for more in the forecast. Not a typical summer, some adjustment needed in your August fishing patterns.
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good. Not a typical “hot” summer bite. Very little top-water. Plunging heavy jigs/weighted hooks with creature baits best way to get big largemouth. Pre-rigged plastic worms, Rattle Trap style cranks and spinnerbaits also working over and around weeds.
Walleye: Fair-Good. Some nice fish, few nice catches. Deep rocks best for larger fish (24-27”) on large leeches, crawlers on jigs or Lindy rigs. Eater fish (15-18”) on deep weedlines of 14-18’ on crawlers.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good. Not a normal August. Smallies not as concentrated as usual on rocks. Some fish there. Try drop-shotting 2 ½” Crawpappis. Leeches, crawlers and frozen softshells over sandgrass flats providing spotty action.
Musky: Fair-Good. Cooler temps predicating a bit slower retrieves. Pull out the jerk baits and gliders as well as twitch baits to work over and outside weed flats. Count down plastics in 14-26’ outside of tall weeds.
Pike: Fair-Good. Live bait has been best this week. Jig a chub or sucker under a float. Slower retrieve double Colorado bladed spinnerbaits and plastic fish imitation jig/combos.
Perch: Fair. Fish shallow, but in heavy weeds. Try ½ crawler and jig or medium fat on a slip-bobber rig. Deeper sandgrass flat bite is spotty – use frozen softshells for these fish.
Crappie: Fair. Action actually decent on the Minocqua chain. Size running small. Tiny jair/plastic jigs below slip-floats over 8-12’ curly leaf cabbage.
Bluegills: Fair. Signs of migration away from weed beds. Suspending out over 12-20’. Small leeches, worms, mini-mite plastics.
Fish are being caught, but not with the regularity expected for this time of year. Some transition happening. Tough to come up with big catches. After late spring, Mother Nature seems to be toying with the idea of an early fall.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop