Minocqua Area Fishing Report May 21st, 2012
Minocqua Area Fishing Report
By Professional Guide Kurt Justice
Despite some intense little storms that blew through on Sunday afternoon, the past week has been good if not a little windy. This strange spring continues to have its effect. Looks like in a lot of cases, crappies did not get to spawn. They seem to have missed their window of opportunity. Female crappies being caught now have soft, gooey eggs that they will be reabsorbing through the summer. Bluegills and large mouth are very shallow-and so on some lakes-a week to two early-bug hatches are also early.
Northern Pike: Very good. Lots of numbers being caught by jig fishermen targeting walleyes in weeds and around downed wood (flowages). 1/16oz wide gap jig on a wire leader baited with chub (if you can get them) or sucker best.
Yellow Perch: Very good. Putting on the feed bag! Thunderbugs, worms, medium fatheads, and imitation bug/craw gulp baits all working well. Wood and shallow weeds of 4-8 feet. Lots of anglers finding dragon fly larvae (Thunderbugs) and small crayfish in bellies of very nice perch. Lots of 10 inch+ including fish of 12inch+ to 13 1/2inch this week.
Walleyes: Good. Action a little more spotty on some bodies, but picking up on others. Work green weeds of 8-14 foot for best action, casting diving cranks (shad raps, etc.) along sparse outside weed edges of 12-14 foot accounting for nice 22-25 inch fish. Live bait (crawlers, leeches, and minnows) on jigs making for most catches.
Bluegills: Good. Weather a little windy, but gills hunkering in tight to shore making easy targets. Small leeches, thunderbugs, northland impulse baits tops.
Largemouth Bass: Good. Very shallow, a few on beds. Downed trees holding fish, but a lot are being seen just cruising shallows. Large leeches, 4" plastic worms, craws best. Still catch and release only till June 16th.
Smallmouth Bass: Good. Big smallies of 18-20inches this week. Hitting jig/crawler combos for walleye. Some starting to bed. Treat 'em nice. Catch and release until June 16th.
Crappies: Fair. What happened?!?!?!? Crappies never seemed to nest up this season on most lakes. Back out in deeper weeds now. Slip-floats and live minnows best.
Water temps ranging from 58 degrees to 65 degrees depending on size and water type. While spring is ahead of schedule, anglers coming up this week should find good action as shallows are relatively warm (for time of year) and full of life.
For information on lodging, dining, entertainment and more outdoors in the Minocqua Area, connect with the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce at www.minocqua.org
or 715-356-5266
Connect with Kurt Justice and Kurt’s Island Sport Shop at www.kurtsislandsports.com