Minocqua Area Fishing Report

With a weekend of weather that seemed more like mid-July than late September, air temps in the 80’s this past week brought water temps back into the 70’s. Some places as high as 74 degrees – quite a rise from the 62 degree marks the week before. The summer-like temps took their toll on anglers looking for the typical “fall” patterns. Some good catches taking place, for others things all mixed up.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Some deep water bites (as deep as 35’) on the deeper lakes, while shallower lakes and Flowages finding fish as shallow as 3-6’. 3-4” suckers, chubs and mud minnows best. Drop shotting working best on the deep fish. Good reports of 19-20”+ fish.

Walleye: Good – Flowages producing some good catches on suckers, black chubs and muds. Play shallows early, move to deep wood mid-morning. On natural lakes, deep gravel humps and gravel/mud transitions of 18-35’ using 1/8-1/4 oz jigs on Lindy rigs with large fatheads.

Musky: Good – Heat means speed, bucktails and spinner baits. Some good top-water reports. Weed flats to outside edges of 8-14’.

Northern Pike: Good – #4-#5 Mepps spinner baits and fast moving 4-5” swim baits (GT360). Lots of “action” fish mostly low 20”ers.

Bluegill: Good – Tough to locate at times. But once found (search 12-14’ weed edges – 6-8’ down) good to go.

Largemouth Bass: Good–Fair – Sort of lost the edge. Lots of reports of anglers missing out on bass bite. Wacky worming doing best.

Yellow Perch: Good – Some very good catches of 10-12” Perch on ½ crawlers. Search out shallow weed flats or drowned wood that holds insects, minnows.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Usually a great time, except for some below dam action, best reports by trollers pulling small flicker shads and Hot ‘N Tots on Flowages

Rain and storms due in today (9/25) that look to bring temperatures back into upper 60’s/ low 70’s. Color at only 20% or so. Looks to be a drawn out fall, surface temps need to get into low 60’s, upper 50’s for Musky bite to heat up.

Red tailed chubs and Musky suckers in short supply.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop

www.kurtsislandsports.com

Like us on FaceBook