Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Not a noteworthy weekend, but it looks as though an uptick in action, as we may be starting to come out of the mid-winter blues. Certain species are making a stronger showing and this week’s warm up could provide some better fishing conditions.
Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Good Action and some above average size Gills reported. Best action has been late morning through early afternoon as of late, probably due to below zero morning temps. Skandia #14 & #12 tungsten jigs as well as Fiskas in #2.5 thru #4’s tipped with Skimpees, Duppies, Wedgees, as well as J&S Larva Mites or Ice Mites. As for live bait, moussees, waxies working well. Small and dark best when fish get quiet.
Northern Pike: Good – Big shiners ruling the action, partially due to lack of larger suckers, but also due to activeness and flash of shiners. Rigs with small blades helping to attract fish. Standing cabbage best in 7-10’, but larger fish (30”+) coming from deeper 12-17’ edges.
Yellow Perch: Good – Depth of 18-30’ working mud flats using heavy spoons/jigs to stir up mud. Tip Venom Tungsten Core Rattle Spoons, Hali Sliver Spoons, Chandeliers, Flash Champs and Kastmasters with wigglers or red spikes. With warm up, rosie reds on tip-downs should work, but once found, fast dropping jigs/spoons way to increase #’s.
Crappie: Good – A few reports of large fish moving into shallow weedy bays towards dusk, but for the most, deeper edges and flats. Weed edges of 12-18’ using tip-downs with rosies, gow or UV colored Flash Champs, Chandeliers, pimples, Demons. Waxies on glow #5 Fiskas. Use lighter colored plastics (white, pink, silver) when weed fishing. Look for fish to suspend 4-7’ off bottom over flats, anglers finding Crappies in bays at dusk 2-4’ below ice taking gold or white rockers tipped with Chena bait.
Walleye: Fair – Out over deep sandgrass flats, Walleye suckers, large rosie reds and large fatheads on tip-ups. Jigging spoons with rattles or lights (Northland/Fish 13) tipped with minnow heads. Jigging Raps, Hyper Rattles & Glides also working. Best early AM, 1 hour before dark and again between 10 PM and midnight.
Largemouth Bass: Poor-Fair – Expect action to pick up as temps get over 20’s this week. Shiners on tip-ups always top choice, but jigging Euro Tackle Z-vibes in 7-10’ weeds, tipping with minnow head, also producing some nice Bass when weather allowing
Should be a good weekend with new moon period coming up, plus some warmer weather. Reports of ice depths in the 22-26” range, with some areas to 30”. Snow depth making ATV travel tough, but trucks and snowmobiles good. Mid-week warm up (in the 40’s) should pack snow down to make ATV’s viable again in some areas.
We welcome the Wisconsin High School Ice Fishing Championship on Lake Minocqua and the eastern half of Lake Tomahawk. Good luck to all the participants. Bring your Student ID’s and show at counter for specials on tackle.
Tournaments
2/17 Bob Lemer Tournament - Lake Katherine & Wisconsin High School State Championship
2/24 Carroll Lake Ice Derby & Lake Tomahawk Fisheree