Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Rain, not as bad as South Central Wisconsin, but enough to affect fishing participation even in the Northwoods. While not the volume of rain as down south, the after affects of some of the electrical storms put a couple of the morning bites off. Yet, once things settled there were some bright spots to the fishing.
Musky: Good-Very Good – Top-water action has remained hot as tail baits (Whopper Ploppers, Pace Maker - Tally Wacker style) have been producing. Spinnerbaits and bucktails with large, fluted blades to lift the lures over weed flats. Surprisingly, quite a few reports of Musky taking suckers, despite the relatively warm water. Pink baits, blades on body, have been particularly effective this past week.
Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and Mepps #3:#4 Comets, as well as 4” swimbaits, worked over weed beds. Chubs and suckers on jigs or under floats for the more relaxed angler producing nice Pike in the mid 30” range.
Smallmouth Bass: Good – Work gravel humps or sandgrass flats using drop-shot rigs of 3” Gulp minnows or Dartshogs. Also, a good bite on larger fish on top-water. Watch for feeding Gills then race to within casting distance. Reports or 4#+ fish!
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Bite seems to have fallen off a bit. Best with more subtle fare such as Wacky Worming and Ned rigs.
Crappie: Fair-Good – Small tubes, Crappie Thumpers, Road Runners or 1-2” twister tails on a 1/64 – 1/32 oz jig. Work top sections of weeds at deepest point before breaks.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Best around drowned wood, cribs 8-14’ of water ½ crawler or piece of frozen softshell.
Bluegill: Fair – Better when weather clears. Small jigs, Mini-mites tipped with Waxies, Thunderbugs or worms. Better Gills suspended off weed edges of 12-16’.
Walleye: Fair – Mixed reports from poor to “decent”. Best on leeches and crawlers along drop-offs of 12-18’. After dark, a bit shallower 8-12’ using lighted slip-bobbers and 3-5” suckers or chubs.
Should be a time of cooling temps and lowering water levels. The flowages have dropped, but recent flooding down in Southern Wisconsin could mean water may start to be held back up here. Warm days have kept surface temps in lower 70’s, some upper 60’s reported. Forecast for rain early in week leading to cooler, cloudy weather by week’s end.