Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Fishing slowed the past week, constantly changing weather, some bug hatches and the challenge of the moon!

While fishing for some species fell off, others moved up the charts to keep anglers with open minds catching fish

Northern Pike: Very Good – Best on spinner baits over weed flats of 6-10’. Anglers also scoring on chatter baits and 4” swim baits. Mepps #4’s and ¾ oz Daredevils working also. No monsters, but plenty of action.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Bedding done, most Smallies have moved out past fisrt break. Tubes still best. Lots of action on fall. Jerk baits worked as suspending baits 5-6’ down over 8-14’ breaks. (X-raps, etc.)

Bluegill: Good – Better in deeper weeds. Need some sun to get water into low 70’s to bring Gills back up to bed. Thunderbugs, small leeches best.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Scattered around cabbage flats of 6-10’. Medium leeches, thunderbugs, medium fats below small floats 8-12” off bottom.

Musky: Fair – Best on smaller bucktails – 500 Series Bucher Tails, #5 Mepps, Rizzo Tails.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Oddly scattered. Should be bedding but cold nights have hampered on some lakes. Wacky Worms and jig/creature-craw combos best.

Crappie: Fair-Poor – Tough find overall. Small minnows best bet.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Went from first to worst. Could be start of hatches (March Browns so far, Hex’s next), best on leeches or crawlers on smaller bodies of water.

Just a mixed-up week. Thought stable weather would help, but weather that arrived not stable. Forecst of temps in 80’s rest of week into next, should push surface temps into 70’s, helping Largemouth and Bluegill anglers, as well as Musky Fishermen.