Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Good, stable summer weather has allowed for some typical summer patterns to develop. Late bug hatches are finishing up (some I thought were already done, sorry) and high water and high water temps are the norm for right now.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – A variety of techniques working as LMB appear to be all over. Early morning and evenings top-water action has been hot! Mid-mornings through late afternoons, jig and creature, wacky worms and Ned rigs can’t go wrong. Spinner baits and chatter baits for those who just have to keep casting. Numbers and size have been good

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Early AM cast twitch baits along inside weed edges. As sun moves up, Ned rigs and drop shot rigs along outside weed edges of 12-16’. Lipless cranks worked parallel along same edges, count down to proper depth, also effective.

Bluegill: Very Good – Up along flats of 6-10’. Small jigs tipped with small leeches. Poppers towards evening, wet flys and nymphs during day. Bobbers and worms? Give it a try.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Fan casting across cabbage flats of 6-10’ best using Boonie Baits (spinner baits) and 4” swim baits. Weedless spoons tipped with 4” Mr. Twister tails also hot!

Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – Along outside weed edges fish thunderbugs, medium leeches or ½ crawler. Same baits, but look for drowned wood on flowages.

Musky: Good – Top-water action in full swing. Key times early and late, the more noise the better. Mid-morning through late afternoons work big spinner baits through and along big weed flats or along coontail edges leading to deep water.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Not strong patterns, but good fish being caught in tall, narrow leaf cabage beds of 8-12’. Small Beetle spins, tiny jigs with tinsel (Gapen Freshwater Shrimp, Bunny Butt jigs) working.

Walleye: Fair – Bug hatches are winding down so anglers may have better success getting Walleyes to bite now. Weeds of 12-16’ using crawlers and X-large leeches.

Water temps in upper 70’s, cresting 80’s in small lakes and flowages. Use care on releasing fish, and ice or well oxygenated wells on those you keep.