Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Snow (not as much as south of us, but any snow in May is too much), cold, and most of all wind has made the week following the opener rather tough. Lake surface temps are lower now (40-48 degrees) than a week ago (44-55 degrees) thanks to below freezing nights. The shallows cool off every morning making late morning through dusk the best times to fish.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Spawn over, the good post spawn bite is starting, but not really ramped up yet due to the cold weather. Casting minnow style baits (floating Rapalas, Rattlin Rouges) over weed tops in the evening. Jigs and minnows best when worked slowly through cabbage beds. Walleyes scattered, but as water warms, actions should really pick up by this weekend.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Probably a better source of action than Walleyes. Live bait or swim baits worked slowly through 4-7’ cabbage. Looking, but not actively hitting spinner baits.

Crappie: Fair-Poor – The cold has held this species out away from the shallows, best to work 10-12’ outside woody shorelines. Live bait best this week as water temps falling. This action will shoot up this weekend as water temps rise and fish move in to warm themselves and prepare for the spawn.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Few targeted during cold spell. Twitch baits and working Ned rigs in old weed beds where water may be 2-3 degrees warmer than rest of lake best.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Poor – Few targeting with conditions. Try wigglers, small leeches or pieces of crawler in shallow, weedy flats.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Poor – Few reports. Best in 10-14’ on X-Raps off points or bars.

A nice warm up by the end of the week should really improve the action all around. Rising water temps, along with clouds and some rain will draw the Crappies into the shallows and entice the post spawn Walleyes to start feeding. Looks to be a good, if wet, weekend to fish!