Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Cool weather and lots of wind made for a quieter than normal Labor Day weekend on the water. The wind was probably the biggest factor, making boat control and any type of finesse fishing difficult. Water temps, thanks to an unusually cool early September, have dropped this past week from low 70’s to low-mid 60’s.

Musky: Good – Shallow water action tops as anglers surprised to find some fish in 2-3’ depths. Spoons, spinner baits and top-water baits working well. Fast moving gliders with tails, as well as 7” twitch baits. From here until turn-over, top-water a very good choice.

Largemouth Bass: Good – With Musky moving into inside weeds, look out a bit deeper into beds to find fish. Jig and craw, Wacky worming and Texas Rigging 4-7” worms. On quieter nights/evenings, top-water action good.

Northern Pike: Good – Reports best from anglers casting (due to wind making live bait presentations difficult). Spinner baits, swim baits and spoons getting best attention, cabbage beds of 7-12’.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Wind was biggest hindrance. Anglers finding some fish over rocks or along deep coontail edges. Reports of big fish (4#+) up in shallows hitting top-water (Whopper Ploppers)

Walleye: Fair-Good – The deeper bite best on larger lakes where anglers working Shiver Minnows and Jigging Raps scoring along gravel humps of 18-25’. Also drifting crawler harness over mud flats effective outside weed edges in 13-20’.

Crappie: Fair – Spotty reports, but large fish (12-14”) from weed beds of 8-12’. Wind a problem, 1/16 oz jigs to hold 2” twister tails down. Some deep wood fish (18-25’) but not any large numbers. This cool weather will probably start to concentrate.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Not many reports, few targeting due to wind.

Bluegill: Fair – Same as Perch.

This early cool down should help spur Musky and Pike activity, as well as get the early fall patterns going for Walley and Crappies.