Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 1/16/23

The incredibly mild January continues! With average lows in the mid-20’s and highs in the low/mid-30’s cold is no excuse for getting out on the ice this winter. If there is a negative to this “balmy” January it’s that many lakes don’t have enough ice (clear ice averages are 8-14”) to support truck travel. Also, some slush still being reported. Overall access and travel for foot, snowmobiles, ATV’s, and UTV’s has been good. Yet with the lack of cold, be careful. Today (1/16) we’re experiencing rain, which can lead to slippery boat landings, crust and added slush on the ice.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Lots of reports of #’s and some nice sized fish. Most anglers using large shiners & suckers. With warm weather and not a lot of ice, Pike very active in weeds of 4-10’. A few anglers jigging larger spoons tipped with minnow heads or using Jaw Jackers with live bait for the fun of catching these fish on rod & reel.

Crappie: Very Good – Locations have been mixed. Most anglers at this time of year are targeting basin Crappies over mud in 22-34’ of water. Jigging small spoons tipped with spikes or tip-downs baited with rosies. There is still a good number of Crappies in the weeds. These fish are taking slow dropped plastics on rocker spoons and Lethal Cecils.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – They like this warm weather. Good action and nice sized Bass in weedy flats of 6-10’. Medium shiners 2’ off bottom under tip-ups or Jaw Jackers.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Similar to LMB, weeds of 6-10’. Small jigs tipped with waxies or dark plastics. Early AM best for larger Gills. Some being found suspended along deep weed breaks of 12-16’.

Walleye: Good – Bite picking back up. Off shore humps of gravel or sandgrass getting visited towards dusk. Suckers seem to be preferred best, river shiners second choice. Jigging Raps and Rattlin Raps scoring also. Very early AM (pre-dawn) also a good time slot.

Yellow Perch: Good – Mud flats of 20-30’ best bouncing Time Bombs, Pinhead Minnows or Pimples to stir up mud. Bait up with wigglers or red spikes.

Lots of people up this past holiday season taking advantage of the mild weather and extra day to fish. Don’t see much of a change coming in forecast, New Moon on Saturday always a plus.