Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 1/20/26

Winter is arriving, so the party is over for a while.  Sub-zero highs and double sub-zero lows will make almost anyone think twice before heading out on the lakes.  Mid-week doesn’t look so bad, but the weekend forecast is pretty scary (Friday morning (1/23) lows to hit -23° with wind chill (-42°)).  So, let’s look back at the good ol’ days (last week), temps in the 20’s and fish biting!

Walleye:  Very Good-Good – Still some good jigging action on Hyper Rattles, Shiver Minnows, Jigging Raps and Two-Face Spoons.  Still strong reports coming from about 2:30-3:00 PM through dusk.  Weed Walleyes in 9-12’ taking shiners (golden and river), off-shore in 16-24’ as the feed moves out deeper Walleyes preferring suckers over shiners.

Northern Pike:  Very Good-Good – From 8 AM through to dusk (surprisingly even Pike being caught after dark).  Big suckers and shiners on tip-ups, a few hitting Jigging Raps and Spoons meant for Walleye.  Lots of action and good size reported to 34” this past weekend.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Very Good – As they tend to when weather warms.  Best on small to medium golden shiners.  Expect this bite to shut down with the coming cold blast.

Crappie:  Good – Still mixed reports.  Weed fish turn on every few days on slow dropped plastics in narrow leaf cabbage of 8-12’.  Basin fish taking Crappie minnows and rosies on tip-downs as well as Rattling Kastmasters tipped with waxies over 17-30’.

Yellow Perch:  Good – Mud flats of 14-18’ hitting heavy, fast dropping spoons (Halis) or spoons with rattles (Northland Tungsten Buckshot) tipped with wigglers or red spikes.

Bluegill:  Good – Mostly weed related in 7-12’ taking #3 tungsten jigs tipped with waxies, spikes or plastics.  Some larger Gills found suspending out from 12-16’ weed edges taking small plastics in bug forms.

If there is any good news to the impending cold, it will be making better ice.  As of now reports of 14-18” with some anglers measuring 20”+.  Truck travel possible now.  All that snow we got (and weren’t supposed to) last Friday (1/16) helped the bubble heads a great deal, plus was mostly light enough to not impede trucks as some blew off with the winds.

To be honest, not expecting many reports this week and if barometer doesn’t fall some, could be a tough bite.  Hopefully for those locked into a fishing trip the winds stay light and some fish are willing to bite!

Pic of the week

Blake of Mosinee with a dandy 24” Walleye caught over the weekend.

Ice Fishing Tournaments

February 14^th – 25^th Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament (Sponsored by Sayner-Star Lake Lions)