Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 1/30/23

Taste of some real Northwoods winter temps as thermometer readings fell into the negative teens with wind chills in the mid-twenty below range. This shut down outdoor activities for the most part by Sunday (1/29). As much as the cold, the high pressure (which typically go hand in hand this time of year) really had an impact on fishing as decent reports from anglers on Saturday (1/28) shut down quickly since.

Northern Pike: Good-Poor – What seemed like a good bite for those on Saturday shut down by Sunday. Prior to super high pressure, reports of Pike activity were good with anglers getting good numbers with several sizable Pike to 40” on large shiners. Weeds have (and always will be?) key from 5-12’ depth.

Yellow Perch: Good-Poor – Good bite with nice eaters in shallow weeds of 5-8’. Taking minnows, small shiners. Mud flat bite was also good using wigglers on Halis and Pimples in 18-28’.

Crappie: Good-Poor – Best over basins of 20-35’ using rattle spoons (Kastmaster) to draw in fish. Too cold for tip-downs, so jigging providing best action.

Bluegill: Good-Poor – Weedy bays or flats of 7-12’. Early AM for larger Gills, but action good mid-morning and again mid-afternoon on K&E Pelkie jigs tipped with wax worms or red plastic.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Action picked up later in week. Best window at dusk. Tip-ups baited with 3” suckers or jigging Raps or Tikka Minos over humps rising from 40’ to 22-25’ with sandgrass or rocks.

Largemouth Bass: Poor – Largemouth don’t seem to respond well to cold snaps!

The cold has definitely put a hurt on the local fishing for now. If there is any silver lining, it’s that we could use some more ice to allow for truck travel. Can’t recommend as most lakes have an average of 10” of clear, good ice, with grey ice and slush coverings to add up to 14-18”. Whether or not this could can add to our ice remains to be seen. Snow can really insulate, and despite these next few days of extreme cold, we won’t know the results until it happens. Also, as temps get back into the low 20’s as forecasted by this weekend and the barometer drops some, fishing (and catching) should improve.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments

Feb 11th – Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament

Feb 18th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree

Feb 18th – Mercer Lions Club Jamboree

Feb 25th – Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. – Kids Ice Fishing Day