Minocqua Area Fishing Report 10/12/2021

Feels like we’ve been in a “forever September” with afternoon temps in the 70’s holding lake surface temps running 63-67+ degrees. Beautiful weather, most days with almost no wind, lots of sun, but not what us anglers are looking for this time of year.

Fish continue to seem as perplexed as anglers for the most part. Mostly just us anglers, not finding the fish where we expect them or in the quantity.

Musky: Good – Following a poor rating last week, went out and had a 3 fish day, all on suckers. Fish have been moving and action should only improve once weather cools. Smity Jerks, Mantas and 7” twitch baits moving fish best, but bucktails still moving fish also.

Crappies: Fair-Good – While wood fish remain scattered, anglers finding good action working 10-13’ of weeds, keeping minnows at weed top levels, 3-4’ off bottom, working best as are mini-mites and small hair jigs. A little surprised to find crappies in this location at this time of year but with water temps running above average and 10-12 degrees warmer than this time last year, nothing should be surprising.

Yellow Perch: Good -Fair – Some good catches of 9-12’ perch being caught using 1/16 oz weedless jigs tipped with medium fatheads in 8-9’ weed edges and pockets.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Some good action on nice eaters in shallows with weeds and signs of small 1-2” yellow perch. Jig and minnow, #3 Mepps spinners, and ¼ oz spinnerbaits producing.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Picking fish up in small groups from gravel/mud transition areas. Large fatheads, suckers, and black chubs on 1/8 – 1/4 oz jigs. Drowned wood holding eyes in 10-14’ of water, slip-floats holding crawlers just above logs best.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Best off shore humps and hanging around sandgrass flats. Drop-shotting best approach, yet live bait meant for walleyes also providing action.

Bluegill: Fair – Few reports, but some larger gills taking small minnows meant for crappies over weed tops in 10-13’.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Poor – Not sure why, but finding largemouth not easy over the weekend. Could be musky relating to shallower weeds putting a damper on largemouth bite.

These reports are from info I gather from my own trips, customers, and people I meet at landings. Things change, sometimes quickly. For example – last week I gave musky a poor report then went out and had 3 boated in one trip. Cant’ catch ‘em if you don’t try.

If forecast holds true (sounds of eyes rolling) we could see some cooler weather by the weekend, the musky, walleye, and crappie bites should spike up. Watch for surface temps to dip into upper 50’s to get things going.