Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 10/21/25

If you weren’t here over the weekend, you missed the peak of the fall colors!  Yes, it was a might cold and windy some days, but just a beautiful time in the Northwoods!  Still plenty to see, but with wind and cold, maybe not for long.

Now to the fishing report!  Surface temps on lakes reading 55-59° over the weekend.  Reliable reports had some lakes turned over, but surface temps in the upper 50’s due to air temps up to 70° on Saturday (10/18).  Ice on the bird bath (10/20) and cold wind cooling things down.  Expect more turnover this week, hopefully settled by this coming weekend!

Musky:  Very Good-Fair – HOT then NOT!  At least in my boat.  The sucker bite was going great, with many reports of multiple fish days and suckers all the rage!  Then a slowdown/stop.  Could have been poor picks, but it wasn’t just in my boat.  Could have been more lakes turned over than we thought.  Good news is a lot of that should be over, and fishing pressure on lakes has been light.

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Turning water may have been the cause.  Some “decent” reports from anglers probing mud flats in 22-30’ of water using redtails on 1/4-3/8 oz jigs to stay in contact with bottom.  Some fish stacking up, but refusing to partake.

Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – Either target using chubs or suckers under floats or on weedless jigs.  Some caught while casting twitchbaits and swimbaits for Musky.

Crappie:  Good-Fair – Suspended and schooling up over open water 18-25’ down over 25-35 ‘ depths.  Slip-bobber medium fatheads to hold bait at, or just a foot into schools of Crappies.

Yellow Perch:  Good-Fair – Reports from anglers dragging ½ crawlers over mud flats of 14-20’ using Lindy style rigs or slip-floats.  Nice Perch in the 10-12” range reported, with plenty in the 8-9” range also.

What few anglers reported or targeted Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass or Bluegills not enough for report.  A few very nice “incidental” catches were reported, but not enough interest at this time of year to continue reports.

As stated, expect all but the largest of lakes to have turned by week’s end.  Saw some thermoclines as deep as 30’ (10/18), but things getting ready to flip.  Though a report here and there on a bucktail or top-water.  Once lakes settle with surface temps showing below 55°, switch to gliders, jerks, swimbaits, rubber and suckers.

Pictures of the week

Brooks (5 yrs old) of St. Germain, WI, with his first self-caught Northern Pike!

Hank Hildebrand of Louisville, KY, 42” Musky on a Smity rigged sucker!

Lauren Johnson with a beautiful 38” Musky caught on a Hunsey tail!

Rick Lennertz of Muskego, WI, with a 40” Musky!

Will Lennertz of Muskego, WI, with a 42” on a Smity rigged sucker!