Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 11/3/25

November is here and its not just the calendar that says so, it looks and feels like November.  Wind and cold.  Lake surface temps ranging 45-49°.  Lots of lows in the 30’s forecasted with a possible day below freezing by week’s end.

Musky:  Good-Fair – As the water keeps cooling so does the action.  Bite windows are smaller, usually during the late morning/mid-afternoon time periods.  Suckers still the best option, though some action on slow moving gliders, rubber and tubes.  Most fish found 18-30’ down over 25-40’ of water.

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Wind biggest hindrance.  On lakes, working transition bases of gravel to mud in 20-30’ looking for pods.  Chubs, large fats and half crawlers.  Fish slowly and give time to get larger baits positioned for hook sets, sometimes 20-30 seconds.  Not many anglers still out, but those that are, reporting nice catches once they locate schools.

Smallmouth Bass:  Good-Fair – Very few anglers targeting, but one team reports lots of Smallies along rock/gravel bases in 25-30’.  A mix of Largemouth also when sandgrass can be found.

With most sportsmen and women turning their attention to bucks or ducks, not a lot of reports coming in. 

Cold and wind has taken care of most of the leaves on the trees.  Hunters seeing some increase of activity as the rut begins.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Kurt’s Island Sports Shop Big Buck Contest for the 2025 Gun Season.  Prizes for top 3 bucks, smallest legal buck, 1^st legal buck (registered at shop) and lots of raffle prizes, even if you don’t get one on the board.  Last year 1 in 5 won!

Picture of the week

Tom Oestrich, with a beautiful 31” Lake Trout caught and released while White fishing.  (Yes, season is closed!)