Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 12/1/25

I know what you all want to hear…but you’re not going to hear it from me…yet!

We went from looking out the shop to seeing a boat fishing on Lake Minocqua on Friday (11/28), to this side of the lake skimmed over by Saturday morning (11/29).

Lakes such as Big and Little Arbor Vitaes and the better parts of Squirrel and smaller have locked up, BUT (big but), we got more snow on Sunday (11/30) and wind.  Plenty cold enough (upper teens to low 20’s) but the wind and added inch or two of snow is going to make ice iffy on these newly frozen lakes.  The good news is, most lakes were still open during the heavier snow and wind.  This super chilled the water, but kept things open so the snow wouldn’t lay on top of and weigh any forming ice down.

Hate using the “F” word, but “F”orecast has plenty of ice building cold this week (lows sub zero to single digits-highs teens, barely 20°) so with winds laying down, ice should be layering up.  Should be ready for plenty of foot traffic fishable ice by end of the week…see you then!

Upcoming Events

Ice Fishing Extravaganza @ Kurt’s Island Sports Shop - Dec 5^th, 6^th and 7^th 

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church Cookie Walk – December 6^th - 9-11 AM, HWY 70 W in Minocqua (I know it’s not fishing…but SO DELICIOUS!)

Headwaters Chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow Meat, Gun & Rod/Reel raffle, December 13^th from 4–7 PM @ Meggies in Manitowish Waters.  Help support our Portable Walleye Hatcheries!

Ice Fishing Tournaments

January 10^th – 1^st Annual Birchell Family Ice Fishing Contest – Pike Lake (Sponsored by Big Dipper and Nick Janssen)

January 10^th – 75^th Annual Rib Lake Ice Fishing Contest

January 17^th – 11^th Annual “Ice Holes of the North” (Sponsored by Team Retreat Musky Club)