Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 12/16/25

We survived an early season artic blast (sub-teen temps) over the weekend.  Not good for getting on the ice when wind chills hit 30 below and lower.  Good part is ice building and except for some areas covered with snow mounds (not good ice below) and some larger lakes (only 4” or so).  Most reports coming in have thickness of 6-8” and building.

Walleye:  Very Good-Good – Still shallow and weed related.  Shiners, both golden and river, working best in water as little as 4’ out to the 8-10’ range.  Been cold to be hole hopping with jigging raps, but coming week looks good with temps not as likely to freeze holes shut so fast.

Northern Pike:  Very Good-Good – Big shiners and suckers up in shallow weeds (4-8’) as Pike caught showing signs of feeding (most likely Gills and Perch).

Crappie:  Good – Panfish getting little attention over weekend with cold.  Those that have, doing best in 8-12’ weeds on Crappie minnows.  Warm up should spur bite.

Bluegill:  Good – Small dark jigs tipped with red spikes or dark plastics.  Look for 5-8’ and green weeds!

Yellow Perch:  Good – As with above panfish, action should really improve with coming mild temps.  Weed related and unafraid of a larger meal – medium fatheads or spoons loaded with waxies.

Largemouth Bass:  Fair – Great when it was warmer – shut down with cold.  Should pick up using medium shiners or jigging with small Rip-n-Raps this week.

Temps look to be bouncing around this coming week from low single digits to highs in upper 20’s – low 30’s.  Ice building enough to support quads and snowmobiles on most Lakeland area lakes.  Caution advised on larger lakes and any place with snow mounds (was worth repeating).

The store will be open Christmas Eve until 5 PM, Closed Christmas Day, reopen 6 AM Dec 26^th!

Pic of the week

Caleb Stroik with a 28” Walleye caught on a sucker in 8’ of weeds

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 10^th – 18^th Annual NCO - Lake Nokomis

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

January 17^th – Battle on St. Germain Lakes