Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 12/22/25

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wild swings in the weather, last weekend’s sub teens to midweek warm up and rain, to sub temps and incredibly high winds have really made for a fish when you can “challenge”.  Action picked up nicely after the weekend of arctic blast.  Then Saturdays (12/20) front, by mid-morning, slammed the bite OFF!  Winds and swirling snow kept most anglers away, those that did tough it out had little to nothing to show for their bravery (foolishness)!

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Following previous weekends shut down, Walleye bite really improved with evening (and even daytime) catches coming on tip-ups with medium golden shiners and by anglers working jigging Raps (#5) in 6-10’ weeds.  The bite shut off mid-Saturday morning (12/20) as the cold, windy front moved in.  May take a night or two to bring back around.

Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – Similar scenario.  Mid-week flags flying, quiet over weekend.  Milder temps this week should bring about a good bite.  Large shiners and suckers in 4-10’ green weeds.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Poor – They like the warmer temps (even below the ice).  Medium shiners on tip-ups and anglers jigging shad raps and spoons dangling minnow heads scored midweek.  The forecast of upper 20’s to low 30’s Christmas week should get this bite rockin’ again!

Crappie:  Good-Fair – While still mostly a weed related bite, some reports from anglers getting out over basins of 25-30’ finding Crappies.  Small, fluttering spoons tipped with waxies or spikes.  The mild temps this week should give way to a good tip-down bite.

Yellow Perch:  Fair-Poor – On the move out over 15-20’ mud flats.  Not hanging around for long, just pushing on.  Fast dropping spoons (Halis, Kastmasters) to get a spike or wiggler down quick once marked on your flasher.  Up in weeds, Perch scattered, use larger profile baits packed with waxies or medium to large fatheads to keep little ones at bay.

Bluegill:  Fair-Poor – Except for mid-week, not great Bluegill fishing weather.  Should improve a lot as weather gets milder.  Most green weed patches in 5-9’.  Grubs or plastics (reds, purples, motor oil) good choice on similar colored jigs.

With ice thickness reports responding well after midweek rain ate the snow cover off, things looking up!  While caution still advised, some reports of ice as little as 3-4”, most reports are now in the 7-10” and thicker range!  ATV and snowmobile use OK, but any travel over mid-lake or current neck downs should be “spudded” first.  Another thing to note, despite the snow we’ve had, rain and exceptionally high winds have cleared all but the most recent light snow off the ice.  It’s slippery out there!  Make sure to put your creepers on before venturing out on the ice, the emergency rooms will thank you for it.

Looks like a good Christmas week for anglers in the Lakeland area.  Not so much for snowmobilers who will need to search a bit further North (Mercer) for good snow.

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

Pic of the week

Arnie Bewbauer with a 27 ½” Walleye caught and released following last week’s arctic blast!

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