Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 2/24/26

The weekend had some cold, wind, and snow…not like the tropical weather of the previous weekend…but still fishable if not as comfortable.  Anglers found the previous weather did little to the ice thickness, still 24-28” average with some lakes over 30”.  Snow on the ice mostly from the every other day flurries, about 4-5” on average.  Reports mostly of “windows” of activity, but good when you’re at the right place at the right time.

Yellow Perch:  Good-Very Good – Most over mud flats of 13-27’ of water.  Some reports in weeds, but most weed fish are small.  Over mud feeding on blood worms and wigglers.  Nice averages in 9”+ range with plenty of 10-12” reported.  Fast dropping jigs or spoons (VMC Torpedos, Bug Bites, Clam Pinheads and Nils Halis) tipped with wigglers or red spikes best.

Northern Pike:  Good – Pike fattening up!  Besides being full of eggs (females), many full of Perch, Bluegills and small Crappies they are slurping up in weeds of 6-12’.  On the feed, so don’t be afraid to offer big baits.  Wire rigs with spinners for attraction helping!

Bluegill:  Good – Weed fish in 8-12’, suspended Gills over mud in 14-20’.  Weed bite good on waxies or plastics on 3:4 mm tungsten jigs.  Over mud, schools passing through areas taking spoons and jigs meant for Perch and Crappies.

Crappie:  Good – Some would say great, depending on when and where…obviously!  Deeper Crappies in 15-30’ taking small slender spoons, Bull spoons, Tikka Flash and Nano Raps tipped with a waxie or spike for scent.  Anglers plying weeds of 6-12’ slow dropping (when wind allows) plastics in white, silver, pink on lead rockers for the slower fall presentation than tungsten allows.

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Most relegated to evenings and after dark.  Rock, gravel, or mud best on suckers.  Jigging Raps and Shiver Minnows also producing well.  Tip with a minnow head on the center treble.  On lakes lacking deeper rock or gravel, weeds of 6-10’ (some reports of as little as 3”) seeing action on medium shiners at and after dusk.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Fair – They like it on the warmer side.  On days with temps over 20°, weedy flats and bays producing Largemouth on medium shiners, 6-10’ best.

This is it!  Last week of the gamefish season, if you don’t catch them this week, gotta wait until May 2^nd!  Temps look to move up and down, (forecasted highs in mid-40’s Friday 2/27, lows single digits overnight).  Lots of concerned phone calls about ice.  As mentioned earlier, ice is very good.  Some access points with drifted snow a bit tough.  Once out on lakes, travel by truck, ATV, snowmobile, and foot all good.  Shorelines are good as far as ice.  Forecast for ice staying stable until mid-March, and that’s a long way off (in the world of forecasts)!

Pictures of the Week

14-year-old Bean with a pair of SLOB Minocqua Chain Yellow Perch

8-year-old Henry with a pair of Northern Pike caught while fishing with Grandpa Neil

Henry at it again with a pair of nice Walleye

7-year-old Nathan with a beautiful Bluegill he caught on a waxie

17-year-old Caden of Tinley Park, IL with a beautiful 24” Walleye (caught and released)

Caden with another nice catch, 13” Crappie