Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 2/7/22

First week of February is here and gone. Weather seems to be on a pattern of warming up by Tuesday, only to see temps fall again by the weekend. One customer referred to this time as the “Dog days of Winter”, I’ve gotta agree. Fishing has been slow and always seems to be during mid-winter. But with the sun out a little longer each day, the colds aren’t as cold and better temps should bring better fishing as we move forward.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A little slower than the previous week, but reports of some nice low 30” (32, 33 & 34) Pike over the weekend. Most anglers sticking to big shiners and suckers, but a few are suspending preserved smelt below their tip-ups for a shot at larger Pike.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Mud flats of 18-28’ this past week produced the best for anglers pounding the bottom with Halis, Pinheads and Kastmasters tipped with red spikes or wigglers. Some shallower (8-12’) weed action, but lots of smaller fish (4-6”) mixed in with the fewer keepers (8-10”)

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Not targeted as much, but anglers that are reporting action on 14-16” Bass on tip-ups baited with small to medium shiners. Also, jigging slender spoons tipped with minnow heads are effective.

Crappie: Fair – Fish suspended Crappies holding 3-5’ off bottom in most instances (higher in a few), using small spoons that flutter on the fall, tipped with waxies. Tip-downs (when not too cold) working using rosies.

Bluegill: Fair – Most anglers targeting weeds using mousses or waxies on dark jigs getting action, but once again, more small ones than keepers.

Walleye: Poor – Still most reports (and that’s not many) are of Walleye bites (wouldn’t call it action) coming after dark, very sporadic. Suckers and large fatheads (or large rosies) being the best choices for bait as downsizing seems to be best for negative fish.

Most reports of ice depth at 16-18”+, though some lakes have thicker ice (those with lots of travel), but a few very large lakes and even some small lakes with springs are not safe for truck travel.

This year’s inland lake gamefish season runs through March 6th, giving ice fishing game fish anglers four more weekends to get those flags flying.