Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 3/6/23

Gamefish season is closed for now, time to pack away the tip-ups and pull out the tip-downs for some serious pan fishing. A nice warm weekend to end the gamefish season. Travel good for most forms (quads without tracks or chains had hard times), but overall conditions look good for March panfish ice fishing!

To end the season, Largemouth Bass were very active. Again, fish to almost 20” were caught and released. Northern Pike were good on big baits, though Sunday’s (3/5) high pressure seemed to slow the bite. Nice fish to 31” reported. Walleye were more of a struggle, evenings were best, but overall, not good. Surprisingly, heard from some anglers catching Smallmouth Bass on tip-ups baited with suckers fished on humps meant for Walleyes. All that is behind us now, so on to what can be!

Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Nice Gills in the 7-8 ½” range reported from anglers working weeds of 7-10’. #2½ - #3 Fiskas tipped with plastics (Red, Purple, Motor Oil) or red spikes worked best. Mid-mornings until late afternoon provided best action.

Yellow Perch: Good – Mud flats of 18-28’ using Clam Bombs, Halis or Pinheads to get baits (wigglers, red spikes) down to mud quickly. In weeds, Perch scattered, but nice sized taking Northland 1.5 Puppet Minnows, as well as Kenders K-Rips packed with waxies or a minnow head.

Crappie: Good-Fair – If anglers can stay on them, bite good. These fish seem to be roaming and scattered. Tip-downs baited with Crappie minnows or small rosies for the “sit and wait” crowd. For the “chasers”, Rattlin Kastmasters tipped with waxies doing well over deep water working best. Along 9-12’ tall weeds, work bright colored plastics of white, yellow or pink. Slow dropping on Rocker style jigs to give some added action.

Following our weekend in the 40’s, area being covered with new snow (3/6). Three to six inches forecasted. Lows this coming week in the low 20’s with highs to mid-30’s. Another system forecasted for Thur/Fri (3/9-3/10) may bring additional 4-9”. We will have to wait and see. If it does, with temps hovering just above freezing, expect some slush to develop and travel by truck or tracked vehicles may be necessary, except for areas within walking distance from landings.