Minocqua Area Fishing Report

WOW! We got hit with a heatwave for those of us in Northern Wisconsin this past weekend! Temps in the low 90’s pushed lake surface temps into the 70’s and threw off some fish and anglers alike! We are well into the bluegill spawning stage on many lakes while some large and cooler lakes still have bedding Smallmouth.

Bluegills: Very Good – With gills moving into shallow with many bedding up already. The Bluegill fishing has been hot! Poppers, small leeches, thunderbugs, and tiny tubes all working. Be kind at this vulnerable time as studies show that large male Bluegill are very important for maintaining quality Bluegills. These males are very important for guarding nests, so treat these fish like bass! Get ‘em back to their nest quickly to provide good year classes for the future.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Many done with spawn, but hitting tubes, creature baits and 3” swimbaits. Season Catch and Release only until June 19th. Big smallies to 5 ½# reported over the weekend.

Walleye: Good - Fair – Heat and sun hurt daytime bite though some good catches reported during windows of activity. Leeches hot bait, but Chubs also producing in and along weed beds of 7-14’. Some anglers working swimbaits and Gulp minnows on 1/8 – ¼ oz jigs. Reporting hard hits working weeds.

Musky: Good – Fair – Large swimbaits and Marabou Bucktails were the ticket over the weekend. Action improved as the heat cycle extended. Evening action on top water picking up also.

Northern Pike: Good – Fair – Fast moving Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits best. Fish thick weeds for best action; Weedless Swimjig with Swimbait trailer also good.

Crappies: Good – Fair – Need to fan cast weed tops in 7-12’ with small Twister tails to locate; then fish small minnows at weed top level or just below.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Good action on tube jigs along inside weed edges. Wacky Worms effective late morning through mid-afternoon until the sun lowers, then start up top-water Whopper Ploppers!

Yellow Perch: Good – Fair – Still not getting much direct attention, but thunderbugs and medium leeches around drowned timber or weed flats of 8-10’ best.

The early heat is playing havoc on wild bait trappers. Leeches are in short supply, while Redtailed Chubs, Black Chubs, Walleye Suckers, Mud Minnows and DACE are almost impossible to find. Try experimenting with more swimming style plastics where applicable. Fathead and crawler supplies still good.