Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 4/24/23

Mild temps have held ice melt back for the past week. We are losing ice, but not as quickly as we would like. Overnight lows in the 20’s are keeping the daytime highs from eating away much ice, but open water is coming!

Starting mid-week (Wed/Thur) with lows above freezing (so 24 hr melt), wind and rain, I’ll predict (then deny) most lakes will be open by May 1st! Opener is May 6th. Expect a prespawn/spawn bite with this late ice out for Walleyes. Water temps “should” be in that “sweet” (38-40 degrees) spot about then on most lakes. With late ice outs, Walleyes will be wanting to “dump” their cargo in a hurry after the extended “layover”. Signs point to a good opener!