Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 6/13/23

Some cool temps moved into the area following all that heat pushing lake temps down into the mid-60s

(from highs of mid 70’s to 80’s just over a week ago). The cold snap did take an effect on fishing, with a nice bounce back late in the week as things warmed, till the weekend when the chill rebounded.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good - Actually still finding some bedding fish as late as June 8th on the larger lakes that warmed last. Ned rigs, Wacky Worms, and Chug Bugs for the “nesters”. Once off the nest, working Husky Jerks and X-Raps along 8–12’ breaks, providing some post spawn hawgs to 19” this week.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good–Good - Some bedding starting, but cold stopped most. Staging Largemouth, along 6–8’ weeds taking jig/creature combos and Wacky Worms. Once waters move back into the 70’s watch for shallow bite to pick up on top-water.

Yellow Perch: Very Good-Good - Best in the weeds of 5-8’. Thunderbugs, medium leeches and medium fats. Look for broad leafed cabbage (brown Musky cabbage) for best results.

Northern Pike: Good - Best on live bait over the weekend as cool seemed to slow bite. Jigging chubs or floating through 6-10’ cabbage best, not a lot of chasing, but a few nice fish to 30” this past week.

Walleye: Fair-Very Good-Poor-Fair - Just a roller coaster as some minor buggy hatches (March Browns), cold and wind with a few nice warming days in between made a guy go from a goat to a hero to a goat again. Jig and leeches proved best, but some decent action on minnows and crawlers on Walleyes relating to weeds.

Bluegill: Good-Fair - Gills are getting active yet pushed out by cold front. Best in heavy weeds of 5-8’ using worms, small leeches and thunder bugs.

Musky: Good-Fair - Most reports of smaller fish (under 34”) hitting smaller bucktails in shallow weeds. Need to see some temps rise to get top-water bite back.

Crappies: Fair - Anglers locating Crappies, yet hard to get bites. Crappie minnows best when Crappies negative. Flowage anglers in wood, lakes in 8-12’ weeds.

Looks like the temps going to slowly rise this week, but not bounce back till next week (mid-week). We’ve needed the little rain we’ve gotten, but not the cold (lows in mid to upper 30’s at night!) Lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s will make early morning bites better. With air temps 25+ degrees colder than water temps, steam coming off water looks pretty, but tough on bite. Once air/water temps get closer, bite will improve.