Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 5/20/25

Our second opener is on its way.  Musky season in the Northwoods, May 24th.  Some rather cool, Musky-type weather is forecasted (lows upper 30’s, highs upper 50’s to low 60’s) for the weekend.  While not prime for a holiday weekend, should have plenty of opportunities for anglers to choose from.

Crappie:  Good-Very Good – Favorite Memorial Day target other than Musky.  Following last week’s highs in the 80’s, bringing Crappies up tight to warm and spawn, cold nights pushed the non-committed back out into a pre-spawn, hold in the 6-9’ weeds, wait and see pattern.  Casting small plastics, (Crappie Scrubs, Power Tubes, Bobby Garland, Slab Slayers:Slab Hunters) through 6-9’ weeds outside of typical spawning areas.  For Crappies that have committed to beds, they will stay despite cold.  Typical Crappie minnows on small floats.

Walleye:  Good – They didn’t like all that sunshine and high-pressure last week.  Since the storm (5/15), with clouds and wind, action has improved.  Casting mid-depth diving crankbaits (Flicker Shads, #5-#6 Shad Raps) scoring among newly emerging, green weeds in 6-12’.  Snap jigging bucktail jigs and 3” swimbaits also effective as Walleyes acting more aggressive in the lower light, comfort zone.  Live bait and jig combos also effective as noted by one angler with 2, 26” caught and released Walleyes on consecutive casts in 10’ of water over the weekend.

Northern Pike:  Good – This species doesn’t mind the cool down.  Hitting cranks and plastics meant for Walleye, as well as #3 Mepps and chatterbaits.  A slip-float rig set up with 4-6” chubs or suckers a good, relaxing way to score a Pike or two.

Largemouth Bass:  Good – Nice Bass (to 19+”) and lots of action in shallows on warmer afternoons.  Casting shallow running stickbaits (#7:#9 Floating Rapalas, Thunderstiks) along 3-6’ dark bottomed, mucky/weedy reed edges has been tops.  Working Wacky Worms slowly during cooler mornings picking up less active fish.

Bluegill:  Very Good-Fair – With warm-up last week and bug hatches, Gills were up shallow and feeding heavy.  The cold put a stop to that.  Still, Gills moved out into heavy cover in 5-10’, still eating bugs, but not the surface/emerging kind.  Target with small tubes, Gulp Alive leeches, small live leeches or waxies.

Yellow Perch:  Fair – Not as many reports.  Incidental catches by Walleye or panfisher people using live bait.  Most in the 6-10’ weedy areas.

Musky and Smallmouth action should be decent this weekend.  Reports from anglers in the U.P. (where the season for Musky has been open) have been good with anglers boating fish on light bucktails (Wizards, #500 Buchertails, Boo tails) and smaller twitchbaits (Cranes).  While forecast not optimum for a holiday weekend, looks to be dry and some clouds for us anglers’ liking.

Pics of the week

Brooke of St. Germain, WI

Caught a 20" Walleye

Tom Waite of Honey Creek, WI

Caught 2 26" Walleyes on back-to-back casts

(All 3 were Catch and Release)