Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 5/6/25

Nice start (if not a bit chilly) to the 2025 opener.  Temps in the low to mid 30’s didn’t improve until after 11 AM when clouds broke and the sun shone down.  Speaking of which, that’s all we’ve had since then and most of what we are expected to see into next week.  Surface temps are climbing with all the 70+ degree days and sun.  Should spur bug and minnow hatches, weed growth and plenty of reasons to bring fish to the shallows.

Walleye:  Very Good-Good – Fish somewhat scattered, but willing to bite.  Nice reports of big Walleyes being caught (and released-thank you), on Rattlin Rouges (27 & 28” by same angler) as well as 26-28” using Rouges, Husky Jerks and Floating #11 Rapalas.  For those of us who can’t stay up late, jig and fats, dace and small black chubs in 3-6’ shallows scored best on Flowages and small to mid-sized lakes.  On deeper, larger lakes 1/8-1/4 oz jigs with larger chubs, suckers best around spawning reefs and along edges of such.  With temps climbing so quickly now, expect most of that to be over soon.

Crappies:  Good – Sunny, warm afternoons bring Crappies shallow to warm themselves.  Long cast to shallows of 1-3’ using the smallest, yet heaviest (for distance), floats you can find.  (Rocket Bobber do well for this) a #8 thin wire hook to lightly tail hook a small Crappie minnow (hook at underside-makes minnow swim up) with a small #B weight or no weight at all is hard to resist.

Northern Pike:  Good – Remaining green weeds in shallow dark bottomed bays.  Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits reported working well.  Stickbaits and shallow cranks as well as a 1/16 oz weedless jig and sucker combo a common standard.

Largemouth Bass:  Good – Similar to Pike, dark bottomed warming bays.  Dark colored hair jigs, Wacky Worms and Ned rigs.  Afternoons best.

Yellow Perch:  Good – Larger Perch recovering from spawn feeding in shallows.  Big, spent girls of 11-13” on jig and minnow, dace or medium leech around shallow wood and remaining vegetation.

Bluegill:  Good – Not targeted much, but on these bright, warm sunny afternoons, filling up the shallows.  Leafworms, waxies and small plastics for easy pickins.

With many lake temps in mid-50’s already, start checking out new plant growth that will provide cover for the feed the fish will be looking for.  Stable weather forecasted.  Bright sun will mean early AM and evenings for Walleye.  Panfish and Bass in afternoons.  Full moon and what is typically high pressure around the 12th may hinder daytime fishing, but at this time of year with fish hungry and food just starting to emerge, should be good.