Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 6/24/25

This past week was nearly a career killer (and I’ve survived a few)!  Between heat, wind, lightening, hail and even some Hex hatches (if it hasn’t happened on a lake near you, it’s coming!).  Water temps had fallen from an average of 64-65 degrees down to 61 degrees the week before, then shot up to low 80’s and higher following the heat wave when unusually high air temps in the 90’s moved in.  Still looking at some yo-yo temps in the week to come, but hopefully nothing like the past week.

Largemouth Bass:  Poor-Good – Things all over the place with reports of spawning and post spawn activity thanks to our crazy weather.  Hot top-water action on Whopper Plotter, Choppos, Torpedos and Devil Horses.  Wacky Worms, jig and creature and pre-rigged worms producing well.  Lots of numbers when the wind, hail and lightening would allow.  Top fish of the week a 18” whopper caught by 5 year old Fiona of Milton, FL.

Crappie:  Fair-Good – Another mixed report of Crappies (which are past any spawning activity) being caught in water as shallow as 3’ and as deep as 10’.  Small plastics have been working well (if castable due to wind) while floats with minnows always reliable.

Smallmouth Bass:  Poor-Good – Tough due to conditions.  Boat control and pin pointing locations a trick. Ned rigs and drop-shots (using heavier than normal weights) best.  Not a consistent pattern, but rocks starting to produce some, otherwise key on coontail edges of 12-16’.

Bluegill:  Fair-Good – With the wacky weather, some lakes Gills are long past spawn on others, surprisingly, some bedding still being seen.  Forget poppers and light dry flys in wind.  Good ol’ bobbers with small leeches or worms best.

Yellow Perch:  Poor-Good – Took some searching, but anglers willing to tough out the wind and heat found good Perch action of late using beavertails (small night crawlers) in 7-10’ cabbage.  Medium fatheads and leeches also working under floats in bays where wind wasn’t as much of a factor.

Northern Pike:  Poor-Good – Spinners (#4:#5 Mepps-pink is HOT!) and spinnerbaits (Boonies with willow blades) chatterbaits and 4” swimbaits producing following last weeks Hunger Strike.

Musky:  Poor-Fair – Tough to see follows under the White Caps!  Big, noisy top-water (Cannon Ball Jr., Whopper Ploppers) to compete in waves.  Big bladed bucktails and big spinnerbaits pinned a few fish.

Walleye:  BAD-Fair - Miserable week last mid week.  Some signs of Hexagenia hatches, overall just tough Walleye fishing.  Things picked up (no place else to go but up!) by Thursday afternoon, before hail storm, then it was best you could with crazy weather

Last week was brutal, some of the worst June fishing I can recall.  This week, as heat spell has broken by this writing (6/24), New Moon period and less hostile weather (for the most part) and the outlook is good!  Plus…it fishing!

Pic of the Week

5 year old, Fiona of Milton, FL reeled in this 18” largemouth