Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 4/27/26

The 2026 Opener is just days away, May 2^nd!  Area lakes and Flowages are ice free and ready to fish.  The Walleye spawn is different from lake to lake.  Pre-spawn and spawning Walleye will be found on the larger, deeper, colder lakes, and some spawning still on large lakes further north.  For the most part we should see plenty of post-spawn activity this opener.  The barely warm up, mostly highs in the mid-40’s to mid-50’s this week, will slow down the lakes warming and stretch out any remaining spawn and post spawn activity.

On lakes and Flowages where spawning has occurred, casting shallow running stickbaits such as Storm Thundersticks, Floating Rapalas (F-7 & F-9), Smithwick Rattlin Rouges over shallow, newly emerging weeds especially after dark.  Weedless 1/16 oz jigs tipped with large fatheads, large Dace or small to medium redtails are the ticket for daytime fishing.  Don’t be shy about using a ½ crawler or leech when fishing dark bottomed shallows either.

From work on our portable hatchery on Lake Minocqua, surface temps hovering around 48-49° as of this writing.  Don’t expect much of an improvement.

Northern Pike are done with the spawn and should be putting on the feed bag.  Look to newly greening weeds first.  Swimbaits, #3 Mepps or jig and sucker combos should work.  Keep in mind with cooler water, slower retrieves will work best.

Anglers should expect to find Crappies, Perch and Largemouth Bass in the shallows warming and feeding.  Very spooky in less than 2’ of water.  Long casts are needed.  Heavy floats (oxymoron) to make long cast with light baits; crappie minnows, Mini Mites, 3” Wacky Worms are the ticket!

Make sure to check for any new regulations on the waters you like to fish.  Size and bag limits have changed on some (i.e. Willow Flowage, 10 fish bag limit on panfish).  Stay legal and stay safe!