Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 6/10/24

Lots of North by Northeast wind made for cooler temps and tough fishing conditions this past weekend.  The rain didn’t add to the fun, but it did add to lake and flowage levels that rose.  Water temps stayed down in the low 60’s, stalling any movement from Largemouth Bass and Gills from setting up beds.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Fair – Holding in heavy weeds, laying low.  Requiring getting down and working slow using jig/creature, Ned rigs, weighted Wackys.  Not as much activity or chasing in cold wind, action much slower but should pick up with warmer temps moving in.

Smallmouth Bass:  Good-Fair – No signs of beds, Smallies have moved off the shallows hard bottoms and are being caught in weeds using Ned rigs and drop-shotting weedless craw rigs.  This bite will get better as the post spawn winds down.

Musky:  Good-Fair – Start with shallow weeds using Wizards, #5 Mepps and 500 Buchertails early mornings.  Move to deeper 10-12’ weed lines by late mornings/early afternoons using small gliders, jerks.  Cold front and North winds slowed action.  Slow working small jerks with long pauses worked best during this time.

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Boat control in high wind key to holding along weed edges to present 1/8-1/4 oz jigs with redtails or crawlers in 8 to 14’ (depending on edge depth).  Cooler water temps should keep Walleye bite going in these areas for a while.

Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – Not a lot of anglers targeted, but some nice fish of 24-30” caught while jigging chubs for Walleye.  Wind made casting tough unless anglers stuck to the lee side of lakes using spinnerbaits and #3 Mepps

Bluegills, Crappie, Perch:  Fair – Tough conditions for panfish anglers.  Getting out of the wind crucial to be able to fish weeds using small tubes, Mini-Mites under floats with any consistency.

Looks like by Wednesday (6/12), warmer weather will return and more comfortable fishing conditions along with it.  Nicer weekend ahead!  We have seen a lot of rain and some more in the future.  Mosquitos at landings will be an issue once winds die down, so be prepared.

Largemouth Bass and Bluegills will be up next (spawning) with Pumpkinseeds and Rock Bass following.  Hexogenia (Mayfly) hatch will most likely hold off until waters warm.

Have a great Father’s Day weekend!!