Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 6/16/26

UNCLE!

Last week’s report I whined about the lack of rain, then we got it plus cooler, fall-like temps!  Lake surface temps have fallen into the mid – upper 60’s, which will probably delay any Mayfly (hexagenia) hatches with not much forecasted for hot weather (80’s) until the 24^th.  Cool down seems to have affected some bites, moving fish out of the shallows (at least on the high-pressure days) and scattered fish until they adjust to the new “June” weather.

Bluegill:  Good – Those that have committed to spawning providing good action on worms, thunderbugs and small leeches under small floats in 1-2’ of water.  Small wet flys, dry flys and poppers on fly rods or fished behind clear spinning floats effective.  Still some staging Gills outside spawning areas in 6-8’ taking Mini-Mites and small 1” twisters on 1/32 oz jigs.

Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – A good “cool off” fish, but even these seemed to slow down with the change.  Jig and chub/sucker combos best when cool offs occur.  More subtle swimbaits of 3 ½-4” and slow-moving spoons working.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Fair – Bedding up on many lakes, if still there, will stay a long time with water cooling.  Wacky Worms, Ameobis, Ned rigs have been favored while some action on #8 & #10 Husky Jerks.  Top-water has taken a back seat with cooler temps.

Smallmouth Bass:  Good-Fair – Best on slow moving plastics such as Ned rigs and Fuzzy Neds or Nuts!  Crush City Hedgehods and other craw/lizard imitations.  Most in 8-14’ along gravel or outside coontail edges.  Still catch & release only until June 20^th!

Walleye:  Good-Fair – Took the strongest hit (at least in my boat), as the shallow bite of last week shut off by 6/15, ouch!  Afternoons, evenings better if shallows warm up.  Some report of slip-bobber action on large-XL leeches on weedy off-shore humps that top off about 10-14’.  Crawlers around rock and wood in the 14-18’ range.

Yellow Perch:  Fair – They were liking that hot spell!  Seemed to have cooled off.  Fish using thunderbugs or ½ crawlers under slip-floats among drowned wood in 8-12’

Crappie:  Fair – Scattered due to recent weather.  Target weeds of 8-14’, but may have to probe deeper into weeds to find willing biters using 1/16 oz jigs with Kalin Crappie Killers.  Minnow (small) and floats for back up.

Musky:  Fair – Best on smaller 6” twitchbaits, smaller bucktails and small jerks.  Despite a few reports of fish in mid-40’s, most in mid to upper 30’s.  Shallow still key.

This weekend, remember the guy that, in many cases, got you into this mess (obsession, whatever you want to call it).  Thank him and take him out on the water, bait his hook, net and clean his catch and he might even look the other way when you sneak a sip of his beer (even if you’re of age).  Cool weather and maybe some rain, but still, it’s fishing.

Pics of the Week

Jose’ from Los Barrios, Cadiz, Spain traveled halfway across the world to catch his first Walleye

Ian Vickers of Evanston with a nice catch and cook 18” Walleye

Julian Vickers of Evanston loves his Pike!

Ian Vickers with a nice (C&R) Largemouth on a Ned rig

Bob Rietz with a biggie, Largemouth on a Ned rig

Jessica Ryan showing how its done with a nice jigged up Walleye

Liz Groth with a 41” Musky using her St Croix Walleye rod and Shimano 2500 reel