Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 6/18/24

Heading into the first day of summer and it continues to be a wet, windy season so far.  Lots of fronts moving through keeping anglers off the water or making it tough to stay with the winds we keep getting. Those able to wet some lines doing well with good reports from gamefish anglers.

Musky:  Good-Very Good – Keep in mind the “bite” window for these long fish is sometimes short.  Some very nice fish over the past week, topping 50” have been boated.  Bucktails over deep weedlines along big drops.  Double bladed to push water and rubber baits were key.  Muggy, warm evenings have been hot for top-water action.  Smaller bucktails such as #500, #700 Buchertails and Wizards doing best in mornings over shallower weeds producing mid-30” to low-40” fish.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Very Good – No reports of bedding to our knowledge, yet good reports of nice LMB in 6-10’ weeds on Wacky Worms, jig/creature, pre-rigged worms and top-water baits (evenings).  Casting big weed flats with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits also effective.

Smallmouth Bass:  Good-Very Good – First move off the beds has been out in 8-14’ weeds.  Ned rigs and Wacky Worms best.  As waters warm up, we should see more movement out to rock bars.

Walleye:  Good – Signs of Mayfly (hexagenia) hatches moving up the water columns over the weekend and now actual reports of hatches reaching the surface has slowed those waters.  Yet on waters not ready, nice fish being caught using redtails or full crawlers along coontail edges of 14-16’ on larger lakes.  Lots of reports of protected “slot” fish and those larger being caught and released.

Northern Pike:  Good – Best on 4-5” swimbaits over cabbage flats of 6-12’.  Nice averages of 25-30” fish with two over 36” this past weekend.

Bluegills:  Good – Lots of reports of staging Gills, lots of heavy egg laden fish in 6-9’ outside shallow spawning areas.  Most on worms with floats on tiny jigs.  Wind making small/light presentations tough.

Yellow Perch:  Good-Fair – Wind biggest factor as fishing pockets in shallow flats tough.  Beavertails, medium fatheads or leeches under weighted floats best.  No concentrations, but some very respectable (9-11”) fish scattered about.

Crappies:  Fair – As with other panfish, tough to sit on productive spots and use viable presentations.  Live Crappie minnows or small tubes under weighted floats in 8-14’ narrow leaf cabbage best.

More weather expected through this weekend, coming in small waves.  The following week looks to get very summer-like with highs in the upper 70s to mid-80’s should get the summer patterns locked in.  Mosquitos have been heavy, especially on the calm, humid spells.  Out away from shore, no skeeters – just some flies.