Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 7/11/23

Overall, a nice week after the festivities of the 4th subsided. Lakes were not overly crowded and some good fishing was had. A few overnight rains/thunderstorms but not enough to affect anything. Water temps ranging 69-73 degrees on most bodies.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Bass remain active, dawn to dusk. Daytime fishing using plastics (Wacky, Beavers, Craws) in the weeds, as well as twitching stick baits (Husky Jerks, X-Raps) and lipless cranks (Rattle Traps, Rattlin Raps) very effective. Top-water action best early and late. Whopper Ploppers, Choppos, Spooks and Combat Frogs close to shore weeds and lily pads.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – On lakes, outside weed edges using tubes, Wacky Worms choice! Rock bars try drop-shotting 3” Gulp Alive Minnows, Z-Man TRD Craws or Berkley Leeches. Nice bass this week, tops Shelly Justice with a 20 ½” C&R.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Gills working cabbage flats taking Mini-Mites, 1” twister tails, small leeches. Best action in water of 6-10’.

Yellow Perch: Good – Stick to cabbage (broad leaf if possible) in 6-10’. Weedless jigs (1/16) tipped with ½ crawlers, medium leeches or fatheads. Also, the lightest Ned jig tipped with small ½ plastic Ned worm or tiniest rubber craw you can find work great also.

Musky: Good – Bucktails and top-water best over cabbage beds early and late in the day. Good numbers of fish moving in the mornings. Late mornings work outside coontail of 12-18’ using rubber baits parallel to edges.

Northern Pike: Good – Casting chatterbaits and spinnerbaits over weed tops. Fish more active of late.

Crappies: Fair-Good – Some better reports as anglers finding Crappies working tall narrow leaf cabbage in 8-12’. 2” Twisters, Kalins Crappie Scrubs and 2” Ripple Shads to locate. Slips and small minnows to zero in.

Walleye: Fair – Varying reports from anglers fishing deep rock finding fish on larger lakes and flowages to some finding weed and wood fish in water from 10 to as shallow as 4’. Crawlers and leeches first choice, but redtails, black chubs, as well as jigging twister tails also producing!

Forecast for drizzle and clouds July 12th-14th with highs in low to mid-70’s should make things comfortable for the week. With stable temps and some shield from the sun looking to see some better Walleye and Crappie action.