Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 7/29/25

Maybe it’s the heat!  Trying to wrap my head around report(s) of anglers finding bedding Smallmouth Bass on Trout Lake!  July 27^th water temps in the mid-70’s (on that lake)!  It’s been hot, again!  Temps in mid-80’s to low 90’s have lake surface temps as high as 88° (that I’ve recorded).  Fishing has been tough, but doable.

Smallmouth Bass:  Very Good – Not all found where expected (see above).  Sandgrass flats as shallow as 12-14’ all the way to the 18-22’ range.  Tube jigs, drop-shotting and Ned rigs.  Live baiting big leeches and crawlers on Lindy Rigs also working, just be quick on hook sets!  Lots of #’s and nice fish in the 4-5# range being caught and released.

Largemouth Bass:  Good – Action slower mid-days.  Top-water action good during evenings.  Wacky worming producing well in heavy cabbage.  Shaded docks and boat houses providing action for those pitching and flipping Sweet Beavers and tubes.

Bluegill:  Good – Holding on cabbage or coontail flats.  Small leeches, worms, tiny tubes or Crappie minnows.  Some feeding on surface for the fly-fishing popper crowd.

Yellow Perch:  Good – Seem to be reveling in the heat.  Work 8-12’ cabbage flats using medium leeches or fatheads.  Using worms works, but Gills usually get to them first.  Nice eaters in the 8-9 ½” range.

Crappie:  Good – Holding in narrow leaf cabbage beds of 10-14’.  Using small plastics in top portion of weeds.  On Flowages relating to wood in 14-18’.

Northern Pike:  Fair – Heat slowed bite.  When slow like this, best to work chubs of 4” in heavy weeds on weedless jigs on wire leaders

Walleye:  Fair – Pick your time and location.  Little consistency.  Weeds of 12-16’ one day, deep rock/gravel with any wood the next.  Extra-large leeches or crawlers slowly dragged on 1/8 – 1/4 oz jigs.  Slip-bobbers and leeches good when found.  Evenings and after dark (lighted slip-floats).  Reports of a 28” and 29” (separate anglers, night).  Biggest leeches you can find.

Musky:  Poor – Basically, too much heat to target.  Temps to begin cooling Wed (7/30).  Some fish followed on spinnerbaits meant for Pike.  Few other reports.

With surface temps so incredibly high (78-88°) early and late best times to fish.  Be careful fighting and handling fish.  Also take care of live bait, in these heats ALL live bait needs to be kept cool.

P.S. Rock Bass:  Good – They are eating everything!  Happy Mark?

Pics of the week

Grant of Elkhorn, WI - 14" Largemouth

Erin Van Handel - 16 ½” Largemouth (C&R)

Logan Clouthier of Arvada, CO – 19 ¾” Smallmouth (C&R)

Everett (12 years old) of Kaukauna, WI – 8” Pumpkinseed and a 16 ½” Smallmouth (C&R)