Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 8/22/22

Mid-August, one of the slower times for some species (Musky, Walleye) but a good time for Bass, Bluegill and Crappies.

Narrow leaf cabbage is fading, losing color, leaves and generally looking pretty shabby! Despite some warm afternoons, cool nights can have a negative affect on morning bites. Yet, overall, there is plenty of good fishing still.

Bluegill: Very Good – Get away from the shallows and pitch offerings of beavertails or worms on 1/32 – 1/16 oz jigs along deep weeds for Gills hovering 4-8’ down in 12-16’ of water. Nice 7 ½-9” eaters!

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Wacky Worms and 4” worms on swimheads worked in same areas we were finding Gills. Evenings, especially the warmer ones, work top-water.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Drop-shotting 3” Gulp Alive Minnows, Xzone Finesse Slammers and TRD Crawz have been hot worked along outside coontail edges or over deep rock/gravel humps. Ned rigging and tube jigs also very effective right now.

Crappie: Good – Best where deep wood can be found. Also casting small spinners, beetle spins over green weeds or grasses in 8-12’.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair - Broad leaf (tobacco) cabbage best in 5-8’. Work pockets using light weedless jigs tipped with ½ crawlers.

Musky: Fair-Good – Top-water has been very good early mornings, late afternoon and after dark. Prop baits, creepers, Hog Wobbler all are producing fish. Bucktails, glide baits during the later mornings and early afternoon. Natural colors work best. Crappie pattern has been very good. Look for cabbage weeds.

Walleye: Fair – Evenings best over rock humps using full crawlers on 1/4 - 3/8 oz jigs, Lindy Rigs or drop-shotting. Some early morning action in same areas. What little weed bite being reported on cloudy days on windward edges.

Northern Pike: Fair – A few reports from anglers catching nicer Pike casting for Musky. Live bait seems to be preference for deeper weed edge fish.

Traffic is getting a little lighter on lakes as schools and sports start. Average lake surface temps about 70-72 degrees, not a lot of change as of yet. But, as mentioned earlier, some weeds are starting to die back for the season.