Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 9/27/22

With September winding down nicely, heading into what looks to be a typical October (not like last year), anglers should be hyped for some good fishing! Water temps raging from 62-69 degrees throughout the Lakland area, good pre-turn-over fishing going on.

Musky: Very Good-Good – Shallow action. Fish working inside weed edges attacking top-water and bucktails. This pattern will continue until turn-over so take advantage! Some sucker action being reported, this will improve as waters cool.

Northern Pike: Very Good-Good – Pike actively feeding shallow on small Perch. Spinnerbaits, swimbaits and jig and chub combos. Some top-water action also.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Rock/gravel humps still continue to hold #’s, yet larger fish working coontail beds, inside weeds. Tube jigs for weed fish. Whopper Ploppers for the brutes that act like Musky near shore.

Walleye: Good – Daytime deep Walleyes vertical fishing with 1/4 - 3/8 oz jigs baited with chubs, fats or crawlers in 22-30’ water. Jigging Shiver Minnows and Jiggin Raps, very effective for the hot hitters. Evenings work the shallows as Eyes move into feed on small Perch. 1/16 oz jigs tipped with small-medium redtails, snap jigging 3” swimbaits or twisters in 2-6’ right before dark.

Bluegill: Good – Shallow weeds of 4-8’ holding Gills. Tiny jigs tipped with waxies or crawler pieces.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Work outside weed edges as Bass move away when Muskies move in. Drop-shots, Wacky Worms and Ned Rigs. Some good top-water in shallow where Musky aren’t a concern.

Yellow Perch: Good – Larger Perch relating to 8-14’ deep wood on medium fatheads. These 10-12” Perch roam in small packs it seems. Weed Perch more active, but sorting involved.

Crappie: Good – Typically better, but bite not hot. Drowned wood best. Medium fatheads under floats or casting 1/16 oz jigs with white, pink or yellow 2” twister tails.

With forecast of a couple mornings in the low 30’s for this week and few highs in the 60’s, water temps will continue to fall and the bites should heat up. Again, looking to be a more typical October, which bodes well for us anglers.