Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 9/9/25

Rough week!  Following a beautiful day last Tuesday (9/2) and great Labor Day Weekend, the temps bottomed out and the wind and rain made fishing down right unbearable.  Only the hardiest/foolish ventured out and reports were poor.  Surface temps dropped 8-10° from Tuesday through Saturday, typically not all bad for fall fishing, but boat control and want to were lacking!

Musky:  Poor-Fair – If there is a bunch that is of the above description (Hardy/Foolish) its Musky anglers!  The few reports I received were from anglers following bite windows at night, picking up a couple fish on top-water up shallow, otherwise – pretty quiet.

Largemouth Bass:  Poor-Fair – A few anglers braved the wind and cold, picking up some buried Bass in weed beds while slow working jig/plastics or weedless Wacky Worms.

Smallmouth Bass:  Poor-Fair – A few anglers successful working weeds with plastics or medium Mepps (#3).

Northern Pike:  Poor-Fair – Few caught while pursuing Musky or Largemouth Bass.  In conditions like last week, jig and chubs or suckers best.

Bluegill, Crappie, Yellow Perch:  Fair-Poor – What started the week as a good panfish week, quickly shut down with the wind and cold.  Quickly dropping temperatures did fans of these fish no favors.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Boat positioning in heavy winds kept most anglers from chasing Walleye.   A few anglers trolling weight forward or crawler harnesses reported a fish here and there.  Little on the jigging front.

So yeah, the cold snap was a bit more severe than expected.  Not good while it lasted, but did bring surface temps that were somewhat high (69-71°) to a more September-like temp (60-62°).  Hopefully will settle things down and set up a nice fall bite.

Pictures of the week

13 year old Beans, putting the Hammer to a pair of Largemouth Bass, 17 & 18” on a chatterbait

Judy Brenzing of Chicago waited 40 years for her first Pike

Rough week!  Following a beautiful day last Tuesday (9/2) and great Labor Day Weekend, the temps bottomed out and the wind and rain made fishing down right unbearable.  Only the hardiest/foolish ventured out and reports were poor.  Surface temps dropped 8-10° from Tuesday through Saturday, typically not all bad for fall fishing, but boat control and want to were lacking!

Musky:  Poor-Fair – If there is a bunch that is of the above description (Hardy/Foolish) its Musky anglers!  The few reports I received were from anglers following bite windows at night, picking up a couple fish on top-water up shallow, otherwise – pretty quiet.

Largemouth Bass:  Poor-Fair – A few anglers braved the wind and cold, picking up some buried Bass in weed beds while slow working jig/plastics or weedless Wacky Worms.

Smallmouth Bass:  Poor-Fair – A few anglers successful working weeds with plastics or medium Mepps (#3).

Northern Pike:  Poor-Fair – Few caught while pursuing Musky or Largemouth Bass.  In conditions like last week, jig and chubs or suckers best.

Bluegill, Crappie, Yellow Perch:  Fair-Poor – What started the week as a good panfish week, quickly shut down with the wind and cold.  Quickly dropping temperatures did fans of these fish no favors.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Boat positioning in heavy winds kept most anglers from chasing Walleye.   A few anglers trolling weight forward or crawler harnesses reported a fish here and there.  Little on the jigging front.

So yeah, the cold snap was a bit more severe than expected.  Not good while it lasted, but did bring surface temps that were somewhat high (69-71°) to a more September-like temp (60-62°).  Hopefully will settle things down and set up a nice fall bite.

Pictures of the week

13 year old Beans, putting the Hammer to a pair of Largemouth Bass, 17 & 18” on a chatterbait

George Brenzing (90 years young) of Chicago

Judy Brenzing of Chicago waited 40 years for her first Pike

Shelly Justice of Arbor Vitae w/ a 9 ½” Bluegill and a 13 ¾” Crappie

Shelly Justice of Arbor Vitae w/ a 9 ½” Bluegill and a 13 ¾” Crappie