Minocqua Area Fishing Report

[Kurts Island Sports]

Wind and rain kept back the participation some, but looks like we should see some stabilizing weather by weeks end.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good. Bass actively hitting a varitey of lures (chatter baits) Boonie (spinnerbaits), twitch baits (x-raps) lipless cranks (rattle traps) as well as live chubs meant for Pike and Leeches meant for Walleyes. Nice bass to 20", with many in the 14-17" range being caught. Target heavy weeds of 4-8'. Top water a little slower, but getting better as water temps rise.

Bluegill: Good. Action increasing, especially in the afternoons. Thunderbugs, small leeches, tiny tubes (Gulp Bugs) good choices. Wet flys working for fly anglers, top water once rain and wind move out.

Smallmouth: Good-Fair. Action picking up as water temps rise. Tube jigs with 1/4 oz heads, Chompers, slinted grubs as well as #7 shad raps. Large leeches also effective. Fish holding along breaks in 10-14' of gravel/rock.

Yellow Perch: Fair. Need a hot spell. Medium leeches, thunder bugs, medium fats up on top of weed bars in 8-12'. Find cabbage for best perching.

Northern Pike: Fair. Big chubs-suckers (6-7") #4 Mepps spinners, Boonie Baits, husky jerks worked over 6-10' weeds. Some days you almost have to hit them over the head, not willing to travel. Slow retrive (good time to switch to twitch baits).

Musky: Fair-Good. While most anglers reporting best action on bucktails, had days when only twitch baits (7") would work. Top water also moving fish on overcast and evening trips. Nice fish including a reported 51" caught this past week.

Walleye: Fair. Wind made boat control tough. While some of the largest lakes have not experienced mayfly hatches (Fence, Trout ect.) the flowages and small to mid sized lakes are past that. Leeches and crawlers picking up action. Still like to toss redtails under windy conditions.

Crappie: Fair. Haven't set up strong in summer patterns, but anglers focusing on crappies catching fish using Charlie Bees, 2" twister tails on 1/32 oz jigs over curly leaf cabbage beds. Locate weeds of 8-10, work top 2' of water colum. Deep cribs also producing.

We have some more rain due mid-week, but as weather calms down and lake temps continue to rise, expect both bass as well as bluegill bite to take off.

Surface temps that dropped to love 60's early last week have risen to high 60's nearly 70's. Some lakes have seen levels rise a little.