Minocqua Area Fishing Report 7.6.10
Lots of rain and overcast. Some lakes (those with incoming streams, high banks) filling up. Flowages holding more water, rising rather quick. The overcast has helped some improvement in the fishing for certain species, hurt others.
Musky: Very Good: Fish up and active. Follows in the rain hard to detect but good action. Work up into weed flats of 4-8', surface tail baits (pacemakers, talleywackers) big buzz baits, large spinnerbaits best. A 54", 43 lb fish reported. Good numbers of fish in the low to mid 40" range.
Largemouth Bass: Good - Very Good. Great action fishing heavy weed cover. Very nice bass including a 23-1/2" specimen of approximately 7 lbs caught and released using a sweet beaver in 8' weeds. Plastics very good, but blade baits and shallow running cranks also connecting.
Walleye: Good. Due to low light levels during the day, this species staying and feeding relatively shallow. Anglers making surprisingly good catches casting Rizzo Wizz's meant for Muskie. Also targeting Walleyes in 3-5' weed flats using Boonie Bait spinnerbaits (1/8 oz). Walleyes under these conditions are aggressive and charging.
Northern Pike: Good. Jigging chubs and casting spinnerbaits over 6-10' weeds best. Fish to 32" caught this past week.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair - Good. Would respond better with more sun/heat. Casting 1/4 oz tubes in brighter hues effective. Lippless cranks over flats with boulders resulting in action fish (14-16") bigger bass deeper on plastics or live leeches.
Yellow Perch: Fair - Good. Like SMB, like light and heat. Catching fish on med leeches 2" twister tails, crayfish tails, in 8-14' depths. Nice perch reports of 10-11" fish not uncommon.
Crappies: Fair - Good. Starting to set up in summer patterns. Casting tiny jigs (Gapens freshwater shrimp, Mini-Mites) as well as 2" twister tails best. Work at weed top level in 6-10'.
Bluegill: Fair. Need warmer weather/more sun. Small leeches, worms, waxies best baits.
The surprising thing this week was the Walleyes on the Rizzo Whizz and Bonnie Baits. I've seen this pattern before but not every year. Conditions have to be right. With more rain forecasted until Saturday give it a shot.
"Island Sports Minocqua"
