Minocqua area fishing report 3.7.11 Inconsistent weather, lots of changing wind direction and at times too much wind made for some challenging fish catching this past week.
Unusual for our part of the state, southeast winds came in a couple of times, not good for our fishing.
Gamefish season ended Sunday night, dusk and after dark anglers caught some walleyes. Pike anglers scored some fat fish including a 33", 11 1/2# from Minocqua on Friday.
Ice keeps building, we actually have 4" more than we had two weeks ago. With little in the way of major warm ups heading our way, plus the addition of snow today (3/7) and possibly mid week, it looks like we should have ice into April (scratch last weeks prediction).
Perch: Good. Work invovled in finding fish. Depths vary, as anglers scoring nice perch in as little as 6' and as deep as 30'. For 6-8' weed areas, gob of waxies smushed on a Hexi Fly jig or similar horizontal syle jig working best. Dip pockets in the weeds. These small but heavy jigs improtant to keep perch interested. Minnows on tipdowns also effective. Must key on deep fish (17-30'). These fish are chowing down on wigglers (mayfly larvae). Work depths with fast sinking flickers, pimples, forage minnow jigs tipped with wigglers. Crappie minnows/rosies accounting for larger perch. Lots of good "eaters" at 8 1/2-10" with enough 11-12"ers to make things interesting.
Bluegills: Good. Most action in 6-10' weeds. Teardrop and moon style jigs tipped with red, black or motor oil colored plastic. Waxies, red spikes and moussees also effective. Times are best in am till about 10-10:30 then again after 3pm.
Crappies: Fair. They are there, just haven't popped. Could have been the weather but action not good...yet. Slow dropping white, yellow or pink plastic and hanging crappie minnows below tip-downs accounting for some fish just before dusk.
Travel on ice excellent. With increased ice plus addition of snow and little of temperature beyond the low-mid 30's, good ice should hang around through March into April.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
