Minocqua area fishing report 5.18.11 A wide variety of weather this past week has had anglers doing a lot of searching. A super low pressure with no wind - yet warm temps slowed angling one day only to have the fish turned on the next as the barometer and wind rose, with temps falling. Lows to freezing hit the Lakeland area this weekend, still anglers caught fish by being versitable. Warmer, consistent weather is need now to get things cranking. Water temps dropped from highs in the 50's to mid 40's.
Walleye: Fair-Good. On warm days, walleyes moved in shallow to feed on young perch, gills, crappies and minnows. Jig and minnow combos in 3-8' best. Casting stick baits (Rattlin Rouges, Thundersticks, Rapalas) after dark in shallows also scoring. Anglers reporting releases of nice 21-26" spawned out females, keeping 15-18" males as "eaters." On Willow/Rainbow cold pushed "eyes" to channels by weekend where trollers using Shad Raps scored nice walleyes to 26".
Pike: Fair-Good. Lots of little ones in shallow new weed growth. Cast 1/8oz jig head with twister tail grub (3"), snap retrieve best. Slow rolling spinnerbaits through weeds picking up nice fish plus bonus walleyes. Cold weather has anglers SLOW dragging big chubs for larger (30+") pike.
Crappie, bluegill, perch: Poor. Cold has slowed bite. When shallows return to low 50's watch for fishing to pick up.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
