Minocqua area fishing report 8.3.10 Fishing in the Northwoods has finally settled into some form of a
pattern...good for some species...not so good for others.
Largemouth Bass: Good to Very good. The thing is the bass have moved to either deep weed lines (12-16') or up in very shallow water under floating vegetation and lily pads. For deep fish work edges Senkos, Dingers wacky style or jig/pig combo. Deep diving cranks also effetive.
For shallow "slop" fish, plastic frogs, weedless spoons, buzz baits and the old reliable Jitterbgs and Hula Poppers are best. Very nice fish to 20+" a daily happening.
Smallmouth Bass: Good to Very good. Work deep gravel humps, sandgrass flats and coontail edges. Carolina rig Chompers skirted grubs, work tubes and countdown lipless rattle baits (Rattle Traps, Rattlin Raps) as well as banging deep diving cranks on rock humps of 10-14'> Jig and leech/crawlers also very effective. At dawn cast twitch baits (Rattlin Rouges, X-raps) inside weedlines to intercept cruising smallies feeding on shallow minnows.
Muskie: Good. Best action at dusk, after dark. Topwater action best (Pacemakers, Tallywackers, Top Raiders). A 48" fish from Minocqua Chain leads weeks report. Daytime action tough with boat traffic, work big plastics deep.
Bluegills: Good. Lots of action for live bait anglers working deeper weeds. Some good topwater action using poppers during evenings.
Perch: Good. Either 6-8' weeds with leeches or minnocs or deeper sandgrass of 14-22' using 1/2 crawler or soft shells (frozen).
Pike: Fair to Good. Spinnerbaits, spoons, chatterbaits over weed flats of 6-10'. Jig and chub if action slow. Most reports of smaller pike 20-24" with fish of 28-32" here and there.
Walleye: Poort-Fair. Best bet to target deep clear lakes drifting Lindy style rigs with crawlers, big leeches during day. Depths 18-30' depending on light. At nigh (best) sit on humps with lighted slip floats and biggest leeches you can find. Mostly fish over 20" this way (remember these are the good spawners) up to 27".
Surface water temps from low to mid 70's everywhere> Lots of weed
growth, big schools of bait fish to contend with. The topwater action for bass, musky (even some pike) has been the talk. Should continue in the evenings as long as nights stay warm.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
