Minocqua area fishing report 6.22.11 The water is a little cooler than usual for mid June. Most lakes in the 64-66 degree range. Continued NE winds try to confound anglers, but, actually the fishing has been good.
Musky: Very good. Besides the 53 1/2" reported last week, a 48 1/2" was also caught and released. Good numbers of fish, many in the low to mid 40" range. Bucktail action good, but, surprisingly lots of wood action. Cranes, Smity Gliders and Jerks (smaller models) and Topwater baits getting the better part of the action. Fish holding fairly shallow, target isolated weed beds in 6-10'.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Some bedding going on. Lots of action pitching plastic craws around docks, pilings. Four inch worms working around weeds in 4-8' of water. Topwater producing despite cool temps. Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers, Chug Bugs.
Northern Pike: Very good. Spinnerbaits doing extremely well. Work over weeds in 6-10'. Spoons also catching good #s. Lots of low 20" fish but fish of 30-34" released this week. If action slows, switch to jig and chub.
Walleye: Good. Cool temps, overcast helping walleye anglers finding fish in 6-10' weeds. Good numbers of eaters plus larger fish - 26" released on jib/chub, 27 1/4" released on Boonie Bait. No strong preference between redtails, crawlers or leeches. Fish slow.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good. Action improving as fish showing back up since spawn. Three inch tubes, craws, size 8 slash baits (Xraps) producing. Bait anglers catching fish on big leeches/crawlers.
Bluegills: Good. Spawning on larger lakes, finished on smaller. Thunderbugs, small leeches, Gulp Alive leeches, crickets. Poppers on calm evenings.
Perch: Good. Minnows, leeches, 1/2 crawlers on jigs. Fish weeds, wood in 6-8'.
Crappies: Fair-Good. All right, after 2 weeks of saying crappies missed their spawn, I actually found a small group on beds - one pair even in the act! Large lake - not my fault they are mixed up. LOL. Jigs and small minnows best.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
