Minocqua area fishing report 5.31.12 Lots of anglers talk has been about the spring we've had. Water temps are in advance of usual for this time of year on the up and down of temps has thrown a lot of pre-spawn fish for a loop. anglers are catching walleyes, northern pike and crappies still with spawn. No one is seeing bedding crappies, but many are being caught shallow.
Crappies: Good. Anglers finding fish in shallow (2') to 7-10' weeds. tiny tubes, hair jigs and plastic twitched on light line. Many still with spawn but little hope of dropping eggs.
Musky: Good. Not a great opener, but fish active. Fish of 34-44" caught over weekend on bucktails , boonie bait spinnerbaits and 7" twitch baits. Most fish fairly shallow in 4-10' weeds.
Pike: Good. Chubs and suckers under floats and on jigs accounting for most fish. Spoons, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits also effective over weed flats of 4-8'.
Bluegills: Good. Though wind has been an issue, anglers finding gills close to shore (pre-spawn) and very aggressive on poppers, tiny plastics, waxies and thunderbugs. With surface temps in mid 60's, gills should start bedding if temps rise again.
Perch: Fair-Good. Wind is an issue. Action best in calmer, warmer water if any on medium leeches, medium fats. Nice eaters of 8-9", not many Jumbos as of last week.
Walleye: Fair-Good. Very scattered. some in as shallow as 5', others in 25-30'. Most consistent action is after dark on x-raps (#10) cast around deep weed edges, pilings, piers and bridges. One 30 1/2" caught Monday on a boonie bait while casting for pike in 6' weeds. A 28 1/2" on a redtail on a 35' hump also caught. Inconsistent action for the most part, though deep lakes providing the best bite.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. shallow and active. Stick baits (Husky Jerks, X-raps, Rattlin Rouges) very effective on the inside weedlines, especially early and late. Tubes, creatures and even some topwater action on the lee side of the lakes.
Smallmouth Bass: Good. Lots of action from smaller fish (13-15") males still guarding nest. Big girls mostly deeper. Tubes, leeches best.
Lots of lakes registering temps in mid 60 degree range. Some drop lately with cooler temps. Wind persists to make some areas difficult.
Kurt Justice
Kurt?s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
