Minocqua area fishing report 7.31.12 A midweek storm cooled the water and some of the fishing down through the weekend. As temps start to return to normal, so has the fishing.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good. Still the most widely caught species (other than bluegills) up here. Spinnerbaits (Boonie baits, River 2 Sea), Chatterbaits, Pre-rigged worms, tubes and towards evening topwater. Lots of 13-14" fish (very strong year class) but also nice 18-19"ers.
Bluegills: Good-Very good. Slowed a bit in mornings due to cool nights after storm. By mid morning as things warm, gills cruising weed tops in 5-12'. Small leeches, worms, waxies, Gulp baits as well as 1" twisters on 1/32 oz jigs.
Musky: Good. Best towards dusk. Bucktails bringing in best action. Some topwater. Also the deep, openwater bite for anglers willing to work big rubber baits and 12" twitch baits over deep, Cisco inhabited lakes.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good. After front, smallies seem to have moved off of the rock humps and working weed lines. Tube jigs, big leeches best. Four inch swim baits and lipless cranks also taking fish in same areas. Return of warmer weather should put bite back on rocks.
Walleyes: Fair. Clouds from front helped daytime bite, but evening walleye bite back. Live bait in the form of big leeches and crawlers best.
Northern Pike: Fair. Best on live bait, though chubs difficult to get. Spinnerbaits (Boonie Baits) and Chatterbaits also scoring along with silver minnow spoons dressed with 3-4" twisters or pork rind.
Crappie: Fair. Weed edges of 12-14'. Small jigs, tubes and small minnows. Return of warmer weather should firm up bite.
Perch: Fair. Not a lot of reports of anglers targeting perch. The few that are, are using frozen softshells over sandgrass flats of 12-20'.
While surface temps unlikely to return to peak high, they are creeping back into the mid to high 70's by mid-afternoon. Summer patterns should resume for a while as temps stay in the 70's.
Kurt Justice
Kurt?s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
