Minocqua area fishing report 6.8.11 We had lots of hot and unstable weather at the beginning of this week. While not always making it easy, it has raised water temps up on the small to mid-sized lakes. While crappie anglers were sad to hear about the lack of spawning, now it is bluegill time and in most cases it is just getting good.
Bluegills: Very good. Starting to bed on most lakes (though a few smaller lakes are already seeing Pumpinseeds spawn so those lakes are done for gills). Poppers over bedding fish. Thunderbugs, small leeches, worms, waxies and Gulp Alive fish fry and maggots. Look to partially firm sandy bottom shallows. Be kind, take a few, leave the rest.
Smallmouth Bass: Very good. Starting to show up on mid to large lakes. If water in high 50's, fish first break from shallows with 3-4" tubes. Crayfish typed crankbaits dig into bottoms to stir up interest. Also, anglers working Flukes, wacky worms and top water chub baits reporting good success.
Pike: Very good. Action may slow if water temps continue to climb. So far, fish very active on Boonie Bait (spinnerbaits), #3 Mepps, Chatterbaits. Actively jigging a 4-5" chub also very productive in 6-10' weeds. Use a light, tieable wire to protect from bite offs.
Musky: Good. Action picking up. Bucktails in the smaller sizes (Rizzo Whiz, #500 Bucher tail, #5 Mepps) as usual for this time of year. Twitch baits in 6 and 7" sizes (Cranes, Grandmas) and surprisingly gliders. A young local angler has caught his fish musky a 41" then a 44" the next day, both on gliders.
Largemouth Bass: Good. Most reports from anglers using plastics in shallows. Four inch worms, 3" craws and 3" tubes have been hot. Nice bass in the 15-19" range with several 20"+ fish. Signs of staging, some bedding. Still catch and release season. Recent heat has brought on top water action. Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers, Plastic Frogs/mice all scoring.
Walleye: Fair-Good. With patches of weeds greening up, pitch redtails, big leeches, crawlers at these patches in 6-10' of water. Early am, cloudy days best. Large deep lakes fish evenings on gravel humps in 18-26' with large redtails.
Perch: Fair-Good. Roaming between weed plots. Mini-mites, small tubes, minnows. Fan cast 1/32 oz jig with 2" twister tail to locate, then cover area with minnows/medium leeches below floats. Hot weather has improved action.
Crappies: Fair. All chances of spawning are gone. Look to deeper drowned wood to find recovering fish. Minnows below slip-floats best. These fish don't seem to be chasing much yet. Don't be surprised to find the females full of (old) spawn.
While it takes the larger lakes longer to warm up (high 50's, low 60's) the small to mid sized lakes have temps in the low to mid 70's. A cool down by weeks end may change things, but gills and bass that have committed to the spawn will stay put.
Water levels are good on most lakes (Flowages are very high). Once storms stop, stable weather should help set up patterns.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
