Minocqua area fishing report 7.27.11 We've finally got a break from that heat wave. Night-time temps down to the 50's (even high 40's) and day-time temps now averaging low 80's. Water temps are averaging mid to high 70's. Cool temps have hurt morning bite some, but overall fishing is still good.
Smallmouth Bass: Very good. For shallower weed edge fish (10-15'), 1/8oz jig and tube, wacky worms or just a plain 1/16oz jig and leech. Working twitch baits also effective (Xraps, husky jerks). For deeper fish, work rock humps topping at 18-26'. Drop-shot 3" finness worms, jig and creature or crawfish imitations. Nice bass reported with lots of fish in the 14-17" range with some 19-20"ers this past week.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Working weeds with 7" power worms, 5" senkos and plastic craws producing very well. Pre-rigged plastic worms reeled slowly over weed tops hard to miss. Evening surface lures HOT with plastic frogs, mice and buzz baits producing lots of fun!
Bluegills: Very good. Worms, small leeches, thunderbugs. Schools of gills roaming weed beds. Cast tiny jigs with 1" twisters to locate fish. Lots of nice sized gills of 7-8 1/2". Poppers deadly on calm evenings.
Walleye: Good. Best on deep clear lakes. Evenings, slip-floats or 1/8oz jigs over bars and humps topping at 18-26' with gravel or sandgrass. Bait with full crawlers or XL leeches. After dark, lighted slip-floats and jumbo leeches. Windy days helping midday bite on wind blown weedlines of 8-12'.
Pike: Good. Most action on in-line spinners (Mepps, Rizzo Wizz) or spinnerbaits (Boonie Baits) worked over 6-10' weed flats. Big chubs/suckers also effective below large floats.
Perch: Good. Softshell crayfish (frozen), 1/2 crawlers, medium leeches along weed edges of 8-12'. Nicer perch of 9-11" on crayfish tails on 1/16oz jig.
Crappies: Fair. Small, flashy jigs worked at weed top level producing nice 11-12" crappies on larger lakes. Check for suspended fish along coontail/milfoil edges of 14-20".
That should be it for major heat up here. Summer patterns locking in. Flowage water levels dropping, deeper lakes providing best action.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
