Minocqua area fishing report 8.3.11 Night time temps in the 60's have helped cool lakes down a bit, though heat continues to build during the day. Summer patterns continue to hold, with day to day conditions (wind, clouds, rain) providing spikes or drops in the action.
Largemouth Bass: Very good to excellent. This species is doing exceptionally well. With growing populations even in non-traditional LMB locals, lots of techniques are producing. Fishing plastic worms wacky style continues to be a favorite for both LMB and anglers alike. Flukes and tubes are also producing. Topwater frog/mice plastics and old time favorites Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers as well as Buzz Baits are favored by evening anglers. Where? Deep weed edges, shallow weed flats, docks, boathouses, lily pads. They just seem to be lurking all over. Obviously on some lakes some areas are better than others, but they are dominating the action right now.
Bluegills: Very good. Look to deeper weed edges for bigger gills. Woms, thunderbugs very effective, but leeches stay on the hook better. Popper action at dusk for fly rodders. Check out any weed flat, cast small beetle spins or Charlie Brewer sliders to draw gills to your boat.
Smallmouth Bass: Very good. Two 21"ers this week. Crayfish imitators are HOT! The new Standing Yabbies as well as Yum Pappi Craws have produced big. Deep gravel/rock humps, deep weed edges. Early am cast #8 X-raps shallow as smallies chase minnows, craws 2-4' depths.
Musky: Good. Boat traffic hard on daytime action. Go early or late. Large fluted blade bucktails, spinnerbaits and topwater best toward dusk.
Pike: Good. Blades best (chatterbaits, Mepps, spinnerbaits) over 6-10' weed flats. Bigger pike early in am then move to deep weedlines, use large suckers/chubs on jigs or floats.
Walleye: Fair-Good. Nights best with lighted slip-floats and BIG leeches. Daytime pick your battles. Wind and clouds help. Leeches and cralwers on 1/16oz jigs in 10-14' weed edges.
Perch: Good. Shallow weeds of 5-8'. Crayfish (frozen), medium leeches best under slip-float, 1/2 crawler on small jigs.
Crappie: Fair. Starting to set up well on weed flats at weed bases on some coontail edges in 20'. Two inch twister tails or small minnows.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
