Minocqua area fishing report 8.31.10 Patterns seem to be changing. Weather remained fairly warm (hot) this past week pushing surface temps back into the mid 70's, but there have been plenty of signs of weeds starting to die back a little. There is a cool down coming for this weekend with Friday being the coldest then warming back up. The high pressure didn't help this past week, maybe the drop in temps will spur some activity.
Musky: Fair-Good. Best action very early am or late pm. A 51"er was caught this week on a sucker. Most action on surface baits, shallow running jointed cranks/twitch baits up in shallow of 4-8'.
Perch: Fair-Good. Work weeds of 8-10' and around cribs using 1/2 crawler on 1/32 - 1/16 oz jig, casting same jigs with 2" chartruse twister to locate small schools then fish live bait. Nice "eaters" of 8-10'.
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good. Evenings - early am best this past week. 1/8oz jigs with 4" worms, 3" twisters over/through weeds. Plastic frogs early/late still producing some as are Hula Poppers/Jitterbugs. Plunking plastics (Senkos, Beavers) also producing.
Walleye: Fair. Move to gravel humps occuring. Work 1/8 - 1/4oz jigs tipped with large fats, 1/2 crawler in 18-26' depths.
Bluegill: Fair. Despite an 11"er caught this past week, action is down as fish harder to locate. Flowages producing 9-10" fish in heavy weeds, but a good catch is 6-10 fish.
Crappie: Fair. Work weed edges in 14-18' for fish holding at bases. Use small jigs, minnows.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Maybe a temporary hic-up, but fish left many typical rock/gravel humps. Check out sandgrass flats. Use soft shell crayfish (frozen), crawlers or Carolina rig chompers skirted grubs over grass in 18-22'.
Pike: Fair. this species will probably respond well to the cool down coming. Cast 1/4-3/8 oz spinnerbaits over weed flats. Jig/Float chubs in sam 6-10' areas.
Fishing seemed to slow quite a bit, high pressure hurt (maybe it was Mars coming so close to Earth) Make note for 2000 years from now "Mars Bad Fishing". Actually the transition to a more early fall pattern is occuring, things will improve as we get into September.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
