Minocqua Area Fishing Report 5.18.10 A week of stable "May" like weather has things looking up. Water temps are rising, fish that seemed ready to spawn weeks ago before being shut down by the cold are getting ready to get back at it.
Smallmouth Bass: Good - Very good. Staging up tight, in some bodies of water (dark flowages), cruising shorelines setting up nesting sites. (Actually some nesting going on already). Many anglers having best luck on tubes, fluke type plastics. Warm evenings bringing surface action on chug bugs. Husky Jerks, X-raps producing outside spawning flats. All catch and release!!
Crappies: Good-Very Good. Crappies moving back into shallows. Lots of action with fish to 15" caught this week. Crappie minnows rule... But lots of anglers taking nice catches on Gapen Freshwater shrimp, mini-mites, Charlie bees and Chippewa Charlie jigs as well as the 1" Gulp Alive minnows, with lake temps averaging mid 50's now and highs to near 80 degrees by weeks end crappies should be back to bedding this weekend.
Walleyes: Good. With high skies early mornings and evenings (especially evenings) best. Lakes exceptionally clear due to lake of rain (no water movement). Fish deeper than usual. Wood key on Flowages at least 7-9', weeks in 12-16' on lakes. Dace minnows, redtails, large fats. Some after dark action on #5-#7 Shad Raps on tops of 7-10 bars.
Northern Pike: Good. Jig and Chub action starting to give way to Spinnerbaits, #3 Mepps. Large River Shiners below slip bobbers helped anglers to catches of Pike to 28" this weekend. Paddletail soft minnow baits also hot (4-5")
Bluegill: Fair-Good. This species will really turn on this week. Once lake temps hit 60 degrees plus gills will start moving into shallows. Waxworms, leafworms and thunderbugs. Also some top water popper and dry fly action occuring in the back bays for the fly rod enthusiasts.
Largemouth Bass: Good. With smallies moving in this species taking a back seat. Best action on senko style worms plunked into week pockets. Pre-rigged worms also scoring when worked over 6-8' weed beds.
Yellow Perch: Fair. Not as much interest with Crappies moving in, some very nice jumbos being caught in shallows of 1-3' by anglers targeting crappies and gills. Warmer weather will improve this bite.
With lakes so low, use caution motoring. Water is very clear, take advantage of low light periods (dawn, dusk), after dark and cloudy days. Use neutral colors (blue, green) for Walleyes on clear lakes. Forecast is very stable and typical for the second half of May. Should be a good week.
Kurt's Island Sports Shop
Kurt Justice
Web Site:
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
