minocqua area fishing report
The weekend warm up was a welcome relief after 5 days of sub zero mornings. Saturday's high cloudless sky didn't help the action much, but anglers set up for an evening bite reported flags were flying. Sunday's even warmer temps and lower barometer helped the bites out considerably.
Walleye: Good to very good. Timing crucial. On high sky days- predawn, after dark a must. On cloudy days, bites lasted through 9-10am and started 3:30-4 pm. Jigging Rapalas, Shad raps and Chubby Darters VERY HOT! #3, #5, #7 most comonly used. Some anglers taking limits of 15-22" fish, best of the weekend a 27", 7#. Minocqua, Kawaga, Tomahawk, Squirrel, Big and Little Arb best reports. Good action on tip-ups with medium shiners after dark.
Northern: Fair to Good. Started slow on Saturday but action picked up Sunday. Large shiners, suckers along 10-12' weeds on tip-ups. Jigging spoons also catching pike. Lots in the 22-25" range, a few 27-31" fish reported. One 40"er reported from Little St. Germain.
Largemouth Bass are strangely active for February. Taking medium shiners set up for pike.
Perch: Good to Very good. Deep bite most consistent on wigglers. #2 pimples (copper, gold, orange), Forage minnnow spoons, #25 Hali jigs to get down quickly in 20-38' of water over deep mud flats. Wigglers very important as that is what these fish are eating. Red spikes a distant 2nd choice. Along weeds of 8-12' go with small minnows (Rosie Reds have been hot on Big Arb). A thin rocker spoon or small plain hook to lightly back hook minnow is best. Minocqua, Kawaga, Squirrel, Big and Little Arb best. Fewer but nicer fish on Lake Tomahawk.
Crappies: Poor to Fair. Weather dependent. If cloudy day, fish all day. High skys, fish at dusk. Plastics prefered on clear lakes. Hot pink, yellow, white. Minnows on tip-downs on darker water (Flowages, Little Arb).
Bluegills: Fair to Good: See above. When clouds move in, work #10 or #12 dark jigs (purple, black, dark green) tip with waxies, moussees, plastic. Deeper water gills in 12-14' prefering brighter jigs in chartruese, white, glow. Work weed pockets of 6-10'. If absent work outside edges of 8-12'. Minocqua, Little St. Germain best.
Gamefish season ends on inland lakes March 2 at midnight. Action has been good on warming days (Saturday's high pressure being the exception). Should be a very good weekend to hit the lakes for a last shot at walleye and pike.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
