minocqua area fishing report 12/29/08
Lots of fluctuating temperatures and baramoter readings has made for inconsistent action, but despite the almost daily weather changes, fishing has been pretty good overall.
Walleye: Good. Obviously some nights better than others. Set up by 3pm as most afternoons bite starts by 4-4:30. Very early mornings also good. Be set up before light. Shiners still best for walleyes in 8-12' cabbage. Choose suckers over mud/sandgrass in 18-28' depths. Jigging also effective. Use Chubby darters, rapalas, even 2 1/2" gulp alive minnows. Fish to 26" this week by jigging.
Perch: Good. Not many limits but anglers taking home plenty for a meal. Best bites were weed related in 7-10'. Wigglers, waxies and minnows best. Not much for jumbos, but 7-9" eaters being caught along weed covered bars.
Bluegills: Fair-Good. Best bites on overcast days. Moussees, waxies over 7-10' weeds.
Crappies: Fair-Good. Tip-downs with minnows very effective on days above 20 degrees. Work plastics, waxies on #10 moon glos jigs, #8 rockers. 8-12' cabbage best.
Pike: Fair. Not a lot of strong reports, though some nice fish caught (24-28") using large shiners over 6-10' weeds.
Friday night through Saturday temps held from 38-43 degrees knocking snow down. Slush on ice messy, but not a major problem as of yet. Some areas do have 4-6" of slush, a few areas a little more. Forescast for 3-5" of snow Tuesday would keep this from freezing. Most lakes reporting 10-12" of ice on average. Reports of lakes with up to 17" (not confirmed). Be careful with travel. Some lakes recieving car/truck traffic, but ATV, Snowmobile best way.
With the exception of some sloppy travel, this looks to be a good week with temps in the 20's and threats of light snow making for good fishing conditions.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
