Minocqua area fishing report 2.23.09
If ever an example of how weather, especially the barometer, affects fishing it was this week. Mostly high pressure, cloudless skies, with some tough bites. Wednesday morning and throughout Saturday, the fish were snapping.
Walleye: Fair to Good. Big fish this past week. Lots of reports of walleye 23-26" with several 28-29"ers caught this weekend. Jigging rapalas, shad raps, chubby darter took aggressive fish over off-shore humps/14-17' weed edges. Lots of eaters (15-20") on tip-ups baited with shiners, set up along weed edges by 3:30 to be ready for the bite around 5pm.
Perch: Very good. Reacting to changes in barometer, but the right days bite is hot. Wigglers are choice, lightly hook on a #25 Hali or #2 Swedish pimple. Fish mud flats of 29-33' depths producing larger fish. Once perch move in and are hitting switch to red spikes to save on bait.
Crappies: Poor to Good. Very weather dependent. When the clouds come in and the snow flies, hit weedy bays of 8-12'. Use small minnows, waxies, plastic. Fish to 14 1/2" this week with lots of 11-13" being caught on the right days. Tip-downs along mud breaks of 18-28' with small rosies also producing. Best bite first 2 hours of light, last two hours before dark.
Pike: Very good. Lots of action and some of the best size of the season with fish up to 38" being reported. Good numbers of 26-30" pike on large shiners/suckers along 10-12' weed edges.
Bluegill: Good. Go dark on tough days. Use 1-2# test and small #12 black or purple jigs tipped with single spike or small plastic. When aggressive, gills taking larger #8 teardrops in bright colors tipped with waxie, bright plastic.
Gamefish season ends March 1st at midnight, you'll have through Sunday to catch the last of your pike and walleye for a while. Lake access is very good. Truck (some car) traffic excellent. 30+ inches of ice, some anglers buying extensions for use on Flowages.
Kurt Jusstice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
