Minocqua area fishing report
This has been close to a typical northwoods winter - a little more snow and we'd have it. We've been spoiled the past few years with the warm weather and little snow cover allowing for easy access and fairly good fishing. Fishing had been slow but picked up by Wednesday. Over the weekend we had good reports for Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Crappies.
Walleye: Good. Evenings best - last hour of light until hour after sunset. A few anglers staking out off shore humps finding nice walleyes 22-27" at dawn until about 8 am. These anglers using #7 Jigging Rapalas as fish move through for a brief bite. Overall shiners & suckers on tip-ups best. Stick to 14-18' coontail edges, though bars and humps with gravel or sandgrass producing on deep, clear lakes (Tomahawk, Fence, Clear).
Northern Pike: Good. Fish active with warmer temps. Large shiners or suckers preferred. Lots of 22-26" eaters, but fish into 30's plus a 38" er reported this week. Large bodies of water better due to better oxygen content but plenty of action from pike standbys - Carrol, Pickerel, Sweeney, Little Saint Germain.
Yellow Perch: Good to very good. Two distinct bites - Some anglers finding fish in 8-12' weeds using minnows, rosie reds (Carrol, Big Arb.). The other bite is in deep water 18-23' with reports as deep as 36' over mud flats on Minocqua, Kawaguesaga. Wigglers by far the top bait here but red spikes a good follow up. These fish are feeding heavily on Mayfly larvae (wigglers) and Midge larvae found in mud. #2 Swedish pimples, #25 Hali jigs, and #2 Forage minnows are tops if you can find them. Bang them in the mud to attract attention.
Crappies: Fair to good. Bite better on overcast days. Clear water fish (Minocqua, Lake Tom) seem to prefer small jigs with plastics. Dark water (Flowages, Little Arb) prefer minnows.
Bluegills: Fair to good. Dark #12 & #10 jigs tipped with moussees in 8-15'. Deeper weeds, grass beds for larger fish. Palmer, Minocqua, Carrol best reports.
We're on the backside of the mid winter doldrums. Fishing picking up. Access excellent except for some high, hard snow drifts from the recent snowstorms so drive carefully. Watch for oxygen depleted lakes this time of year (Buckskin), don't waste your time. If more lakes come up we will post.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com 
