Minocqua area fishing report 03/06/09
A nice warming trend along with a drop in the barometer brought in some great panfish action. After a couple of days of high skies and few bites, this new weather system seems to be to the fish's liking.
Crappies: Very good. Fish in 10-14' weeds taking minnows on tip-downs, waxies on Russian spoons and bright colored plastics on #8 rockers. Anglers fishin over deeper mud and sandgrass for suspended fish hanging crappie minnows, small rosies below tip-downs jigging #6-#8 moon glos tipped with waxies also productive. Fish to 14 1/2" from both areas.
Perch: Very good. Weed fish in 8-10' taking small-medium fatheads, couple of waxies pushed up on a Northland Forage minnow fry. Some nice fish to 12 1/2" larger fatheads discouraging smaller perch. Mud flats producing nicer average (9-10 1/2"). Wigglers on Gapen flicker jigs, #2 pimples, Hali jis and forage spoons. Rosie reds on tip-downs over 20-30' mud flats also working. Flasher units very helpful with locating fish and determining their feeding mood.
Bluegills: Very good. Best action mid morning and again late afternoon. Moussees, waxies on #10 tear drops, moon glos in bright colors best. Plastic very effective on gills in 8-10' weeds also search out suspended gills along 12-16' weed edges and over sandgrass humps in 14-20' of water. These fish can be anywhere in the water column, but are usually aggressive enough to come to your bait.
After a brutally cold start to the week (20 below Monday) the change in weather has really sparked the fishing. Things usually only build from here. Depending on a weather change (cold snap) look for a good panfish season. Access on the lakes is excellent, a little water on top of the ice due to some light rain/melt. Ice thickness 30-32".
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com