Minocqua area fishing report 12/21/09 Snow has definitely hindered ice production. Ice thickness ranges all over the board from as little as 1 1/2" to as much as 8". While I'm still not advising vehicle travel, there are some areas where snowmobiles and even small trucks have been seen on the ice. The problem is those ice depths mentioned earlier have come off of the same lakes. Stay clear of snow drifts, some areas under snow less than 2"!
Pike: Very good to excellent. Action plus size. Nice fish to 30". Big shiners in 4-8' of water.
Walleye: Very good. Some days bite starting early (3pm). Six - 12' weed best. Medium shiners, suckers on tip-ups. Fish to 28" reported. Larger jigging rapalas just after dark in 5-8'.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Usually not reported at this time, but good action and size (to 18") caught by anglers targeting pike walleye and crappies in 6-8" weed flats during day.
Bluegills: Good. Action improving. Fish absent from some traditional spots, moving back in. Waxies, moussees, plastics over old vegetation in 3-6' - though some small lake anglers finding fish in 15-20'.
Perch: Fair-Good. Patterns haven't set up yet. Still good numbers in weeds. Loose schools taking small minnows, Northland forage minnows with gob of wax worms in 4-8'. A few anglers finding schools of first major break in 12-14'.
Crappies: Poor-Fair. Few fish, few reports. Best towards evening along weed edges in 10-12'. try deep mud flats for staging fish.
A light snow today (12/21) didn't amount to much. More snow in forecast could hurt. We still need more cold and less snow to build ice.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
