Minocqua Area Fishing Report 5.24.10 The month of "My wife" you know it as May.. But anything that goes from 5" of snow to 90 degrees in the same month reminds of ..... well you know.
The sudden heat spell has shut down some of the action, put several species into a reved up spawn mode and has raised water temps very quickly.
Crappies: Excellent to very good. Those that got pushed out back during the cold have raced back into spawn, many finishing in a flurry. Check the shallows on the big lakes, but in many instances the crappies are starting to scatter to deeper weed edges of 8-12'. Small minnows on slips hard to resit. Tiny jigs tipped with 1-2" twister tails, 1" Gulp Alive minnows and tinsel (Gapen Fresh Water Shrimp) all producing limit catches. Lots of 10" plus fish to 14".
Bluegills: Very good. With water temps climbing to their prime spawning marks (68-72), gills are cruising the shallows looking to set up spawning beds. Worms, thunderbugs, small leeches hard to pass up. Excellent popper time on flat evenings or the lee sides of the lake.
Smallmouth Bass: Very Good. Many fish bedding. Tubes, flukes and Chug bugs (surface) are what the locals are using and the action is hot! All catch and release! Good fish to 21" this week, the hot weather speeding things up.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good. Due to hot weather, this species is in early and actually bedding in some areas. Lots of shallow water activity as they cruise looking for nest sites. Top water lures, chug bug, creepers, jitterbugs and light plastics (4" senkos, tubes, flukes) best in the shallows.
Yellow Perch: Fair. Not a lot of reports but some good Perch being caught in 4-8' on medium leeches, thunderbugs.
Norther Pike: Fair. Action slowed with heat. Spoons, slow moving spinner baits worked over 5-10' weed flats. Some pike action on large chubs on floats.
Walleye: Poor - Fair. Heat may be causing a transition. Working weed edges of 10-14' producing some scattered fish on redtails, dace. Leeches on slip floats towards dusk up in weed pockets of 7-10'.
This heat will push spawing through. Crappies, smallies will finish with LMB and Gills right behind (in some cases right in with). Keep an eye on your live bait. Keep it cool and well aereated. Muskie fishermen should do well to fish small Rizzo Wizz and #5 (00) series bucktails over 6-10' weeds. Also 6-7" twitch baits and surface lures to start out the season.
Kurt's Island Sports Shop
Kurt Justice
Web Site:
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
