Minocqua Area Fishing Report 6.2.10
It's summer already. Last year we didn't get one, this year it's three weeks early. Species that are normally spawning (or just ending) over Memorial weekend have long been done. Others that we don't see setting up until the 2nd or 3rd week of June have finished already also. Should be able to get onto some summer patterns rather quickly and have a good run of em.
Smallmouth Bass: Very good. Some still nesting on Fence, but overall spawn over. Early mornings good for surface action. Jitterbugs (one angler had 30 fish morning on a yellow one) spooks, chug bugs all working. Mid morn thru day tubes, flukes best. Smallies havn't moved to deep yet, so concentrate on shallows and first break.
Bluegills: Very good. Many lakes saw this species bedding in 1-2'. Nice gills to 8 plus inches hitting poppers on surface. Thunderbugs and small leeches irresistible.
Northern Pike: Good. Best action on jig/chub combo meant for walleyes. Fish to 32" patroling weeds in 6-10'. Daredevils and spinnerbaits also producing, but meat better right now.
Walleye: Good. Work wind blown weed edges with redtails or leeches. Very early am or dusk best. Fish to 28" this week in weeds of 4-10'. Cast #5 shad raps over and along shallow weeds at dusk.
Largemouth Bass: Good. Most have moved in, spawned and moved out. Anglers working 4" worms on 1/8 jigs, chomper skirted grubs and senko wacky style worms scoring well. Lots of reports of fish to 20".
Yellow Perch: Good. Most perch being found on top of weed bars in 5-10' of water. Split shot 12-14" above a #8 aberdeen hook threaded thru a thunderbug and slowly "inch" through these flats. Has been deadly on nice perch of 8-10".
Crappie: Fair. This species spawned and goned. Actually fish can be found in out lying weeds of 4-8'. Tiny plastics, hair and tinsel jigs as well as small minnows 18" under a small float effective. Cover water till you find some loosely scattered fish.
With the heat surface temps shot into the mid 70's in a hurry. Recent cool down has dropped temps into 70-71 range. Summer pattern setting up, major may fly hatches havn't happened, that and daily weather changes only things to work around.
