Minocqua Area Fishing Report 6.7.10
Much needed rain. but un-needed cool weather, wind and bug hatches have changed the local fishing reports from last week. All species have been affected. some (Walleye) more then others.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair. Colder (48-50 degree) night time temps have affected the shallow water fish the most. {This will be a running theme}. Think smaller and slower. Pre-rigged plastic worms (6") tubes on (3" on 1/16 - 1/8 oz heads) 1/8 oz jig and pigs and 4" senko worms. Fish hunkered down in heavier weeds, slow approach best. Live bait (leeches, crawlers, chubs) on light jig in 6-10' weeds. Still catch and release season.
Bluegills: Good-Fair. Cool temps (see above) have slowed surface bite. Some lakes gills still found on beds. Go tiny 1/8 oz jigs tipped with tiny plastic, gulp, small leeches. Thunder bugs on #8 light wire aberdeen below tiny floats. Depth 1'-6'.
Smallmouth Bass. Good-Fair. Sluggos, 4" wacky worms, 3" tubes out in 6-12' of drowned wood. Slow approach. Hot surface action of last week is done till heat returns. #6-#8 husky jerks and x-raps worked slow also picking up fish.
Musky: Fair. A little quieter than last week. Good time to use twitch baits (6-7") light gliders. Buck tails with large fluted blades that can be worked over weed tops at medium speed also effective.
Northern Pike: Fair. Best at mid morning on, as surface temps and air temps match up. Boonie bait spinner baits in the smaller 1/8 oz size producting, but fish are not chasing, almost have to hit em on the head. Live bait best at times like these. Be sure to set hook early in bite so as not to deep hook if release is possible.
Yellow Perch: Fair. Warm weather would really help. Anglers using thunder bugs and frozen soft shells reporting some nice perch to 11" in 12-18' of water over sandgrass. Slip bobbers and medium fats picking up some fish along bridges.
Crappie: Fair. Cold pushed remaining shallow fish out. Target 8-14' weeds with small plastics or minnows. Don't expect much for #'s, but a small catch of nice fish is possible.
Walleye: Fair-Poor. The Turtle Flowage and Rainbow have had big Hexagema hatches. Once things warm back up, other lakes will be recieveing theirs also. Casting #9 countdown (blue-silver) Rapalas at dusk over shallow weeds as been working for anglers fishing lakes that havn't hatched.
Doesn't look like we'll see the 80's till late in the week. We desperately need the rain, but the night time lows in the high 40's hurt the action. Looks like by Wednesday things will level out temp wise with more rain. The cloud cover can help those targeting Walleye and Musky.
