"Minocqua area fishing report"
Lots of late January type temperatures have meant good ice on most lakes. Many reports of 10-12" with a little slush on the main lakes, but most of that should be firming up with the sub zero night temps, dry air and no new snow (so far).
Walleye: Fishing still very good though it has dropped off a little from the "excellent" of last week. The extreme cold has kept a lot of anglers off the ice early in the day. The best bites on the natural lakes are at dusk. Shiners (no wilds yet) and suckers are the standard, but several local anglers are scoring very well on jigging rapalas at dusk, some with limits within a 40 minute window surrounding sundown. Eight to 10' weed edges best.
Northern Pike: Very good. Bite best from midmorning till mid afternoon. Large shiners, river shiners best. A good report from an anglers using #5 Chubby darters -- hard hits, doen't forget a wire leader.
Crappies: Very good. Bays with standing cabbage holding nice fish of 10-13". Minnows on tiny floats working 1-2' off bottom in mornings. Fish rising up water column during the day.
Perch: Good. Most action in 5-7' of water. Waxies on a bright colored jig best, but nice perch (9-11") coming on #2 jigging raps and small rattle spoons.
Look as if temps may let up a bit, but still cold, good for ice and travel should be a good weekend.
Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com/
