Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Moving into the second week of August, nothing too out of the ordinary. Some rain and storms over the past weekend, but weather stabilizing as the week moves on.

Bass and Bluegills have been the main stay, but a slight uptick in some of the other species this week should give anglers a little more promise.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Plying the weeds with Wacky worms, Ned rigs and creature baits best. Later in week, as air temps hit 80’s, look for top-water action to return on frogs, Whopper Ploppers and spooks! Moss Boss and Jaw Breakers in the heavy slop.

Bluegill: Very Good – Due to rain and clouds, little top-water (should return at week’s end). Best on small leeches, worms along deep edges.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Working gravel humps in 20-28’ using drop-shot rigs best. Tubes, Carolina Rigging some Hula Grubs.

Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and paddle tailed swimbaits on ¼ oz heads. Cabbage first, deep Coontail edges for fewer, larger fish.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Weed pockets on the natural lakes, wood on flowages. Use pieces of frozen soft shell on light jigs. ½ Crawlers next best.

Crappie: Fair – Reports of anglers finding Crappies high up on 10-14’ beds of Narrow Leaf Cabbage. Swim tiny jigs (1/32 oz w/ 1” Twister, Mini-Mites or Gapen Freshwater Shrimp). Work small minnows 1 foot down into weed tops using light floats.

Musky: Fair – Action picking up. Bucktails and spinnerbaits best. Loud top-water baits in evenings.

Walleye: Poor-Fair - The clouds and rain opened up some opportunities on the clear lakes. Leeches and Crawlers in 12-16’ weeds when light levels low.

With New Moon coming up, should be a good weekend ahead. Water temps running mid-70’s.