Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 10/15/24

Mid-October and a fast change in water temps as lakes react to the 30-degree lows and highs in the upper 40’s.  Surface temps reports from low of 50 degrees to high of 58 degrees (never got much of a shot at the wonderful mid-60’s), have anglers on alert for turnover (usually 55-57 degrees) on their favorite lakes.  Look for murky water, debris from bottom of lake (not fresh dead tree leaves or algae) floating or suspended.  Pick-up and go somewhere else, lots of lakes to choose from in the Lakeland area and lakes don’t all turn at the same time.  Only going to do reports on species still being fished at this time.  Windy weekend and rain kept anglers off water.  If missing reports come into shop, I’ll add later.

Musky:  Good-Fair – Not the great weekend we normally expect for mid-October.  Maybe the water temps, but fish scattered.  Anglers finding fish still weed related, either in or just off.  Other reports have anglers picking up fish off rock humps on deep diving cranks.  Surprisingly sucker bite not as strong as expected, but twitchbaits, jerks and gliders accounting for boated fish.  Top fish reported at shop, 48 ½” guided by Jake Smith on Thursday (10/10).

Crappie:  Good-Fair – Action cranking up (before wind made tough to fish).  Good action and size (10-13”+) on medium fatheads or light hair jigs fished under slip-floats over submerged wood or along coontail edges of 12-14’.

Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – Not as much targeted as being caught by anglers fishing for Musky.  Nice fat Pike of 28-34” on suckers, twitchbaits and gliders.

Walleye:  Fair – With water temps, best action on shallow lakes (that don’t stratify-no turnover), flowages (current-no turnover) or deeper lakes that haven’t cooled as fast.  Redtails, large fatheads, ½ crawlers best.  Not many reports of jigging lures (Shiver Minnows, Rapalas) but always have a rod ready.  Bites have been light, so live bait has produced best.

Smallmouth Bass:  Fair – Some Bass fishing still going on but not much.  Best relating to offshore humps using drop-shot methods.  Some close-up shore fishing producing a few big fish, but as temps have cooled and baitfish move out of these areas, less of those fish being caught.

I’ll add reports on Largemouth, Perch and Bluegill if we get any, but as season progresses, the ones reported on are the most targeted species.

We have an uptick in temps for the coming weekend, with highs forecasted into mid to upper 60’s with lows in 40’s.  Not a fan of daytime full-moon fishing, but some noteworthy guides I know are, so fingers crossed.  Colors have peaked, things are beautiful in the Northwoods.  Take advantage if you can before things cool the following week.