Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 2/18/25
A good smack of winter this past weekend as snow and frigid temps kept anglers (most, not all) off the ice for the holiday weekend. Single digit and lower temperatures with wind chills in the negative teens and lower made for good reasons to stay inside and watch NASCAR, if that’s your thing. Bite windows were small and not always when expected. Yet, once again a few stallworth individuals (and groups) did well.
Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Action slowed by the weekend when afternoons produced better than mornings. #2 jigging raps tipped with a waxie or minnow head helped weed out the smaller Perch when the bite did open up. When things slowed (stopped?), a more subtle presentation was needed using small #3 tungsten jigs tipped with a wiggler or spike.
Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Even the Pike bite was off this weekend. Afternoons produced better than mornings. Still, nice catches by those willing to brave the cold and chip some ice. This is usually a time of heavy feeding for Pike and I’m sure it will be once temps warm a bit.
Crappie: Good-Fair – Snow, wind and cold kept most anglers from chasing suspended Crappies, it was mostly a sit and wait bite (inside a warm shack)! Clam pinhead minnows, Tikka Flashes and small Kastmasters to get down quickly still producing over 18-28” of water. Tip-downs or deadsticks kept inside shacks working with Crappie minnows as well.
Walleye: Good-Fair – Bite earlier in the evening, actually late afternoon. Tip-ups out shining jigging as high barometer and cold making for limited bite. Smaller shiners and suckers better at times like this. With warm up and new moon, this bite should really pick up starting this weekend.
Bluegill: Fair-Poor – Just not very good conditions for Bluegill enthusiasts. Those that hunkered down in shacks had some success with small jigs tipped with red spikes. Lots of lookers, few takers.
Largemouth Bass: Poor – Not a fan of this extreme cold. This species seems to pick up activity when temps rise into 20’s and barometer not so high (or so low).
Real temps down to 19 below (2/18) and fresh snow (5-6” on 2/15) did a number on participation for us anglers this past week, but the coming weekend looks great! Temps in the 20’s (then 30’s during the following week) plus a new moon period should spell a great end to the gamefish season with just two weekends left.
Nice catches this week...
Mike from Minocqua
Sean from Madison
Ice Fishing Tournaments
February 22nd – Kids Ice Fishing Day sponsored by Northwoods Muskie Inc – Kennedy Bay, Lake Minocqua
March 1st – KISS - WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
