Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 5/31/22

As this report is being written (5/30/22), it’s 85 degrees outside in the Lakeland Area! Bright, sunny and a little wind. Weather can’t make up its mind causing some confusion for both anglers and anglees (fish)! Water temps started out the holiday weekend in the mid to upper 50’s, but are shooting up into the mid 60’s + just today. Uptick in water temp was good for fish activity and should progress the rest of this week.

Walleye: Very Good – Nice weed bite developing any place new green weed growth can be found. Dace, large fatheads and large leeches on 1/16 oz Invasion jigs in 6-9’ weeds very productive. Slip-bobber fishing large leeches in same areas also producing.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Casting across new weed growth using spinnerbaits and 5” swimbaits hard to beat. Jig or slip float with chub or sucker using light wire leader also working very well.

Crappie: Good – In most cases only found out away from spawning areas, cold last week may have pushed them out for last time. Lots of Crappies caught in weeds of 5-12’. Some females carrying spawn, but I believe they are past viable stage. Don’t be surprised if you find eggs in July/August Crappies being reabsorbed. Some just plain missed their chance. Small minnows on tiny hair jigs below slip floats suspended 2-4’ off bottom best.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Look for this bite to get even better. Smallies bedding on many lakes. Light Ned rigs, creatures and tubes good. On calmer days working top-water over shallows hot! Season not open, so get those fish back quickly, but have fun!

Bluegill: Good – Very shallow, soaking up what ever warm weather we have. Anglers report casting up into 2’ of water with poppers, flys and tiny mni-mintes catching lots of Gills. Not bedding yet, just warming up.

Largemouth Bass: Good – With Monday’s heat, don’t be surprised to find LMB getting ready to bed. So far Wacky worms, 3.5” swimbaits, flukes and tubes good choice. Top-water action also good. Early mornings using Zara Spooks producing nice 1 ½ - 2 ½ # Bass.

Musky: Good-Fair – It was the opener. It is also smack in the middle of the spawn on many lakes (as witnessed by many anglers) yet a few fish did get caught. Seems top-water and small twitchbaits proved tops. Smaller bucktails tagged a few, but most reports were of smaller males.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Improving as Perch being found in greening weeds feeding heavily on insects (dragonfly larvae). Try using ½ a crawler or medium leech in 4-6’ of weeds. A small float to suspend bait a foot off of the bottom. Some respectable catches (10-15) of eaters (8-10”) reported by those targeting. A lot also caught by Walleye anglers.

Our hot spell of Monday/Tuesday (5/30-5/31) will cool off the rest of the week to settle in for highs in upper 60’s. Smallmouth and some Largemouth should be found committing to beds. The Walleye and Pike fishing should continue to be good while Musky may need to recover a bit from spawn. Will need another warm up for Largemouth Bass and Gills to fire up spawning activity full force.