Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 8/1/23

As we pass through July, finally getting some consistently summer like weather, fishing has also improved. Surface water temps are slowly moving into the mid-70’s. Typical mid-summer patterns are holding as we should have a couple weeks before the first cold mid-August nights start to change things.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Best overall action in cabbage flats of 8-12’ using Wacky Worms, jig/creature combos. Top-water action in the evenings as well as jerk baits over shallow weeds in the am.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Ned rigs along coontail edges and drop-shotting gravel humps producing very well. Slip-bobber 1/16 oz hair jigs or large leeches over these same areas, suspend 2-3’ off bottom.

Bluegill: Very Good – Gills active through and over weed tops. Tiny tubes, 1” twisters worked across weeds to find active Gills. Continue with waxies or worms. Poppers in the shallows in the evenings.

Yellow Perch: Good – Nice Perch scattered in heavy cabbage. Jig small crawlers or medium leeches. Follow up with slip-floats in pockets of 8-12’ cabbage.

Musky: Good – Mornings and evenings casting top-water (Dr. Evils, Fat Bastards, Whopper Ploppers and Flap Tails-for a slow follow up) working. Bucktails and spinnerbaits mid-morning through afternoons until evening, top-water bite returns.

Northern Pike: Good – Cool mornings jig live chubs or suckers, follow up with chatterbaits or spinnerbaits as temps climb by mid-morning.

Crappie: Fair – Scattered and inconsistent by most reports. Work tall weeds casting 1/16 oz jigs/2” twisters or Mini Mite jigs suspended below small floats.

Walleye: Fair – Small windows of action using crawlers or leeches along outside weed lines of 12-16’ in early AM. Gravel humps of 18-26’ at night using lighted slip-floats with the largest leeches available.

Consistent temps should hold patterns for next couple weeks. Overcast days and days of Canadian smog have helped bite on certain days.