Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 8/26/24

The last week of the summer is upon us.  We’ve seen the temperature swings from upper 40’s for lows to mid-80’s for highs.  One big day (8/23) of thunderstorms and rain, followed by a weekend of high humidity and heat.  Fishing during this past week has been a bit off to be honest.  Even the “action” bite wasn’t what was expected.  Not all bad as we move past the full moon phase and see some temps level off after this Tuesday’s (8/27) cool down.

Largemouth Bass:  Good-Fair – Bite not as active and size seeming to run smaller this week.  Wacky Worms and Ned Rigs in the cabbage continued to work, though signs of Largemouth coughing up small Perch and Gills had moves to twitchbaits and swimbaits as well as lipless cranks over weeds scoring some nice LMB up to 19”.  Hot muggy weekend provided good top-water action on Whopper Ploppers, Buzz Baits, and plastic frogs in the evenings in shallower weeds and pads!

Smallmouth Bass:  Good-Fair – Like their green cousins, Smallies were a bit tougher to catch.  Rock humps and some deep weed edges held biting fish.  Drop-shotting small bait fish and crawfish imitations most consistent.  Tube jigs and jig and creature baits also produced.  Tubes better along weeds, jig/creature over rocks.

Bluegill:  Good-Fair – Just like the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys, my Mother-in-law and the flying ants arrived this weekend.  (I forecasted the ants, but wasn’t ready for my Mother-in-law)!  Gills were good, slowed, but improved as they rose to eat the plentiful little buggers off the surface.  Fishing high in the water column (1-2’ down) or on the surface with small dry flies or poppers scored well.

Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – Best on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits.  Live bait in the form of chubs or suckers on spinner rigs with wire leaders also scoring.  This bite will improve as temps cool.

Musky:  Good-Fair – Mostly reports of action fish (34-38”) hitting bucktails (Wizards, 700 Series Buchertails) over weeds.  Larger fish toward evening on top-water baits (Tallywackers, Fat Bastards)

Yellow Perch:  Fair-Good – Slowed mid-week but picked up over Sat/Sun (8/24-25) with warmer weather.  Dragging 1/16 – 1/8 oz weedless jigs through heavy cabbage tipped with ½ crawlers or beavertails.  Slip-bobbers with fatheads also effective.

Crappie:  Fair – Bite hasn’t’ recovered from up and down weather.  Most caught casting small jig/plastic combos over weed beds.  Crappie minnows under small floats fished 2-3’ down at weed top level.

Walleye:  Fair – The fluctuating weather hasn’t helped much.  Redtails along deep coontail edges picking up a few fish.  Rock bite has been mostly tough, but a few size exempt lakes giving up fish on large fatheads or half-crawlers.

Forecast for the last week of August and the coming holiday weekend looks like a cooling off by Wed (8/28) with lows in 50’s and highs in the mid-70’s.  As we move into the week, the waning moon should be more to our favor, hopefully bringing some appetite to the fish!