Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 9/16/24

An unseasonably warm September has put typical patterns a bit off.  With water temps working back into the low 70’s every afternoon due to air temps in 80’s not all species are reacting like we expect, some good, some not so good.

Bluegill:  Very Good – Calm, warm days have allowed Bluegill anglers a great opportunity to target these fish.  Either suspended outside coontail edges in 12-16’ of water or hunkering down around submerged wood in similar depths.  Lots of action and some BIG SLABS of over 10” (10 5/8” largest measured) using leaf worms and beaver tails under slip floats.

Yellow Perch:  Very Good – Perch to 12+” actively taking large fatheads and crawlers on 1/16 oz weedless jigs fished in cabbage beds of 8-12’.  Others being found in flooded wood mixed with Gills.

Largemouth Bass:  Very Good–Good – Top-water morning and evenings!  Outside weed edges using jig and Sweet Beavers, Carolina rigging 7” worms, Wacky Worming and drop-shotting.  Spinnerbaits over and through cabbage flats.  Musky activity in shallow weeds can push these fish out to deeper water.

Smallmouth Bass:  Very Good-Good – Rock and gravel humps holding good numbers for anglers using drop-shot rigs.  Some of the largest Smallies in the lakes will be found on the inside weed lines where the Musky will move to.  These fish will hit top-water meant for Skies.

Musky:  Good-Very Good – As mentioned above, Muskie moving into shallower weeds.  Top-water baits, Fat Bastards, Whopper Ploppers, Flaptails have been working well.  Bucktails with Colorado or fluted blades to ride high over weeds.  Twitchbaits such as Cranes and small to medium (due to weight) gliders also scoring fish.

Crappies:  Fair-Good – Hot bite hasn’t happened yet, but its coming.  Most Crappies being caught on medium sized fatheads on slip-floats in 12-22’ water around wood or outside coontail, narrow leaf cabbage.  Reports are fish not concentrated in most cases.  Even those that are not many actively feeding.  Casting and counting down 1/6 oz jigs with Bobby Garland Slab Slayers and Sugar Gliders to suspended fish also producing.

Northern Pike:  Fair – A few reports from anglers targeting using Chubs or Suckers under slip-floats (using wire leaders) working.  Others reporting some action using twitchbaits and spinnerbaits over weed beds.  Action should pick up once waters cool.

Walleye:  Fair – Best using black chubs or redtails along breaks just outside weeds.  Gravel humps mostly producing small fish.  Look for any type of deviation in bottom (pile of rocks, wood) to hold some fish.  Definitely not as good as previous week.  Moving out of full moon along with cooler waters should help by week’s end.

A couple more days of temps in 80’s, then mid-70’s by the weekend should help our Walleye and Pike fishing. Take advantage of the nice weather if panfish are your choice, fishing has been good.  Not a lot of color change with the warm weather.  Traffic on most lakes has been light (with a few exceptions), good time to be on the water.