Minocqua Area Fishing Report - 9/23/24

Looks as if fall is finally on its way.  Following nearly two weeks of high temps in the 80’s, things look to cool off a bit, hopefully bringing some consistent fall patterns back in order.

Bluegill:  Very Good – One nice consistent, despite full moon, high temps and not usually on the radar.  Very nice above average (8 ½”-10 ½”) Gills still being found outside coontail edges of 14-18’ and in drowned wood of 10-14’.  Beavertails (small crawlers) and worms suspended under floats, as well as, small plastic grubs working best.

Northern Pike:  Good-Very Good – Despite looking not so good last week, Pike shot up the charts with some nice reports of anglers catching Pike of 24-31” working chubs in deeper, cooler slots on jigs with wire leaders.  But the best report was of a large 41” Pike caught on a #5 Mepps.

Yellow Perch:  Good-Fair – Medium fats and beavertails on 1/16-1/8 oz jigs or under slip-floats along 8-12’ cabbage beds and flooded timber.  Nice Perch of 9-12”+.

Musky:  Fair – Early and late, due to high skies.  Top-water and bucktails over weed flats.  Water temps in upper 60’s to low 70’s as of 9/21, same pattern should hold, even get better as water cools.

Crappies:  Fair – Suspended fish on medium fatheads and swimming plastics.  Coming weeks, as waters cool, should pick up bite and concentrate fish.

Largemouth Bass:  Fair – Still some top-water reports, but bites tougher to come by.  Wacky Worming, looking for slow bites best.

Smallmouth Bass:  Fair-Good – Rock/Gravel off shore humps/bars.  Drop-shotting and football jigs or tubes best.  Anglers working jigs on Lindy rigs for Walleye reporting some Smallie play as well.

Walleye:  Fair-Poor – Spotty reports.  Getting some catches using black chubs and redtails.  These fish seem to be most affected by unseasonably warm temps, full moon and sunny skies.  Like Crappie and Musky, best is yet to come.

Looking forward to seeing surface temps drop, that will get fish in the mood and snapping!  Most lakes very quiet, lots of room for anglers.