Minocqua Area Report – 2022

All right another seasson starting to unfold!!! We just passed the end of the gamfish season up here, so completely a panfish deal any more. I will continue to post until caught up this a.m.

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 1-03-22:

As typical for a Christmas/New Year’s Week, pressure (from anglers) increased, weather got colder and fishing, while still good, got tougher. Some good fishing taking place here in the Northwoods, but at times it’s windows of activity or getting off the beaten path to discover better bites.

Walleye: Good – As stated, mostly windows of opportunity, as well as dusk, have been key. By moving out a bit deeper during mid-afternoons and fishing new areas, anglers reporting finding Walleyes on points and bars extending out into main lake basins taking 3-4” suckers or hitting jigging lures (Raps, Tikkas).

Northern Pike: Good – This one really seemed to show those “windows” of opportunity, several reports of flags flyin’ for 1-2 hour periods during late mornings followed by dead periods until just before dusk. Big shiners and suckers best.

Crappie: Good – Moving out over 15-25’ of water to find suspended Crappies has been the most consistent producer. Weed Crappies seem to only turn on for small windows of activity. Open water fish, when you can locate, have been easier to get action from. Tip-downs with rosies and Pin head jigs tipped with waxies best.

Bluegill: Good – While most reports coming from anglers working weed beds of 5-10’, anglers targeting Crappies in 15-20’ reporting nice Gills mixed in with suspended Crappies

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Shallow weeds producing action in 6-10’ of water, but a move to deeper mud has already begun with anglers finding “eaters” (9-11”) using wigglers and red spikes on Hali jigs and pimples.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Poor – Not a lot of reports, don’t seem to bite as much during periods of 0 degree temps.

Travel on the ice is very good. No slush and not enough snow to be cumbersome. ATV and snowmobile travel excellent. Can’t in good conscious recommend truck travel (though some have been spotted). Ice thickness ranging 9-14” and building, should be a good season as ice is getting a chance to thicken enough to support weight of any snow to come.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 1-11-22:

For those too far south to enjoy this past weekend in the Northwoods, here’s a little update…

Okay already! It’s winter, I get it! Don’t need to be slapped in the face with temps of 17 below and wind chill of 35 below to make a point, I got a calendar.

Bitter cold and high winds kept a lot of anglers indoors and probably glued to their TVs this past weekend. Those hardy (???) souls that ventured out were not well compensated for their efforts. Unless tied to a contest (derby) or a permanent shack available little effort and even less results were reported.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Thanks to one tough couple that reported some “eater” (8-9”) Perch on Sunday (1/9). This remains the brightest of a poor bite. Not talking much (lip frost bite???), but seemed satisfied with what they did find. Prior to cold snap anglers fishing mud in 17-28’ producing some Perch.

Crappie: Poor – Fair at mid-week, but not good conditions for hole hopping. As with Perch, signs of Crappies being more active over deeper water for now. Be prepared to probe same mud flats as Perch being found.

Bluegill: Poor

Northern Pike: Poor – A few fair reports prior to wind and cold making it tough to keep homes from freezing.

Walleye: Poor – Just not much talk this weekend.

The one good thing about this sub-zero cold and high wind is snow cover not bad on lakes and ice conditions continue to thicken. Average reports are of 12-14”+. Can’t recommend truck travel, but you will see some out and likely to see a bunch by week’s end. Forecast of highs in mid-20’s and decrease of wind makes coming weekend look promising.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 1-18-22:

Hard to believe the extreme cold from the weekend before last did not improve our travel conditions. Temps in the sub teens did not build ice as expected on many area lakes, in fact slush has become present on a lot of our frozen waters.

Odd, some lakes see truck traffic with 14-15” of ice and good travel. Others, smaller lakes report only 10-12” with slush. Does not seem like too much snow on the lakes. It was dry and windy. But too much for these lakes to take? Springs? Pressure Cracks? One thing for sure, caution still advisable if you’re thinking of taking full sized trucks on the ice, do some scouting first!!!

Northern Pike: Good – Windows during very early morning and again early afternoon had anglers chasing flags once things warmed up mid-week (1/12). As always, weed related, though some reports of anglers starting to push out into deeper weed lines for larger (28-34”) Pike. Big shiners and suckers best.

Yellow Perch: Good – The mid-winter mud flat bite is improving. Anglers venturing out to mud just outside weed flats in 18-26’ finding active Perch taking waxies, spikes and wigglers depending on their daily mood. Lots of sorting, but enough eaters (8”+) to make effort worth while.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – On weedy flats of 6-10’ schools “pass through” at intervals making it worth the wait. Waxies and mousses on #10 teardrops and 3mm Fiskas in reds, purples, black. Also anglers finding Gills relating to deeper mud, usually larger average Gills. Halis, Pinheads and tungsten with hair tipped with spikes best.

Crappie: Fair – Unless you choose the warmest day to fish, head out to deeper water for early and late bites using glow jigs tipped with waxies or tip-downs with minnows (if not too cold). Keep moving until you locate Crappies hanging 3-10’ off bottom in 20-30’ of water.

Walleye: Fair – Best at low light, pre-dawn or hour preceding and just after dusk. High barometer and full moon probably did not help, but better action than previous weekend. Deeper sandgrass with chubs or suckers best.

Largemouth Bass: Poor – Not many reports, though warmer days best. Target using small to medium shiners on tip-ups if small Perch not a nuisance.

Forecast looks to remain cold next seven days with lows below zero degrees and only two days over teens for highs. As much as we all want truck travel everywhere, still can’t advise, be cautious!

Mid-winter typically sees slow down and sup-zero cold won’t help. Work deeper to find fish if your favorite spot isn’t producing. Punch a lot of holes (weather permitting) and search before you hunker down.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 1-25-22:

Sub-zero temps, winds and wind chills pushing from -20’s into -30’s has curtailed a lot of fishing activity this past week. Saturday (1/22) may have been the warmest, but winds were very high adding difficulty to angler’s attempts.

Despite the weather, reports from the Lakeland Union High School LUHS) Invitational weren’t bad. Those anglers competing in the tournament found some fish and made a good showing.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Deep water bites best with anglers finding suspended fish in 18-28’. Tough to chase with high winds, but once found anglers jigging glow spoons tipped with waxies scoring. Been rather windy for tip-downs.

Northern Pike: Fair – Typical mid-winter windows of activity with anglers catching Pike on shiners where standing weeds found in 6-12’.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Work the mud flats at this time of year using fast dropping spoons (Halis, Pimples, Pinheads) to get wigglers or red spikes down to mud. Pound mud to create a disturbance, like other Perch working for Mayfly larvae or blood worms to get interest.

Bluegill: Fair – Weed flat Gills running small according to reports. Better Gills working outside weed edges and over mud where Crappies and Perch working for invertebrates.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Some decent reports from High School tourney, but overall few other reports. Small to medium shiners best.

Walleye: Poor – Few reports. Those that have caught Walleyes reporting low numbers and small in size. Suckers best bait.

Forecast for Saturday morning (01/29) to be the last sub-zero morning. Things look to improve temperature wise by late Saturday morning with temps in low 30’s by Tuesday (2/1). Hopefully warm up will bring renewed interest from anglers and fish during the New Moon period.

We are finding ice thickness averages of 14-15”.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

P.S. > As the Director for the WIFA Lakeland Invite, it was an odd kind of day. Ten teams fished it coming from as far away as Edgerton!!! Here is the FB post from the WIFA FB page!!!

Results from the January 22, 2022 Lakeland Invite WIFA State Qualifier – Lake Minocqua
Teams competing included:
Medford HS, Edgerton Crimson Tide JV & Varsity, Owen-Withee HS, Wausau West, Rhinelander Hardwater Hodags, Goodman/Armstrong Creek HS, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln, Wausaukee HS, Lakeland (LUHS) HS and Three Lakes/Phelps (3LP).
Congrats to Medford and Owen-Withee fishing their first WIFA tourneys!!!

Congrats to a fierce charge late in the day in the Perch category by Three Lakes/Phelps to overtake a 7.25” lead from LUHS during the last 45 minutes of the event!!! Coach Pertile told the crowd during the Awards that a 6.25” perch never looked so good!!! Coaches from all of the teams congratulated LUHS Coach Dassow for not allowing Walleye to be measured as all felt the brutal temps and wind chill would have certainly killed many of those fish during the measuring process.

Last notable item was the 8 fish crappie average of the Goodman/Armstrong Creek HS team’s catch was a fantastic 12.375”!!!

Team placement as follows for catching 8 each of Crappie, Perch, Bluegill and 5 each of Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass & Northern Pike:

Three Lakes/Phelps > 380.25”
Lakeland Ice Team > 354.25”
Wausaukee School > 320.50”
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln HS > 226.75”
Goodman/Armstrong Creek HS > 182.25”

Category Winners were:
Bluegill 9” > Sawyer Siedschlag, Three Lakes/Phelps

Crappie 13.5” > Owen Wysocki, Goodman Armstrong Creek

Perch 10” > Ben Mancl, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln

Largemouth Bass 16.75” > LJ Terlizzi, Three Lakes/Phelps

Northern Pike 23.25” > Griffin Russ, Wausaukee HS

Smallmouth Bass 12” > Cooper Radtke, Rhinelander Hardwater Hodags

Thank to our sponsors the Musky Shop and St. Croix!!!

Also thanks to WIFA for paying our fees with Fish Donkey, our measuring app!!!

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 1-31-22:

Finally, a reprieve from the sub-zero cold of the past few weeks. Wind let up over the weekend and the thermometer finally read into upper teens and low 20’s. Anglers got out and enjoyed some more comfortable time on the ice and reports improved.

Northern Pike: Fair-Very Good – As the weekend hit (1/28 – 1/30) Pike went on the prowl and flags started poppin! Tip-ups and Jaw Jackers baited with golden shiners, river shiners and suckers took a lot of abuse as the warm spell seemed to be a dinner bell to Pike. Lots of fish in the mid 20” to low 30” range reported.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Very Good – Flats just outside heavy weeds with some scattered vegetation in 7–11’ of water is a good place to find lots of “action” Perch right now. Unfortunately, a lot of “sorting” needs to be done to “weed” out some keepers. Better to target deeper mud if a meal is your plan. Work Pinhead, Hali or Pimples tipped with wigglers or red spikes. Tip-downs with small rosies help 12-16” off bottom in 18-28’ also working.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Best over deep basins. Anglers finding suspended schools 4-15’ off the bottom in 18-40’ of water. Tip-downs action good when wind and temps allow.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good – Liking the warm up, Bass actively taking medium shiners on tip-ups.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Getting more attention this weekend. Weed Gills require sorting through to get eaters. Waxies and mousees best. Look outside coontail edges of 12-16’ to find nicer Gills suspended 2-4’ off bottom taking tungsten jigs tipped with waxies

Walleye: Poor – A few anglers catching Walleye after dark, but as far as catching where you can keep (NOT the Lake Tomahawk/Minocqua Chain) Walleye fishing remains slow.

Ice conditions fairly good throughout. Most lakes have an average of 15-18”. There are areas of slush, some as deep as 10” on top of 14-16” of ice, so try to be aware. Watch for slightly darker patches of snow. Despite all the sub-teen temperatures we’ve had, snow drifts have insulated some areas from building more ice and freezing up slush.

Forecast for 1/31 and 2/1 looks good before more cold mid-week. Looks like a warming trend, not much, but back into teens and low 20’s for weekend.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-07-22:

First week of February is here and gone. Weather seems to be on a pattern of warming up by Tuesday, only to see temps fall again by the weekend. One customer referred to this time as the “Dog Days of Winter”, I’ve gotta agree. Fishing has been slow and always seems to be during mid-winter. But with the sun out a little longer each day, the colds aren’t as cold and better temps should bring better fishing as we move forward.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A little slower than the previous week, but reports of some nice low 30” (32, 33 & 34) Pike over the weekend. Most anglers sticking to big shiners and suckers, but a few are suspending preserved smelt below their tip-ups for a shot at larger Pike.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Mud flats of 18-28’ this past week produced the best for anglers pounding the bottom with Halis, Pinheads and Kastmasters tipped with red spikes or wigglers. Some shallower (8-12’) weed action, but lots of smaller fish (4-6”) mixed in with the fewer keepers (8-10”)

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Not targeted as much, but anglers that are reporting action on 14-16” Bass on tip-ups baited with small to medium shiners. Also, jigging slender spoons tipped with minnow heads are effective.

Crappie: Fair – Fish suspended Crappies holding 3-5’ off bottom in most instances (higher in a few), using small spoons that flutter on the fall, tipped with waxies. Tip-downs (when not too cold) working using rosies.

Bluegill: Fair – Most anglers targeting weeds using mousses or waxies on dark jigs getting action, but once again, more small ones than keepers.

Walleye: Poor – Still most reports (and that’s not many) are of Walleye bites (wouldn’t call it action) coming after dark, very sporadic. Suckers and large fatheads (or large rosies) being the best choices for bait as downsizing seems to be best for negative fish.

Most reports of ice depth at 16-18”+, though some lakes have thicker ice (those with lots of travel), but a few very large lakes and even some small lakes with springs are not safe for truck travel.

This year’s inland lake gamefish season runs through March 6th, giving ice fishing game fish anglers four more weekends to get those flags flying.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-14-22:

The humdrums of winter remain as early mornings in the sub-zero temps continue to add some ice thickness and keep anglers from hitting ice until mid-mornings for the most part.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Best to work the mud at this time of year as most of the Perch in any given lake seem to be targeting blood worms and other small invertebrates. Not that weed options aren’t available, but the best “average” eaters are out over mud. Wigglers, red spikes and small rosies best!

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Mid-mornings to early afternoons best. Shiners and suckers and even the odd hotdog bite here and there. Action fair, size has been good with fish of 24-32” being reported.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Best over mud in 18-28’, though a couple reports of anglers successful in 14-16’ just outside weeds. Finicky bites require down sizing with plastics on #3 tungsten jigs. Crappie and small rosie reds when fish a bit more aggressive.

Bluegill: Fair – Action comes in spurts in weeds, sorting necessary. Some anglers finding larger Gills mixed in with Crappies suspending over mud flats.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Don’t like the cold mornings, but become a little more active later on. Small to medium shiners on tip-ups, jigs and spoons with minnow heads in 8-12’ weeds.

Walleye: Poor – Still small windows at dusk and just after dark. Suckers over sandgrass in 20-32’, use smaller bait/large fatheads and rosies for negative biters.

Will this be the final week of sub-zero mornings? Lets hope so. Looks like Thursday night/Friday morning may be the last for a while. Temps forecast for the weekend look nice, into low 30’s, so hopefully will break our way.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-21-22:

Dangerous road conditions, wind, some snow (more on its way) put ice fishing on a back seat in most peoples’ minds as just getting to the Northwoods was a questionable task. Even the one “nice” day (Sunday 2/20) was windy, off-setting the warmer temps of upper 30’s we’ve been longing for.

Now travel on lakes is becoming more iffy as snow depth limits the use of ATV’s without tracks and smaller SUV’s.

There was a bright side to those that did get out on the ice, an uptick in the fishing.

Northern Pike: Good – Anglers using large shiners reported good action from Pike in the 25-34” range in weed beds of 6-12’. Frozen smelt has also been effective as signs of heavy feeding going on with comments of how “fat the Pike have been” is common. On some lakes, shallow weedy types, watch for signs of low oxygen. Shiners and suckers dying quickly need to be raised higher in the water column to keep in areas of better oxygen levels. Don’t worry, the Pike will be there also. One foot increments are all you need till you get better life.

Yellow Perch: Good – Basin fishing for the most part, Halis, Pimples tipped with spikes and wigglers to get down quickly. Mud bottoms of 18-18’. Watch for fish 2-4’ off bottom cruising through.

Crappie: Good – Best action over basins as well. Crappies taking glow tungsten jigs (#4mm) tipped with waxies as well as Crappie minnows on tip-downs when wind allows. Fish suspending 2-8’ off bottom will also take tungsten jigs with hair (VMC Fly Jig, Bullfly Jig) tipped with spike or waxie.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Mid-morning through mid-afternoon best. Good results on tip-ups with medium shiners and jigging #3 jigging Raps with a small minnow head off middle hook. Reports of Bass to 18” this weekend!

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Wind hurts the Bluegill angler, makes hole hopping tough! Some decent Gills for the anglers using tungsten (to fight the wind) tipped with mousses or waxies. Plastics tough to use under windy conditions.

Walleye: Fair – Finally an upgrade! Anglers reported some decent (some actually good) bites an hour prior to dark and the hour just after. 12-16’ breaks leading up to weeds. Most reports on suckers, yet one group scored on big shiners left over from Pike fishing to catch slot fish of 20-24”. Good sign of things to come.

Two weekends left of the gamefish season on our lakes here. Walleye, Pike and Bass open through the 6th of March. Slush and snow becoming an issue as is ice thickness on some lakes (as in too much, almost time for extensions in places). More cold nights (sub-zero) with highs in upper teens/low 20’s won’t alleviate snow/slush issues this week. But fish activity appeared to pick up and should unless too much snow shuts down light penetration and closes shallower fishing down for a while. Hopefully not.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-28-22:

A warming trend over the past weekend made being outside a bit more doable if it wasn’t for the strong winds on Saturday.

Anglers finding travel tougher as deeper snow, and in cases slush, kept many areas off limits to all but snowmobile and tracked vehicles. Those able to get to their favorite spots, or any spots, gave fair reviews for the fishing overall.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Interesting how anglers were finding Crappies relating to both weeds of 8-12’ and out over mud bottoms of 18-30’ and sometimes as deep as 40’. Crappies relating to weeds were caught fairly tight to the bottom, probably high barometer, and lightly taking small jigs tipped with waxies. Deeper basin Crappies found 1-4’ off bottom taking small rosies or #4 glow tungsten jigs tipped with waxies. In either case, Crappies caught from same lakes in these two very different parts of the lakes.

Northern Pike: Fair – Slower than it had been, though anglers still reporting big shiners and suckers best along deeper edges of weeds in 8-12’. The warming trend, if it comes with enough to knock snow down and allow more light under ice, should help by the weekend.

Bluegill: Fair – Light biters over the weekend. Some nice Gills, but anglers worked to get bites using flashy spoons (Slender spoons, Pimples) to draw attention, but needing small dark jigs tipped with moussees and waxies to get bites.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Actually a bit better than that. On Friday, action on tip-ups was hit and drop! By Saturday Bass were more committed and holding on. Shiners on tip-ups and jigging spoons loaded with waxies or a minnow head best.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Getting tough to get on flats where Perch taking Pimples, Bombs and Halis tipped with wigglers. Some weed Perch, but best out away from weeds over mud of 16-28’.

Walleye: Fair – Hoping for better reports leading up to the inland lake gamefish closure this coming Sunday (3/6) at midnight. Bite improved last week prior to snow, but travel made things tough again, limiting anglers’ opportunities. Suckers suspended over humps covered with sandgrass in 14-20’ best. Dusk and early AM.

With just a week left of the gamefish season, anglers will be targeting Walleyes, Pike and Largemouth Bass this weekend. Forecast for snow/rain would make things even messier, but forecasts change, so no sense in worrying until we get closer.

Don’t forget to carry a shovel, tow strap and a friend with a strong back (and a weak mind) if you plan on exploring off the beaten path.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-28-22:

The inland gamefish season closed with little fan fare once again.

Very icy conditions made travel dangerous, so few anglers traveled much less got out on the ice. Those that did had some success, but participation was low.

Crappie: Good – Nice fish up to 15” this weekend with anglers finding suspended Crappies anywhere from 16-28’ taking minnows on tip-downs and waxies on jointed pin minnows (CLAM) or tungsten Kastmasters (ACME). In cabbage of 8-12’ working vinglas and pimples 1-2’ off bottom working for those fish in shallow. Bulk of the action deeper though.

Bluegill: Good – Mostly working cabbage of 8-12’. 3mm tungsten jigs in dark colors (black, purple, red) tipped with mousses or waxies. Plastics in similar dark colors with red and brown (motor oil) best. Nice Gills in 7 ½ – 8 ½” range. Best morning until noonish, then again hour before dark.

Yellow Perch: Good – Mud flats of 18-30’ using Halis, small PK tungsten spoons and Kasmasters to get wigglers, red spikes down to mud bottoms. Pound lure into mud, then raise 1-1 ½ ’, shake then hold still. Aggressive fish will rise 4-6’ to chase down (up) bait. Some weed Perch taking minnows or Northland Fry jigs loaded with waxies.

Some nicer Pike were caught on this past final weekend of the gamefish season. Fish to 35”, few Bass and even fewer Walleye it seemed.

Shout out to the Wausaukee High School Ice Fishing Team who, despite bad weather, competed and took first (and second) place in the KISS Tournament this weekend.

Conditions on the ice are not good for travel. With added sleet/rain over weekend, slush conditions worsening. Use tracked vehicles (snowmobile, ATV’s) for any distance travel. Stick to packed down areas for limited truck travel. Shorter distance walking using packed trails also advised. Temps from 0 degrees to mostly upper teens/low 20’s until Sunday mean little for improving conditions.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-15-22:

With windy conditions and colder weather, angler participation has been low. Despite this, fishing is gradually improving on most lakes. Travel remains iffy, but the cold and wind of the past week has helped harden some lakes. Warmer temps on the way.

Crappie: Good – Solid reports of trophies and eaters alike. Basin bite remains the go to method overall, although anglers still report some fish in shallower, 8-14’ weeds. When searching for basin Crappies, starting off with small 3-5 mm tungsten tipped with waxies, spikes or plastics doing well. When you’re on a school, it’s a good idea to switch it up to a heavier jig such as a pinhead minnow, tungsten Chandelier, or tungsten Kastmaster. Doing so allows you to get down faster and have more time fishing those short, sweet moments of schools moving through, as well as weed off the smaller ones. Tip downs are also a great method to track fish movement.

Bluegill: Good – Anglers reporting those same mid-depth weeds that some Crappies are found holding quality Gills. Fish getting a little more fired up, but smaller presentations still best. 3- or 4-mm tungsten, or #14 lead jigs tipped with spikes, waxies doing best. Plastics can be a better option on finicky fish as well. Early and late periods are still the most active bite.

Yellow Perch: Good – Same old methods of working deep mud of 18-30’ and beyond still producing fish. Halis, tungsten spoons, and smaller buckshot spoons tipped with spikes and wigglers the norm. Tip-downs, whether rigged with minnows or wigglers, are a good way to spread out and produce fish. Be careful while targeting Perch at depths greater than 30 ft, as fish will experience barotrauma and will not release.

SPECIAL SPECIES REPORT – Burbot, Whitefish and Ciscos. Most of the areas deeper, clear lakes contain one or all of these three species.

Burbot: Very Good – Anglers have taken to pursuing this delicious freshwater cod. Good action right at and past dark using mid-large size spoons or large jigs tipped with large portions of dead minnows. Find deep structure (humps, holes, points) and fish just a few inches off the bottom. Burbot roam around just off the bottom, using their great sense of smell to locate prey, so fish accordingly.

Whitefish and Cisco: Good – anglers pursuing these tasty fish more since gamefish closure. Fish found anywhere from 20-70’+, usually relating to some sort of structure similar to Burbot. Although difficult to find, fish still fired up when found. Willingly taking Halis, slender spoons, and buckshots. Good method is to tie a fly such as a VMC bullfly a foot or two above a heavy spoon, pounding bottom with spoon to attract, and fly to catch.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

P.S. > Last Weeks report is from the 3-07 date…

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-21-22:

With beautiful weather this past weekend, with highs in the mid-50’s on Sunday and abundant sunshine, anglers were flocking to the lakes.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – The best bite still remains in the basin but starting to pick up a few shallow. Best bite has been on flash champs or Swedish pimples tipped with minnows or spikes.

Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – These guys are starting to get aggressive. They are starting to feed heavily ahead of the spawn. Let’s try to let those big egg filled females go back to help the future of our lakes. Wigglers or minnows have been on the menu.

Bluegill: Good – As the days warm up, this bite keeps getting better. Fishing weeds and weed edges have produced best. Small tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or spikes should do the trick.

SPECIAL SPECIES REPORT – Burbot, Whitefish and Ciscos. Most of the areas deeper, clear lakes contain one or all of these three species.

Few reports coming back to us on these species. The anglers that are out chasing these critters are having good luck.

With warm weather and rain ahead, we will have to keep an eye on conditions as they will change quickly. As of right now, we still have 2 feet of ice on most lakes.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-28-22:

With windy, cold temps this past weekend, few reports coming in. The ones we got reported quality fish. A warm up coming in the next few days should get some more anglers out.

Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – Lack of deep Perch being reported but fish being found in 8-12’ near weed edges. Medium fatheads and rosies best bet. Don’t be afraid to try wigglers as well.

Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Weeds seeming to be key to finding Gills. Waxies, spikes best on jigs (Swedish, Pimples or Halis). Reports of shallow (4-8’) big Gills starting to come in.

Crappie: Good – With fish hanging around shallow spots with weeds Crappies found in 6-10’ are being caught mixed in with Gills. Basin fishing still producing as well. A couple reports of 14”+ fish. Shallow using jig tipped with waxies, spikes or plastics working best while action on rosies doing the trick for deep fish.

Plenty of ice yet as much as 30”. With cold nights and few warm up windows expect ice to stick around for a while longer.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 4-05-22:

A fresh inch and a half of snow on 4/4 and reports of 26-34” of ice on our area lakes may be hard for our “southern” neighbors to believe… but believe it! This week’s forecast of night time temps in upper 20’s to highs of mid-30’s to mid-40’s won’t do a lot to rid of our ice, but it won’t hurt.

Bluegill: Very Good – Action good in weeds of 5-8’ using traditional tear drop jigs tipped with waxies or red, purple or motor oil plastics working very well. Anglers reporting good action in afternoons of warm ups.

Crappie: Very Good-Good – Daily conditions vary with weather. Too high on barometer, go deep (14-20’). With falling barometer stick to 6-10’ weeds when active Crappies will suspend high, 4-6’ up. Anglers report being able to see fish when light is right. Slow dropping yellow, white and pink plastics on Rocker spoons and Shrimpos. Tip-down action good, but most anglers fishing rigs too deep. Mostly smaller fish holding tight. Lots of nice 10-12” eaters being caught with 14-15” SLABS reported and released!

Yellow Perch: Very Good-Good – Over mud flats in 16-26’ using Clam Time Bombs, VMC Chandeliers, Pimples and Hali spoons to get down quick tipped with red spikes or wigglers. Tip-downs with rosies also good. In weeds, Kenders Natural Shrimp, Northland Forage Minnow Spoons and Fry tipped with waxies or minnow head doing best!

With this much ice still on the lakes, my “guess” is at least two more weeks of ice fishing. This coming weekend has temps of 50 degrees forecasted and the 30+ inches of ice we have now does have pockets of “punky” ice. Overall, we should see two weekends worth at this rate.

But as always, use caution and be safe.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 4-11-22:

Still lots of ice to contend with so far. Mix of rain, sun and some warmth, countered with some cold nights didn’t allow for a great loss of ice, but it’s diminishing!

Bluegill: Good – Weed Gills biting well in 4-8’ of cabbage. Waxies or plastics in red, purple, black and motor oil worked sometimes only a foot or two below the ice best. High fish a sign of low oxygen causing fish to rise higher in water column where parts per million higher making life more active. Anglers plying 14-18’ depths seeking Perch and Crappies finding suspended Gills (mostly 8”+) 6-10’ off bottom. On the windy days a #3 or #4 tungsten needed to buck breeze to keep lines taught, bait down.

Yellow Perch: Good – Best over mud flats 14-18’ using heavy spoons/jigs (Clam Bombs, Pinheads, Venom Inferno Spoons, Tungsten Kastmasters) baited with red spikes or wigglers. Nice average “eaters” of 9-10 ½” but enough “plus” 11’s to make things interesting. Perch filling up for spawn, good bite as they slowly migrate into shallower water for ice out.

Crappie: Good – While some good weed action in 7-10’ slow dropping rockers tipped with white, yellow or pink plastics or waxies, best fish deeper. Working mud flats and above sandgrass in 14-18’, use tip-downs to hold minnows 2-6’ off bottom. Action not as fast as previous week, but large Crappies to 14” being caught. Jigging flashy spoons (Pimples, Vinglas) tipped with waxies also productive.

Questions most asked…

How much ice? On average 24-28”. Top layer (6-8”) punky, rest very solid.

Vehicle travel? ATV and UTV, snowmobile, yes, but be cautious. Top layer can get messy.

Access? Mostly good, but check. Some lakes with steep, black topped launches have lots of water/slush, as much as 14-16” on top of ice, tough to maneuver.

Ice fishing this Easter weekend? Yes, but could be last on many lakes as forecasted rain could eat up shoreline access.

Will the lakes be ice free by opener, May 7th? I sure hope so! Lots of ice to lose (24-28”) in next 26 days.

Forecasted highs in 50’s, yet low in upper teen to low 20’s going to be a see-saw battle to losing ice.

As written earlier, sun, temps, wind and rain, as well as affects of ground warm up, should eat ice from both top and bottom. Cold nights will halt some melt, but overall safe fishing ice will probably last only two more weeks on some of the last accessible north facing landings in the area.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 4-18-22:

A month ago, never believed we’d be worried about ice out for the opener, but here we are 20 days prior with 24-26” of ice to go! Past week did not help with night time temps in upper teens and few daylight hours of temps enough to melt the NEW snows we’ve been getting. Cold winds and iffy access kept anglers off the ice most days this past week. Despite having over two feet of ice on the lakes, its getting to the safe ice that can be a limiting factor.

Crappie: Very Good – Working 7-9’ weed edges with tip-downs tipped with small rosies or Crappie minnows made for quick action despite the wind Saturday. Slow dropping jigs with plastics or waxies also effective (just difficult with the high winds). Lots of 10-11” fish reported, plus enough “slabs” (12-14”) to make things interesting!

Bluegill: Very Good – Tough conditions due to wind most of the week. But when possible, #3 tungsten jigs tipped with waxies 1-2’ off bottom in 7-9’ of water. While Crappies were found higher up (2-4’ down) the Gills seemed to prefer hanging just below.

Yellow Perch: Good – Not as many reports, but nice Perch moving up to weed edges as their time to spawn will be quick once (if) ice goes!

With almost no sub-freezing temps forecasted for this week, highs from upper 30’s to upper 60’s by Saturday and rain four of the next eight days, we could be looking at the last week of ice fishing, mostly due to shoreline ice lost, but I’ll believe it when I see it!

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 5-02-22:

Here we are (5/2), days from our opener (5/7), and most lakes of any size (800 acres plus) still have ice on more than half their surface area! But don’t despair…Forecasted highs for Wed, Thurs, Fri are in the mid to high 60’s. The ice that is covering our lakes is in very bad shape, most less than 6” and honey-combed and falling apart. Wind shifts are helping to move rafts of ice from shoreline to shoreline, furthering the demise of the ice!

With ice, for the most part, being gone by the opener (Trout, Fence could still be iced). Walleye, Pike and Perch will be in spawning modes. Target warm shallows (at this time of year, temperature of water by just a couple degrees can make all the difference). High skies with a lot of sun will warm temps, but best bites in these conditions are typically low light times of early mornings and at dusk.

If the sun is shining, as forecasted, check the lee side of the lakes with the most sun for Gills and Crappies warming in the shallows. Long cast, so as not to spook these fish, with rocket bobbers and small crappie minnows, tiny tubes or leaf worms could bring some mid-day life to what might be a lull in the Walleye action.

Pond raised minnows (fatheads, suckers etc.) will be in good supply. Wild minnows (redtails, blacks, dace and muds) not running well yet, but could be in better supply come Friday (5/6). Looks like leeches are slowly coming in and crawlers and worms should be in good supply.

Watch our Facebook page for mid-week ice updates.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

Any updates on the area lakes? Water temps? Heading up June 1 to do some bass fishing

Tyler Kalishek wrote:

Any updates on the area lakes? Water temps? Heading up June 1 to do some bass fishing

Tyler, coming atcha!!! Turkey season and work’s getting in the way!!!

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 5-10-22:

Opening weekend happened! Beautiful weather on opening day allowed for lots of participation as anglers got to let their pent-up open water angling out. Those who got out were met with some surprisingly warm water (avg 48 – 50 degrees) considering ice just left many of our lakes just days (some lakes hours) before.

Burdened with carrying eggs somewhat longer (couple weeks) than usual, female Walleyes dumped their eggs quickly as water temps raced through the “preferred” spawning temps of 38 to 42 degrees leaving lots of males still working the shallows looking for love!

Walleye: Excellent-Good – Opening morning started out hot at day break (and even hotter for those starting at midnight). Lots of action from lingering males, with several “spent” female being caught and released as anglers reported personal bests (PB). While jig and minnow (Dace, fats, chubs) accounted for most, shallow stick baits (Rattlin Rouges, #7 Countdowns, #9 Floating Rapalas and Jr. Thundersticks) as well as jig and plastics produced on bodies with aggressive fish. In some cases, a slow, drag and light wiggle was needed to entice on jig and minnows.

Northern Pike: Good – Not as prominent as expected and rarely targeted at this time, some nice Pike were boated by anglers targeting Walleyes in the shallows (3-5’) using jigs with minnows. Largest this week a 40” caught by a Lucky Lady using 6# test!

Smallmouth Bass: Good – As with Pike, we received no reports from anglers targeting but some nice incidentals in the 16-18” range were C&R by Walleye anglers.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Leading up to the gamefish opener, anglers found Crappies “staging” in 8-12’ taking small minnows. On the flat, warm sunny afternoons Crappies were seen in less than a foot and a half of water sunning. They are not spawning at this time, just warming their bodies and helping egg production for the time to come. Those fish, when found, are very spooky yet with long cast can be caught.

Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were caught, but rarely targeted, not enough for a report.

With water temps shooting up into upper 40’s to low 50’s before settling down by Sunday/Monday (5/8-5/9) it’s taking a little searching from opening morning onward to stay on fish. The forecast of highs in upper 70’s to low 80’s by week’s end will play havoc on the fisher people as minnow and insect hatches will have to be competed with, and on some smaller lakes our favored post spawn preferred surface temps of the 50’s may just shoot into the 60’s by the weekend.

Also of note, lake levels are high and due to late ice out, many lakes don’t have piers in at launches as DNR crews are scrambling to get to the landings and get set up.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 5-17-22:

Well, that was nice! Didn’t have a spring, had a great summer last week (though kinda stormy) and back to fall by the weekend!

Water temps on most lakes shot right through the 50’s into the low 60’s over the weekend. Shallows got active, fish utilizing the warmth of the shallows for egg development and to find food. That could change by the end of this week. Lows forecasted in the low 30’s with highs of upper 50’s to upper 40’s will “slow the roll” of this fast temp rise. Good sun should help with weed growth, and maybe the continuation of bug hatches.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Crappies moving up to warm up on north shores provided good action for anglers. Casting small, but heavy floats to get range, baiting small #10 aberdeen hooks with a tail-hooked minnow allowed to swim freely under 14-16” of line. Anglers also finding Crappies staging in 8-12’ cabbage hanging 2-4’ off bottom taking Kalin Crappie Scrubs and Mini Mites doing well.

Northern Pike: Good – Spinner baits, stick baits and swim baits in warming cabbage flats of 4-8’ good for Pike. Relaxing with a float and 5-7” chub or sucker under a float good way to enjoy the nicer days.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Dark bottom areas picking up sun and heat holding Largemouth in 3-7’ depth. Wacky Worming and working dark hair jigs tipped with 3” trailers also effective.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good – Season closed until June 18th, but nice, heavy Smallies being caught and released while targeting Walleyes in the shallows.

Walleye: Fair – Hot bite slowed. Oddly, some of the best action is late morning through mid-day. Dace, large fats, muds and leeches worked through cabbage and grasses in 6-10’ of water best. Pattern may still hold with cold mornings forecasted.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Not a lot of effort being put into Perch right now, but some nice, post spawn fish being caught in shallows using medium fatheads.

The cool outlook for the following week will probably bring surface temps back down into the 50’s where they should stay for a while. By bringing temps back in line, we should see patterns redevelop where they should be by next week’s end. That shot of warm weather should have Crappies thinking spawn and gamefish feeding up once shock of recent cold nights diffuse.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 5-24-22:

Morning temps back in the low 30’s the past couple mornings (frost on 5/23). Thank goodness for Global Warming or the lakes would have refrozen by Memorial Weekend!

The drop in temperature, wind, sleet, has caused lake surface temps to drop into the mid to upper 50’s from the low to mid 60’s. This will extend the good shallow water post spawn Walleye bite, but may put the Crappie spawn off for a bit on some lakes, here it goes…

Crappie: Good-Fair – It’s what the majority of phone calls have been about! Have they? Did they? Will they?… It’s tough to pinpoint with so many types of lakes, with water temps that vary from lake to lake. There have been signs of bedding Crappies. There has also been a lot of sign of Crappies staging (mostly females) waiting in the weeds just outside the spawning areas. Crappies typically like temps to run 64-66 degrees to spawn. We had that, whether or not they set up beds before the temps fell back into the 50’s is the question. With most lakes, once they commit, they stay (unlike my first two ex-wives), also with a warming trend coming, expect very good Crappie fishing this weekend be it pre-spawn or spawn. Be conscious of the lakes with 10 fish limits for Crappies and have fun. Small minnows, small floats and a handful of tiny tubes, mites or hair jigs should do the trick.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Some sign of bedding Smallies on certain lakes. Others finding shallow cruisers in the morning. Tubes, swim baits and smaller flukes. The recent cold mornings has pushed the better bite to late mornings through mid-afternoons.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Action picked up after fall off early last week. Post spawn feeding in shallows. A lot of the best reports from 4-6’ with newly emergent weeds and soft mud bottoms. Jig and minnow and jig and leech combos as Walleyes feeding on midge larvae and emerging leeches in mud. More of the larger females showing up now. As with other bites, late mornings better than early.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Most reports from anglers working jigs and chubs for Walleye. Targeting Pike has been good using spinner baits in the ¼ oz size with plastic trailers.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Cruising dark bottoms, Largemouth Bass anglers getting action on jig/creature combos, as well as, wacky worming 4” worms in 3-6’ of water.

Bluegill: Fair – Just not prime Bluegill chasing weather. A few nice Gills eating small minnows meant for Crappies. Need warmer temps to improve this bite again.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Not many anglers targeting. Those that do catching nice Perch using medium fatheads or dace minnows around 4-6’ newly greening cabbage…

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 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 mini-mites 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.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 6-07-22:

Conditions on the water have varied from lows in the 30’s for air temp (6/4) to highs in mid-70’s. Not excited about the lows in the morning (when lakes are losing heat like they were Saturday morning, steam coming off water like fog) typically not the best of fishing. As temps get closer together (air/water) fish tend to get more active, and they did!

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Smallies bedding provided great action over the past week. Tubes, Ned rigs, Wacky Worms as well as top-water baits such as Chug Bugs and Lunker Hunt Spiders brought up some great fish over the weekend. There are lots of signs that we are getting to the tail end of this bite as reports on Monday (6/6) were of mostly smaller males still guarding beds.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Spinnerbaits, large swimbaits, and inline spinners have all been effective for Pike lately. Find green cabbage weeds and work these baits over top of them in 5-10’ of water. Large chubs and suckers set under a bobber has also been producing some large fish.

Walleye: Very Good-Good – One bright spot to the cooler surface temps last week (56-59 degrees) was Walleyes staying in fairly shallow, new growth weeds. Light jig and minnow on jig/leech combos working great. Slip-floats also effective. A few anglers reporting success on Husky Jerks (#6’s & #8’s) in 6-8’ weeds towards dusk. This week’s bite should continue to be good as morning temps in 40’s followed by high 60’s to low 70’s should hold pattern in place.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Lots of shallow “Cruisers” this past week. Pitching Wacky Worms and Ned Rigs right tight to shore (had Father/Son team boat 120 Smallies and LMB Monday in 4 hours on the water). Were some signs of Largemouth starting beds, but not as many as I had predicted, probably due to cold mornings.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Strangely, saw colonies of bedding Gills. Usually, its Largemouth first. Bluegill action very good shallow. Tiny tubes, twister tails and the gool ol’ worm and a bobber working just great. Think of the future on these bedding fish, research shows its very important for bedding males to be left to guard eggs. Strange as it sounds, good time to practice selective harvest to protect your favorite Bluegill lakes.

Musky: Very Good-Good – Good action as Muskies getting past spawn and actively feeding. One boat reported boating 8 Skies on Saturday! Twitchbaits, smaller bucktails and top-water in the shallows (as it seems they’ve been cruising the panfish up in skinny water)!

Crappie: Good – Work weeds of 6-12’ using 2” twister tails, 1/32 oz jigs tipped with minnows or slip-floats and small minnows. Casting #0 or #1 spinners also has been effective for finding fish.

Yellow Perch: Good – Most action in 6-10’ cabbage. Light jigs tipped with ½ crawlers or medium leeches. Slip-floats with same also effective. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get thunderbugs in yet, these are killer on Perch and Gills when we can.

This week looks good as the forecast is fairly stable temp wise. The slow water temps increase with growing weeds and a multitude of insect hatches has been helpful. Mosquitos have been plentiful unfortunately. Dragonfly hatches have been few and far between. A hatch of small mayflys, not the big Hexagenias has occurred also, but not overly disruptive.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 6-13-22:

A consistent weather pattern the past week has helped anglers pattern the fish as well. The gradual rising of the area’s lake surface temps, while relatively cool, has continued the good weed bites for those species utilizing the new growth.

Walleye: Very Good – Bite swinging more towards leeches, but minnows still producing. Fish scattered throughout cabbage beds, so spend the time to sift through with a quality weedless jig such as the Invasion or Jacks weedless. 3” paddle takes on a 1/8 oz jig ripped through cabbage flats of 5-8’ also effective. Stomach contents of some Walleyes showed soft shelled crayfish, a tip to use orange, brown or red jigs. Slip float rigs to fish leeches scoring nicely worked a foot off bottom.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Some bedding fish deep, but most signs say they are finishing up. Still, tube jigs, Ned rigs and Wacky Worms accounting for lots of action. Twitching Husky Jerks and X-Raps also tops in 6-12’ breaks outside spawning areas.

Northern Pike: Very Good-Good – Pike active in same weed beds as Walleye. Use larger suckers or chubs under floats or on jigs with leaders. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and 4” swimbaits all working well during the past week also.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Reports of “colonies” (beds) on smaller lakes with other reports of suspended fish in 15-18’ in the larger lakes (bug hatches may be contributing to the suspending fish). Small leeches are tops, they stay on the hook well and are usually good for multiple fish. Worms, tiny jigs and even small Crappie minnows working as well as flys, we hear from the “purists”. One thing you won’t find up here this season is thunderbugs (dragonfly larvae), a Bluegill and Perch favorite. Seems there is a lack of collectors for these panfish staples.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Most anglers targeting Smallies, but Largemouth are cruising the shallows. With forecast for heat this week (breaking 90 degrees 6/14 and 6/19) watch for bedding to take off! Wacky Worming and jig with creatures tops!

Crappie: Good – With spawn over, target tall, narrow leaf cabbage in 7-12’. Fan cast small spinners, 2” twister tails or Kalin Crappie Scrubs to locate fish. Target by counting down and slowly “flicking” lures or suspend small minnows under floats. Don’t be surprised to find females with eggs. The eggs will be very mushy as the cold snaps a month ago messed up the spawn. These fish will reabsorb these eggs.

Musky: Good – Cool water temps has given way for many anglers to have success with live suckers. Casting twitchbaits, 500 series bucktails and small rubber over new cabbage working well.

Yellow Perch: Good – As with most fish right now, the 6-12’ greenest weeds is best. Medium fatheads and leeches good bets.

Forecasted highs could change things soon, especially for Walleye anglers as reports of some mayfly hatches have started. As more insects and minnows fill the water, it will make for some more competition for anglers offering.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 6-21-22:

Following some cool mornings in the 40’s to keep lake surface temperatures down, a heat wave has moved up to the Northwoods pushing lake temps, and the activities that go with warmer water, up! Temps cresting into the nineties early in the week followed by highs in mid to upper 80’s will bring most surface temps into the 70’s. This will advance bug hatches and spawning activity from fish that haven’t yet.

Bluegill: Very Good – Lots of “colonies” of beds showing up. Anglers using poppers, as well as dry flys, having fun in the shallows. Tiny 1” tubes, Mini Mites and small leeches and worms hard for the little fighters to resist. It is up to us to resist taking too many of these fish. Concentrate on the “fun” and let these fish nest, reproduce and supply years of activity at this time. There are plenty of other times for harvest.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – The warming water is right up their alley. Activity best early and late in the day with weather like this. Twitchbaits, Sluggos, pre-rigs and 3” swimbaits in the shallows as well as top-water lures. Mid-morning through the afternoons go with Wacky Worms, Ned rigs and Tokyo rigs to get into the weed cover.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Surprisingly there were still some nesters on the larger lakes over the weekend. This could change quick with heat. Ned rigs, Wackys and tubes are tops. Jerkbaits and shallow cranks in the early AM, then outside weed edges after that.

Yellow Perch: Good – Action in weeds on beaver tails and medium leeches. Schooling up a bit, but never tight in shallower cover. Signs of molting craws means Perch taking advantage of small crayfish and dragonfly larvae.

Musky: Good – Actually, very good if you’re 15 yr old Kaiden Schrieber of Naperville who boated a 50” beauty on the Flambeau Chain over the weekend. Not saying which lake or what on, and usually don’t mention angler’s name – but C’MON, THAT’S A BEAST! Other reports from anglers moving fish in the evenings on top-water. Action good, tough to see follows with all the recent wind. Bucktails tops!

Walleye: Good-Fair – Bite was good when you found schools but starting to see it fade as waters move into low 70’s. Oddly, some of the best action coming late morning to early afternoon. Wind blown weed edges best using leeches, crawlers coming into play.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Pike action is slower than expected. 4” swimbaits, ¼ oz spinnerbaits over cabbage in 7-12’. Jigging chubs for Walleye in weeds is picking up an occasional Pike.

Crappie: Fair – Could have been the wind, but fewer reports of late. Just tough to pick up these light biters on windy days.

While some March Brown mayfly hatches have been noted, the big “Evil” Hexagenia hatches are still on their way. A few skins have shown so far. Rising water temps could speed up this hatch and make for a few miserable days on your favorite lake. Dragonflies are hatching, that and the wind is helping to make what was a bad mosquito season more bearable.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 6-28-22:

As we exit June following a very windy month, with unusual highs (90’s) and lows (40’s), the start of the summer patterns are just starting up.

The Hexagenia hatches (large, tan Mayflies) have just begun to show. The fluctuating water temps energizing, then stalling the hatch as these nymphs work their way to the surface of our lakes to turn into flies, find mates, lay eggs then die in a short 24 hours once transformed. This “hatch” really messes with the Walleye anglers as fish gorge on the easy to capture nymphs on their nearly two-day swim to the surface. Great time to be a Walleye… not so great to be a Mayfly or a Walleye angler.

Northern Pike: Very Good-Good – These fish seem to care little for Mayflies (though I’m sure they won’t pass up a chance to eat some!) More interested in the Perch and Bluegills that expose themselves to feed on the bugs, then get eaten themselves. Spinnerbaits have been tops with lipless cranks, chatterbaits and weedless spoons all producing good catches! Most being caught in 5-10’ weeds, Broadleaf (Musky Cabbage) best.

Bluegill: Very Good – Lots of action on poppers in the shallows! Casting a dry fly behind a clear plastic float for you spin anglers. Tiny tubes, jigs and #00 spinners all keeping casters happy. Use small leeches (they are tough on the hook) for traditional bobber fishing bait.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Lots of shallow water action using a variety of baits and styles from slow (Wacky Worms), stop/start (Husky Jerks), fast (chatterbaits) and top-water (Whopper Ploppers and Jitterbugs).

Yellow Perch: Good – Still relating to weeds in 6-12’. Find pockets in beds and lower medium leeches or whole beavertails (small crawlers) under floats.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – The last of the bedded fish seem to have left the spawning areas of the larger lakes. Work adjacent breaks using Ned jigs with TRD worms or craws for best action. 1/8 oz jigs tipped with big leeches producing also in 10-14’ slides outside spawn areas.

Musky: Good – Windy days helping anglers with bucktail and spinnerbait action over tobacco cabbage of 4-8’. Warm evenings produced nice top-water action on tailbaits and creepers.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Once found providing decent action, though finding not always easy. Tube jigs worked around downed trees produced last week. Oddly, the tubes used were 2 ½”, meant for Bass – if that’s any indication of the size of the Crappies (11+”). Others found relating to boathouses where shade providing cover. This pattern starting to slow as weed beds fill in.

Walleye: Poor – Could be just this reporter, but Walleye action very slow as clouds of Mayflies seen suspended about half way to the surface on a few of my favorite Walleye Waters. Reports of trollers using crawler harnesses tagging some Walleyes.

Fairly stabilized forecast with temps slowly warming for the 4th of July holiday weekend coming up. Bodes well for anglers targeting most species, Walleye anglers need to wait for Mayfly feast to end.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 7-04-22:

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

Entering July, looks like a little normalcy is finally coming to the Northwoods. Summer like (but not too hot) temperatures, light to moderate winds and little rain for the coming week. Patterns will start solidifying for the summer. Most, but not all, mayfly hatches are ending, weeds are starting to peak and most spawning is over.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Lots of good reports from anglers pitching Wacky Worms, jig/creature and Ned Craws. Top-water good evenings and warmer early mornings. Working chatterbaits and ¼ oz spinnerbaits mid-morning through the afternoons over cabbage flats productive.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Great action on inside weed edges using small leeches below small floats. Over hanging trees, large piers, boathouses all providing good cover. Gills to 10 ¼” this past week. Most spawning finished or close to.

Yellow Perch: Good – Working pockets in cabbage of 5-10’ using medium fatheads or medium leeches. A small 1/32 oz jig either cast and twitched or below a float.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Working Ned rigs tops just along coontail breaks. Craw imitations on drop-shot rigs as well as Wacky Worms and swimbaits working. Not having to work too deep yet. Most fish in 12-18’.

Musky: Good – Surprisingly, some good multi-fish days on live suckers. Reports from one guide with 4 boated from 34-44” and two lost in same day. Most anglers casting bucktails and small to medium sized swimbaits.

Northern Pike: Good – Action best over tobacco (Musky) cabbage in 5-9’ using spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and larger 4-6” paddle tailed swimbaits.

Crappie: Good – Crappies relating to narrow leaf cabbage, downed trees and large shady boathouses. Twitch small tubes, or cast small Mepps or beetle spins to locate. Plastic jigs, hair jigs and small minnows under floats good after you locate fish.

Walleye: Fair – While many lakes were in different stages of the big hexagenia hatches that just put so much easy food out there, its tough to entice consistent catches. Some exceptional fish this week, including a 33” beauty (hopefully more info to come). Yet overall, not a great week for Walleye chasers. But once these hatches are finished, some better weed edge fishing should occur as the Eyes get hungry again.

Most lakes reporting a surface temp of 72-74 degrees. Shouldn’t be much deviation with forecasted highs in upper 70’s for the week.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 7-04-22:

Fifty-two fishing reports a year (give or take) gets repetitive. Well, this week’s report starts out with, as the boys from Monty Python’s Flying Circus would say… ”Now for something completely different.”

Dogfish, Bowfin (up here in the North), Mudfish or Swamp Trout (down South), a hard fighting, never say quit fish that are native to our waters and despite being listed as “rough fish” are really just a natural part of the aquatic diversity of our lakes. Despite accusations from anglers that they “eat fish”, well actually sometimes, but mostly 70-75% of the time, they eat crayfish. Loons, on the other hand, (except when feeding insects to their young) always eat fish. Point being? Bowfin are fun to catch, are good for the lake’s ecosystem, so just let ‘em go (unless you’re going to eat one)!!!

Dogfish: Very Good – Nobody is targeting, but Dogfish are biting. Most on jig and bait (crawler, leech or minnow combos). Relating to thick weeds and drowned wood. Use pliers to dehook – sharp teeth!

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Outside coontail edges of 12-16’. Ned rigs hard to beat. Second choice drop-shotting in similar areas. Some good evening top-water action on Whopper Ploppers, Pop-R’s.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Work shallow running cranks that run at weed top level (3-5’ below surface). Square Bills, Shallow Shad Raps and Lipless Cranks all good choices. Once action slows, Wacky Worming and Ned Rigs top bets.

Bluegill: Good – Action on live bait (leeches, worms, small minnows) and tiny plastic-bodied jigs. Evenings providing good popper action for fly fishing anglers.

Yellow Perch: Good – Probing pockets in cabbage using medium leeches or small crawlers (beavertails).

Northern Pike: Good – Pike action best over cabbage flats in 7-12’ using spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Cloud and wind help improve action.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Weed tops in 8-14’ using Gapen Freshwater Shrimp and 1/16 oz Beetle spins. Tiny jigs and Mini-Mites suspended below small floats when windy working well. On Flowages seek suspended Crappies over drowned wood along river channel edges using medium fatheads below slip floats.

Walleye: Fair (but improving) – Rocks and gravel getting more attention as weeds thicken and, surprisingly, algea blooms on some smaller lakes showing up already. Leeches and crawlers are first and second choices, though redtails working along deeper (18-24’) gravel humps.

Musky: Fair-Poor – Not a lot of reports, though some smaller (28-36”) fish being caught by fly anglers and those using smaller bucktails

Overall fishing conditions improving, or should I say settling into their summer patterns. Most surface temps in the mid-70’s

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

Paging Mr. Benson,

Any insight on the Pike/Round Chain? Heading up with the fam, for a week of fishing and fun starting next weekend (July 30-Aug 6). I’ve never ventured that far West on 70 out of Minocqua. If you would like you can PM me.

Now, for once I’ve got some of my own intel to share.

Was up in the (East of) Minocqua area earlier this week and found the walleye bite up here to be absolutely on fire. Fished a Flowage and a lake system and caught a bunch of nice walleyes on both.

For the flowage, did the best damage working channel edges with some wood, wait for this tactic….big aberdeen hooks with a full crawler and as small of a split shot as I could find pinched about 8 inches from the hook-eye. Did very well using this would often just let the crawler wiggle on the bottom and when the line when slack, set the hook. My biggest eye ball there was 24.5 inches. Did not keep any walleyes but had to catch at least 15 or so, with a nice mix of could be eaters and the 20 inch class fish. Also had a bunch of smallmouth and perch in the same types of areas on slip bobbers with leeches or crawlers. Tried throwing small crankbaits over wood in shallower water with very little success, did snag one solid pike and 2 dandy crappies but there did not seem to be any sort of pattern there.

Onto the lake, outside of deep weed and rock transitions were key for walleyes, mostly around that 15 to 18 fow. Caught a few snap jigging jerk minnow jr.s but most fell victim to the slip bobber wacky rigged leeches or smaller minnows also worked. Biggest eye on this particular lake was 22.25 but most of the fish were over 17. Also took a stroll over a basin looking for some cribs for ice fishing primarily and did actually stumble onto a few of them but did not have any luck catching any sort of panfish.

Very fun two day trips, was expecting more panfish to be biting in the areas I tried but for once the walleye surprised me and kept me occupied most of the time. Spent a great deal of time staring at my electronics working to improve my side imaging prowess and think I was able to accomplish that as well this trip.

Can’t wait to return for the first week in August.