Minocqua Area Report – 2023

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 12-06-22:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welcome to 2023!!!

Following such windy & cold weather leading up through Christmas day, temps and winds mellowed out to provide anglers great opportunities to venture out on the ice. Ice conditions have improved to the point where on many lakes ATV and snowmobile travel is good. Caution is still advisable any place where snow drifts may have insulated the ice from building. Another area of caution has been reported on lakes with springs keeping holes open and shorelines where wind piled ice up.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Lots of action and some very nice fish to 38” reported this past week as flags were flying for anglers using big shiners and suckers on tip-ups in 6-12’ weeds. The mild temps seem to have had more Pike patrolling the shallower beds this past week.

Walleye: Good to Very Good – This very good was mostly due to size as reports and photos of Walleyes “too big” were coming in. Good reports of eaters in the 15-19” range on medium shiners and Walleye suckers along and in weeds as shallow as 6’ to as deep as 12’. The larger fish (slot fish +) have been coming from deeper water. Humps and points of 18-24’ sliding out to deeper basins. Larger suckers and shiners as well as #7 : #9 jigging raps, Hyper Rattles and the larger Tikka Minnows have been very effective! Top catch and release Walleyes reported this week were 27 and 29 inches.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Most anglers targeting Crappies found their fish in 8-12’ weeds slow dropping Lethal Cecils tipped with waxies or minnows on tip-downs. Other anglers branching out into deeper water finding Crappies in 22-30’ starting to school up. Glow tungsten spoons and jigs tipped with waxies, spikes or minnow heads best. These schools roam. The past weeks mild temps and lack of deep snow on the ice has allowed anglers to look for and follow these schools.

Yellow Perch: Good to Very Good – As with the Crappie anglers, the ability to get out and cover some territory has helped find some nice Perch. Off-shore humps and the saddles between that have sand grass have held very nice Perch. These larger (11-13”) fish have been aggressive when found. Jigging Ultra Light Rippin Raps, #2 Jigging Raps and Kenders 1” K-Rips have provoked hard hits from these Jumbos. Working mud flats with Pimples and Halis tipped with wigglers producing nice “eaters” of 8-10”+ at depth of 14-20’.

Bluegill: Good – Mid-mornings through mid-afternoons in weedy bays of 6-10’. Waxie or spike as well as plastics in purple, motor oil and red have been working. Some larger (9”+) Gills coming from deeper water (18-26’) best early am.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Best on tip-ups baited with medium shiners or jigging #5 Raps or Kastmaster spoons tipped with a minnow head. Nice reports of 14-19” Bass being caught.

Forecast for the week shows some snow for Tuesday/Wednesday (Jan 3rd – 4th). Temps for the week look to top out about 30-32 degrees with colder nights firming up ice so a continued week of mild conditions looking ahead.

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 1-16-22:

The incredibly mild January continues! With average lows in the mid-20’s and highs in the low/mid-30’s cold is no excuse for getting out on the ice this winter. If there is a negative to this “balmy” January it’s that many lakes don’t have enough ice (clear ice averages are 8-14”) to support truck travel. Also, some slush still being reported. Overall access and travel for foot, snowmobiles, ATV’s, and UTV’s has been good. Yet with the lack of cold, be careful. Today (1/16) we’re experiencing rain, which can lead to slippery boat landings, crust and added slush on the ice.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Lots of reports of #’s and some nice sized fish. Most anglers using large shiners & suckers. With warm weather and not a lot of ice, Pike very active in weeds of 4-10’. A few anglers jigging larger spoons tipped with minnow heads or using Jaw Jackers with live bait for the fun of catching these fish on rod & reel.

Crappie: Very Good – Locations have been mixed. Most anglers at this time of year are targeting basin Crappies over mud in 22-34’ of water. Jigging small spoons tipped with spikes or tip-downs baited with rosies. There is still a good number of Crappies in the weeds. These fish are taking slow dropped plastics on rocker spoons and Lethal Cecils.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – They like this warm weather. Good action and nice sized Bass in weedy flats of 6-10’. Medium shiners 2’ off bottom under tip-ups or Jaw Jackers.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Similar to LMB, weeds of 6-10’. Small jigs tipped with waxies or dark plastics. Early AM best for larger Gills. Some being found suspended along deep weed breaks of 12-16’.

Walleye: Good – Bite picking back up. Off shore humps of gravel or sandgrass getting visited towards dusk. Suckers seem to be preferred best, river shiners second choice. Jigging Raps and Rattlin Raps scoring also. Very early AM (pre-dawn) also a good time slot.

Yellow Perch: Good – Mud flats of 20-30’ best bouncing Time Bombs, Pinhead Minnows or Pimples to stir up mud. Bait up with wigglers or red spikes.

Lots of people up this past holiday season taking advantage of the mild weather and extra day to fish. Don’t see much of a change coming in forecast, New Moon on Saturday always a plus.

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 1-24-23:

Things changed some in the Northwoods as 8-10” of new snow last Thursday (1/19) slowed travel on lakes. The slush seems to be getting worse each day, most lakes that don’t get a lot of traffic are the worst as the snow has insulated the slush from freezing. Stick to well-traveled trails and away from the fluffy stuff.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Once on, not a bad bite, it was the moving from spot to spot that kept catches down. Fishing 8-12’ weeds, 1-2’ up off bottom using #3 tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or spikes. Larger Gills biting best early morning and late afternoons.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Deep water Crappies in 24-35’, 6-12’ off bottom. Schools roaming! Rattle jigs (Kastmasters) tipped with spikes or tip-downs with small rosies. Bites vary as effects of new snow and varying barometer seems to have dictated willingness to bite. Weed Crappies of 8-12’, tall weeds moving up and down water column, (barometer) holding 4-6’ up off bottom to tight. Use Lethal Cecils tipped with waxies or rocker jigs tipped with plastics.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Basin Perch over mud flats in 20-30’. Use wigglers or red spikes on #2 pimples or #25 Hali jigs. Check just outside weed edges of 10-14’ also for small schools of roamers.

Northern Pike: Fair – Action slowed from previous week. Tip-ups with shiners best. Very little other techniques reported on.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Dusk along weed edges of 8-14’ using 3” suckers or redtails. The good jigging rap bite of last week seemed to have stopped following snow. Getting out on bars and humps of 16-24’ where surrounding water is 30-40’ deep is best.

Forecast looks to be changing temperature wise as our incredibly mild January seems to be fading away into the reality of a real Northwoods winter. Over night temps in the negative degrees come weekend hopefully will dry and freeze things up, making travel easier. Maybe even opening up some of our lakes to truck travel (fingers crossed!)

Shout out of congratulations to our local High School ice fishing team on winning last Saturdays Ice Tournament on Lake Minocqua. Great Job Team!!!

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 1-30-23:

Taste of some real Northwoods winter temps as thermometer readings fell into the negative teens with wind chills in the mid-twenty below range. This shut down outdoor activities for the most part by Sunday (1/29). As much as the cold, the high pressure (which typically go hand in hand this time of year) really had an impact on fishing as decent reports from anglers on Saturday (1/28) shut down quickly since.

Northern Pike: Good-Poor – What seemed like a good bite for those on Saturday shut down by Sunday. Prior to super high pressure, reports of Pike activity were good with anglers getting good numbers with several sizable Pike to 40” on large shiners. Weeds have (and always will be?) key from 5-12’ depth.

Yellow Perch: Good-Poor – Good bite with nice eaters in shallow weeds of 5-8’. Taking minnows, small shiners. Mud flat bite was also good using wigglers on Halis and Pimples in 18-28’.

Crappie: Good-Poor – Best over basins of 20-35’ using rattle spoons (Kastmaster) to draw in fish. Too cold for tip-downs, so jigging providing best action.

Bluegill: Good-Poor – Weedy bays or flats of 7-12’. Early AM for larger Gills, but action good mid-morning and again mid-afternoon on K&E Pelkie jigs tipped with wax worms or red plastic.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Action picked up later in week. Best window at dusk. Tip-ups baited with 3” suckers or jigging Raps or Tikka Minos over humps rising from 40’ to 22-25’ with sandgrass or rocks.

Largemouth Bass: Poor – Largemouth don’t seem to respond well to cold snaps!

The cold has definitely put a hurt on the local fishing for now. If there is any silver lining, it’s that we could use some more ice to allow for truck travel. Can’t recommend as most lakes have an average of 10” of clear, good ice, with grey ice and slush coverings to add up to 14-18”. Whether or not this could can add to our ice remains to be seen. Snow can really insulate, and despite these next few days of extreme cold, we won’t know the results until it happens. Also, as temps get back into the low 20’s as forecasted by this weekend and the barometer drops some, fishing (and catching) should improve.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments:

Feb 11th – Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament
Feb 18th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree
Feb 18th – Mercer Lions Club Jamboree
Feb 25th – Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. – Kids Ice Fishing Day

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

Mark

Curious – do people actually target largemouth during winter?
Not looking for a bass debate just actually Curious..

craig:

I guess it depends who you are… I know many of us up here will catch and keep them as they are plenty abundant this time of the year. They typically bite well during warmer times of the winter, and in the cold tend to be more dormant. Unlike their cousins on the small mouth persuasion, they seem to hang closer to the spring spawning habitat while the SMB’s tend to move much deeper. And because there seems to be a desire to eat them during the winter in the colder waters, they tend to be kept more frequently in the winter as well… Hope that answers any questions and be happy to answer more.

Finally as a board member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association (WIFA), we actually will fish for them in our C&R tournaments… And if you can put together a limit of green backs you stand a chance of winning tournaments as they are the hardest species to catch typically.

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-07-23:

The arctic blast from last week and crazy winds of last Thursday were actually a blessing to ice anglers. The wind took a lot of top snow off ice and slush dried up very well on most lakes and ice thickness has increased!

Checking ice and travel conditions throughout parts of the Lakeland area saw much improved travel conditions. ATV/UTV travel, untracked, was good. Measurements of 17-19” of ice must be taken with a grain of salt. Some lakes showed good ice while others were “layered” with some having two layers of “gray” crumbly ice over 12-14” of good solid ice.

Yellow Perch: Good – Lots of activity over mud in 22-35’. #’s high, but size need sorting. Fast dropping Hali jigs tipped with wigglers or spikes. Larger Perch found cruising weed flats of 6-10’. Hungry for meat, these Perch more likely to take medium fatheads or rattle spoons with waxies.

Bluegill: Good – Responding well to warm up. Gills being caught using #3 Fiskas tipped with waxies or plastic tails in white, red, purple and motor oil. Fishing weeds and edges of 8-12’.

Crappie: Good – Two locations. Mixed in with Gills in 10-12’ taking small minnows below tip-downs or slow dropping Lethal Cecils or Shrimpos tipped with waxies. Also being caught suspended 4-8’ off the bottom over deep basins of 24-38’. Small glow rattle spoons tipped with waxies or tip-downs baited with small crappie minnows or rosies!

Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Some pick-ups along weed edges of 6-14’. Bite slower than it had been. Check tip-ups often, lifting then dropping bait to get shiners and suckers to move around and help entice strikes.

Walleye: Poor-Fair – Windows of activity seem small. First light and dusk. Smaller baits better as Walleyes in negative feeding moods not as likely to go big. Subtle and smaller. Weed edges at dawn as Walleyes moving out of shallows from night hunts taking smaller suckers.

Largemouth Bass: Poor-Fair – Though usually good at responding to warm ups like the past couple days, not a lot of reports. Small shiners meant for Walleyes scored a few over the weekend.

I’d really like to say the lakes are safe for truck travel, yet I’m still cautious (and haven’t paid off my truck yet). The gray ice (frozen slush) on top is what bothers me. While it seems like plenty of ice, caution still advised. Some bays with heavy traffic are seeing truck travel as these areas have had the snow and slush packed down and ice thickness is better than on untraveled lakes. Use caution. Forecast for highs in the 30’s with a chance of snow Thursday afternoon will add 1-2” on top, but should still be good for travel.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments

Feb 11th – Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament

Feb 18th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree

Feb 18th – Mercer Lions Club Jamboree

Feb 25th – Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. – Kids Ice Fishing Day

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-12-23:

Good travel conditions for anglers on the ice this past week. The snow on top was easily traversed by ATV users with wheels. Tracks and snowmobiles that much easier. While trucks are working their way across more and more lakes. I personally found some areas with up to three layers of frozen slush (gray ice) and very soft ice underneath. Total thickness was 21”, but a sign of concern where ice on the main lake was firm nearly all the way through.

High pressure came with some wonderful sunshine, but seemed to hold back on the fishes’ appetites a bit. Certain species did react better than others, it just took patience to get a bite going.

Northern Pike: Poor-Good – Following some unusual tough fishing Pike action picked up. Tip-ups in as deep as 10’ to as little as 3’ produced using large shiners. Tops for the week, a 40” brute!

Yellow Perch: Poor-Good – Weed bite was better than deep for the most part this week. Minnows or light spoons (Vinglas, Pimples) tipped with waxies. Along drop-offs of sand to mud a few reports of Perch on wigglers/Hali combos and one report of nice Perch hitting #3 Rippin Raps.

Crappie: Poor-Good – Best over deeper basins of 24-35’. Rattle lures in glow, white, gold tipped with waxies and tip-downs baited with rosies. Weed Crappies tougher. Fish holding tight to bottom on most lakes. Small jigs/plastics and very little movement needed to entice bites.

Bluegill: Poor-Good – Bite best in the afternoons. Gills taking teardrop style jigs tipped with waxies and plastics in 5-10’ weeds. Wind on Saturday (2/10) made hole hopping tough. Gills (like Crappies) held tighter to bottom.

Walleye: Poor-Fair – High pressure really seemed to have taken its toll on the Walleyes appetites. Very early morning (pre-dawn) and again at dusk. Smaller sucker minnows and small shiners best. Some action on jigging Raps, Hyper Glides.

Largemouth Bass: Poor-Fair – Tip-ups with smaller shiners meant for Pike best in 5-10’ of weeds.

Conditions are still very good as of this early report. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday morning before forecasted rain for Tuesday (2/14) as temps will reach upper 40’s will make things a bit messy again. By Thursday, highs in upper teens and snow will change travel dependent on how much rain/snow we get. But by Saturday (2/18) mild temps back into the mid- 30’s. The weekend covers the new moon period, typically a good time for daytime fishing.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments

Feb 18th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree

Feb 18th – Mercer Lions Club Jamboree

Feb 25th – Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. – Kids Ice Fishing Day

Feb 25th – Newbold Fire Department – 2nd Annual

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-20-23:

A great holiday weekend for ice anglers in the Northwoods. Last weeks rain froze up to create good, if not slippery, travel on most all lakes. Some lakes the snow had melted and refroze to a sheet of skateable ice. Cleats were a necessity for getting around. Combining the warm temps (upper 20’s to low 30’s), with a three-day weekend and a New Moon proved a winning combination.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Rarely targeted, and not typically as active in winter, but with the stars lining up just right lots of Bass action. Mostly on tip-ups and medium shiners, though jig anglers looking for Gills reported catching lots of “surprises” to 20”!

Yellow Perch: Very Good – Mud basin Perch were found in 25-35’ of water stacking up, feeding on Mayfly larvae (wigglers). Anglers using Pimples, Kastmasters, Halis and Buckshot Rattle spoons tipped with wigglers or spikes. Weed relating Perch taking Z-Vibers and T-Rips tipped with waxies in 6-10’ cabbage.

Crappie: Good – As with Perch, two different locales. Basin schools in 25-40’, roaming the open water taking #3 ultra light Rippin Raps or small Rattlin Kastmasters tipped with spikes. Anglers finding some nice Crappies in 10-12’ narrow leaf cabbage taking small rosies on tip-downs, but holding fairly tight to the bottom.

Walleye: Good – Best bite surprisingly in morning for some (New Moon!?). Mid-morning action on bars and saddles as loose schools roam from deep to humps to feed. Suckers, shiners on tip-ups (smaller better) and jigging spoons working well.

Northern Pike: Good – Had some mixed reports, but overall good action on tip-ups with large shiners.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – More of the action/sorting reports than anyone talking good overall catches.

While ice thickness continues to improve (22-24” avg), truck travel is becoming better across many lakes. Biggest concern is coming snow forecasted for this Wed/Thur – great for bubble heads – not for bucket butts! If right, we are supposed to see 12-14”+ snow. If this happens, ice travel will be relegated to snowmobiles, tracked UTV’s and trucks. Will wait and see!

Also…only two weekends left to the Wisconsin inland lake game fish season here, so try to get out while you can.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments
Feb 25th – Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. – Kids Ice Fishing Day
Feb 25th – Newbold Fire Department – 2nd Annual
Mar 4th – KISS High School Ice Fishing Tournament

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 2-28-23:

Just one weekend left to the inland gamefish season here in the Northwoods. At the stroke of midnight, Sunday, March 5th, it’s time to pack up the tip-ups for the season (unless you’re headed to the U.P.)

Mixed reports from this past week. Some anglers did well, while others struggled. Few very good reports with the exception of Largemouth Bass, so let’s start there.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Always seems to be a correlation between warm (20 degrees +) weather and ice fishing Largemouth. Using medium shiners under tip-ups or jigging Shad Raps or Rippin Raps seemed to conjure up the most fish. Lots of action from 12-15” fish, but for the second week in a row, a 19 ½” LMB was caught and released!

Northern Pike: Good – Bite started late mornings, but improved throughout the days. Big, active shiners and suckers seemed to interest Pike the most. A few anglers using frozen smelt also reported success. Definitely feeding up, as many Pike caught showed signs of full gullets as egg production in full swing!

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Another species packing on the “ounces” as they are early spawners also and building up weight for ice out. Still two types of bites. Outside weed edges in 8-10′ using minnow or fry shaped jigs, such as Z-Vibers or K-Rips tipped with waxies. Over mud flats of 18-26’, fast dropping Nils, Kastmasters, Bull Spoons and Pinheads tipped with wigglers or red spikes. Start with an aggressive jigging motion to draw them in, then watch on your flasher as Perch rise 6-8’ to meet your jig on the way down.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Best along weeds of 7-10’. Small tungsten jigs in sizes 2.5mm – 3mm tipped with waxies, spikes or dark plastics. A few reports of deeper Gills in 14-18’ also, same presentation along coontail edges.

Walleye: Fair-Good – Best on 3” suckers along 12-14’ weed edges at dusk or 18-25’ humps depending on what the lake has to offer. Anglers reporting some success jigging Slab Raps and the new Jigging Shadow Rap.

Crappie: Fair – Bite seemed off. Basin fish scattered, tough to pinpoint. Weed fish seemed negatively affected by high pressure, so fish tighter to the bottom on days like these.

Despite Thursday’s snow (2/23), travel on the lakes remained good as snow was light and fluffy. What things will be like by the end of the week remains to be seen as snow on 2/27 and 3/1 with highs in the low 30’s could bring weight. Temps look good for the final weekend of gamefish with highs forecasted for mid to upper 30’s and some clouds to offset the coming full moon.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments
Mar 4th – KISS High School Ice Fishing Tournament

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-06-23:

Gamefish season is closed for now, time to pack away the tip-ups and pull out the tip-downs for some serious pan fishing. A nice warm weekend to end the gamefish season. Travel good for most forms (quads without tracks or chains had hard times), but overall conditions look good for March panfish ice fishing!

To end the season, Largemouth Bass were very active. Again, fish to almost 20” were caught and released. Northern Pike were good on big baits, though Sunday’s (3/5) high pressure seemed to slow the bite. Nice fish to 31” reported. Walleye were more of a struggle, evenings were best, but overall, not good. Surprisingly, heard from some anglers catching Smallmouth Bass on tip-ups baited with suckers fished on humps meant for Walleyes. All that is behind us now, so on to what can be!

Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Nice Gills in the 7-8 ½” range reported from anglers working weeds of 7-10’. #2½ – #3 Fiskas tipped with plastics (Red, Purple, Motor Oil) or red spikes worked best. Mid-mornings until late afternoon provided best action.

Yellow Perch: Good – Mud flats of 18-28’ using Clam Bombs, Halis or Pinheads to get baits (wigglers, red spikes) down to mud quickly. In weeds, Perch scattered, but nice sized taking Northland 1.5 Puppet Minnows, as well as Kenders K-Rips packed with waxies or a minnow head.

Crappie: Good-Fair – If anglers can stay on them, bite good. These fish seem to be roaming and scattered. Tip-downs baited with Crappie minnows or small rosies for the “sit and wait” crowd. For the “chasers”, Rattlin Kastmasters tipped with waxies doing well over deep water working best. Along 9-12’ tall weeds, work bright colored plastics of white, yellow or pink. Slow dropping on Rocker style jigs to give some added action.

Following our weekend in the 40’s, area being covered with new snow (3/6). Three to six inches forecasted. Lows this coming week in the low 20’s with highs to mid-30’s. Another system forecasted for Thur/Fri (3/9-3/10) may bring additional 4-9”. We will have to wait and see. If it does, with temps hovering just above freezing, expect some slush to develop and travel by truck or tracked vehicles may be necessary, except for areas within walking distance from landings.

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-14-23:

So, this is the price we pay for such a mild January! March snow totals in the Lakeland Area keep adding up (another 10+” from 3/12). Cold also with some areas dropping to 15 below (3/14). So, the ice thickness remains (avg 24”), yet with each new snow, travel gets harder. Slush is being reported and with snow on the lakes being well over a foot deep, only trucks and tracked vehicles can get around. Even these forms of travel are not the easiest so be prepared with a shovel and some tall boots, just in case!

Bluegill: Good – Biggest hurdle is getting to the action. Anglers finding Gills in 9-11’ weeds and edges. Variety of techniques, though one father/son duo used wigglers for success pre-storm to ice a nice catch. Overall, jigs with greens, reds, browns have been best tipped with waxies, spikes or plastics in red, black, motor oil or purple.

Yellow Perch: Good – The larger of the weed relating Perch (9-11+”) in 8-11’ of water taking small minnows, Z-Vibers, K-Rips and Northland Forage Minnows (little Bluegill shaped) tipped with a couple waxies doing very well. Lots of smaller Perch to sort through. For mud flat Perch (usually running a more consistent size range of 7-10”), tip-downs with crappie minnows working, as well as fast dropping spoons (pimples, Halis) to get to bottom in 18-26’.

Crappie: Good – Deep water Crappies moving in shallower. What was a 25-35’ depth bite, is becoming a 18-22’ average. Tip-downs with small rosies or Rattlin Kastmasters tipped with waxies or spikes. Along same weeds as Gills and Perch in 9-12’ anglers finding scattered Crappies on jig/plastic combos. Yellow, pink, white and sliver topped the color charts.

A small reprieve Tue/Wed (3/14-3/15) before some overnight rain turning to snow through the early a.m. hours of Saturday (3/18) will add to the travel woes. After that, mid-20’s to mid-30’s as the week progresses. A great time to be panfishing if Mother Nature allows it!

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-20-23:

March has been a b..b..b..b..b..bear so far, must have forgot where it was on the calendar.

Cold (as low as 15 below), snow, rain, then more snow and lots of wind kept anglers off the ice this past week (can’t blame them!). A shame since this is such a traditionally great time to be panfishing. But don’t despair, good spring (yes, it’s spring on the calendar) ice fishing is right around the corner.

Bluegill: Fair-Poor – Conditions just kept people off the ice. If able to, anglers had some success in 9-11’ weeds. Tungsten jigs helped to keep baits down against the wind. Live bait seemed better than plastics as fish held on a bit longer allowing anglers to feel bites.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Poor – Mixed in with the Gills along 9-11’ weeds. No reports from mud flat anglers, doesn’t mean fish weren’t there, just anglers are not.

Crappie: Poor – As with the other panfish, just overall a tough bite.

As dismal as this report is, better things to come. Ice still 24-26” thick. Snow and slush making ATV use hard, but snowmobile and trucks still useable. Temps at night this coming week will be in teens and low-20’s, but day time highs of mid-30’s to mid-40’s will make for some very comfortable conditions. This is the kind of weather that bodes well for tip-down users targeting Crappies and Perch. We will see two weeks, if not more, of ice fishing if these conditions hold.

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 3-27-23:

This past week is what late ice fishing should be. Plenty of ice (even for trucks), great weather and cooperative fish!

Ice thickness, thanks to snow cover, remains in the two-foot range. Despite rain on 3/23, cold and wind helped dry surface so slush not the problem that was feared. Getting around became easier each day as warm days (40’s) followed by cold nights (teens) drained, compacted, then firmed up surfaces.

Crappie: Very Good – Excellent – Reports of anglers limiting out in 1 ½ – 2 hours. Lake by lake different depths. Weed related Crappies in 8-12’ using tip-downs with minnows 3-5’ under the ice (sometimes higher). Plastics on rocker jigs are also effective. Signs on the cleaning table showed these fish gorging on small Perch and Bluegills. Also bite in varying depths of 15-22’. Tip-downs again prevailing with small rosies held 5-8’ off the bottom. Some lakes Crappies found as deep as 35’, rattlin jigging spoons tipped with waxies to draw these deep fish in.

Bluegill: Very Good – Best still in 8-11’ of weeds, suspending in top half of water column. Dark plastics on #3 tungsten jigs or tipping dot jigs with waxies. Some Gills relating to deeper (15-20’) suspending over mud taking wigglers meant for Perch. Gills will typically move in shallower as ice lessens and water starts to work down holes.

Yellow Perch: Very Good – Most Perch anglers finding fish over soft bottoms in 15-22’ using wigglers on pimples or Halis. Nice size (10-12”) being caught mixed in (usually just below) Crappies and Gills in these areas.

Was a nice weekend to be on the ice. With open water to the south and east, angler pressure has been low and fishing great! Forecast for snow at the end of the week will just slow ice melt, though could make travel a bit more difficult. If it doesn’t come to pass, expect another great weekend of tip-downs on the ice.

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 4-03-23:

Snow, more snow, and some more snow. 20 plus inches (No April fooling) fell over the weekend, which pretty much shut fishing down over the past few days. Basically, no reports over the weekend to write about.

If venturing out, extensions are needed to get through all the ice and snow. Travel is limited to snowmobile or tracked machines or foot.

Warmer weather is predicted which should knock down snow in days to come to make travel easier.

A little addendum to Kurt’s report… He’s in FL and we’re about 20 miles apart from each other. Lowest tide of the day currently and I’m getting ready to huck a gold Johnson’s Silver minnow for a red fish or a trout… I’m glad we missed the last two storms by being south.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 4-10-23:

With some good reports after the dumping of snow coming in, fishing has been overall good.

Now the next question is, “How long will the shorelines be OK?”. Temps into the 60’s and even possibly 70’s and evenings staying above freezing for the next 5 days is going to determine how easy getting on the ice will be. Watch for slush pockets but some comfortable fishable ice is still out there. Track machine, snowmobile and foot travel is your best bet. Be careful of slush pockets with vehicle travel.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Still a bit scattered, but plenty of quality fish being reported. Finding some shallow, 8-12’ weed edges best. Still, some being found in as deep as 22’. Minnows working, as well as, waxies or plastics on jigs.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Mostly found mixed in with the Crappie hitting more jigs with spikes or waxies. Not as aggressive as the Crappie though.

Yellow Perch: Good – The few reports that have come in are indicating a better than decent bite. Small rosies on tip-downs or wigglers seem to be the best.

Walleye: Good-Very Good – Although the season is closed and you cannot target in area lakes, people fishing the dams south of Tomahawk in the river are reporting many big # days using large fatheads or big rosies.

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 4-25-23

Mild temps have held ice melt back for the past week. We are losing ice, but not as quickly as we would like. Overnight lows in the 20’s are keeping the daytime highs from eating away much ice, but open water is coming!

Starting mid-week (Wed/Thur) with lows above freezing (so 24 hr melt), wind and rain, I’ll predict (then deny) most lakes will be open by May 1st! Opener is May 6th. Expect a prespawn/spawn bite with this late ice out for Walleyes. Water temps “should” be in that “sweet” (38-40 degrees) spot about then on most lakes. With late ice outs, Walleyes will be wanting to “dump” their cargo in a hurry after the extended “layover”. Signs point to a good opener!

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 4-30-23

After further review…its going to be down to the wire on most bodies of water and several of our largest lakes probably won’t be open until well after opening weekend.

Yeah, I know…I know…last week I predicted, guessed, wished that ice would be gone by May 1st…I’ve sobered up a bit since then, now the reality of the ice hangover begins!

Too much cold weather, some snow, with only two days above 50 degrees and we are in a pinch. Snow predictions for Sunday/Monday (4/30-5/1) put totals of 10-11” of snowfalls on our lakes. Ice is dark on many lakes and the snow will cover up (but also weigh down, fingers crossed) the rotting ice.

It’s too dangerous to walk on ice for measurements, cold temps with added snow will only cool lakes off. Forecast for warming temps coming on Wed (5/3) through Sunday (5/7).

Check out our website and Facebook for updates.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 5-08-23

It Happened!!!

We had an opener! 2023 Walleye opener and it was a good one! With ice still at a few landings, even opening morning, plenty of opportunities to launch and get out on the water.

Walleye: – Excellent to Very Good – With the late ice out, Walleyes were ready to spawn. Anglers who headed out early in the morning (pre-dawn) reported great action shallow in 2-3’ of water. As morning progressed, Walleyes moved out to 5-8’ depths, and deeper, on many lakes to ready for the next evening’s spawn. Rip N Raps, Rattle Traps, Husky Jerks and Rattlin Rouges from shore for the “midnight” crowd. Big girls to 28” reported. For daytime, 1/16 oz Jacks Weedless jigs and Invasion jigs tipped with Tuffy minnows (redtails and dace not available) were the ticket for “second shift”. Lots of action, lots of keepers and lots of released slot and big females! With water temps ranging 38 degrees (Trout) to 52 degrees (Willow) lots of opportunity for similar action and some great post-spawn action to come.

Crappie: Very Good – Not much attention paid to this weekend, but for the few who did, good reports. Finding the warmest water on the lake, with standing weeds in 4-8’. Crappies and Largemouth Bass staging in the warmest water (usually 2-3 degrees above rest of lake). These Crappies are skittish. Small, heavy floats for long cast so you don’t spook fish. Try using no weight. Let tail hooked minnows swim naturally to attract bites.

Northern Pike: Good – Not targeted much, but some incidentals by anglers jigging for Walleyes.

Yellow Perch: Good to Fair – Most by accident. Those that have been are ripe with spawn as they will be next in line.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Rarely targeted, but anglers reporting some catches while working soft bottom bays for Walleyes.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair – Ditto as in Largemouth, yet on rocks instead of soft bottoms.

Increasingly warming temps will accelerate the Walleye spawn this week. Once spawn bite dies down, look for Eyes to move to weeks to feed up, should be good for next couple weeks. Crappies, Gills and Bass will continue to “herd” up where the warmest water can be found. Lots of anglers out for the opener, but pressure will lessen as the week goes on.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
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Minocqua, WI 54548

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 5-15-23

Hitting the midway of May already. While the season is only ten days old, it’s been a good start for Walleye anglers and picking up for those interested in other species.

Water temperatures are moving up gradually following opening week’s warm up. Most lakes in the low to mid 50’s on average with some larger lakes in upper 40’s and a couple smaller, dark lakes and flowages touching upper 50’s to low 60’s.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Find shallows with wood and Bass actively hitting Wacky Worms and Flukes! Lots of numbers, not as much size. Great Action!

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Reports of fish warming in shallows (3-5’) but spooky. Long cast with Rocket Bobbers and tiny minnows on #10 Aberdeen hooks with no weight to entice bites.

Walleye: Good-Very Good – On larger lakes, tail end of spawn over gravel beds at dark on minnow baits (Husky Jerks, Rattlin Rouges) or along gravel breaks with jigs and black chubs. The drop in activity on what was a great opening weekend most likely due to post spawn hangover. That bite is coming as shallows warm, leeches and insects emerge, minnows and fry return and move into shallows and Walleye follow! Good weed action to come, look for fresh greens.

Northern Pike: Good – Cruising shallow of 3-6’. Key on any green vegetation. 1/16 oz weedless jigs with guards and baited with red sided Dace. Three-inch twisters or 4” Flukes worked slowly through existing cabbage.

Yellow Perch: Good – Not targeted, but nice, post spawn Perch to 12” over weekend cruising shallows. Big Perch with slack bellies taking jig and minnow combos meant for Walleyes in 3-6’ weeds/wood.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Not a lot targeted, but large fish to 21” (Catch & Release only). Mostly in shallows by anglers targeting Walleyes or LMB!

Bluegill: Fair – Few reports, but starting to gather in shallows for warmth!

Brown Trout: Excellent – Brown Trout?? Excellent?? Yes, excellent, I caught one without trying, first ever, 21 ½”. Fought like the devil. Gotta have a trout stamp. Doubt I’ll ever see another! Excellent!

Weather looks fairly stable for the week. Maybe some rain Thur/Fri. Temperature drop during this time, but nice gradual warm up to follow. New Moon this weekend, good time.

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 5-22-23

The effects of a late ice out are still being felt by anglers. While water temps are moving in the right direction (overall), weed growth is still way behind. This lack of vegetation is frustrating anglers looking for the typical post spawn spring bite. Action is still being had. Cold mornings have pushed the best bites to afternoons as warming water seems to bring in the best catches.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Moving into shallows to warm, not bedding yet. Long cast with small minnows or Mini-Mites below small floats. Calm shores receiving the most sun (usually North) are seeing Crappies pile up in 1-3’ of water.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Afternoon action best as waters warm in shallows. Shallow running stick baits/twitch baits, as well as smaller spinner baits, beetle spins and 3” swim baits. Largemouth over 18” with a pair of 20”+ reported by anglers pitching x-raps along black bottom bays.

Walleye: Good – Heavily feeding on mayfly larvae in the mud as the lack of new vegetation in the shallows has been holding most Walleyes out. Slip-bobbers with medium leeches in 12-16’ have been best. Fatheads, Walleye suckers on 1/8 oz jigs around rocky points also producing, but not as steadily as the mud.

Northern Pike: Good – The lack of weeds has been a problem, but any patches of broad leaf cabbage have been good for action on swim baits and smaller spinners (#3 Mepps). Jig and chubs or suckers also producing.

Yellow Perch: Good – Shallow bays in 4-6’. Use medium fats under floats on 1/32 oz jigs to catch post spawn Perch ready to feed.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Catch and Release only!! First drops from shore lines with rock/gravel using X-Raps, Husky Jerks and Keitech swim baits. Fish staging prior to moving up to spawn.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Staging in shallows to warm up. Small leeches or worms in 1-4’ of water.

The forecast for the week has some cool night time temps followed by warming afternoons. Lots of sunshine should spur weed growth and minnow/insect hatches. Action in the shallows should get better. Looking forward to a good holiday 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 5-30-23:

Such a wonderful Memorial Weekend! Mother Nature showed great compassion by giving us a Memorial Weekend with not so much as even a threat of rain. Warm weather, lots of sun, good fishing. Not a thing to complain about…almost! The mosquitos are horrendous! We need Dragonflies! Any place with no wind, shade, vegetation made me feel like King Kong on the Empire State Building (only I didn’t have my beautiful wife in one hand, needed both to swat the skeeters!). Enough whining… It’s tough to rank which species of fish bit the best over the weekend, we had so many great reports.

Crappie: Excellent (OFF THE CHART!) – While water temps shot through the 50’s into 60’s (and some bays low 70’s with sun and not wind) not as much bedding fish being observed as staging fish in 3-7’ of water. Casting small (1/32 oz and smaller) jigs of plastic or hair and good ol’ float and minnows had lots of anglers reporting limits of Crappies. Probably the best holiday Crappie fishing weekend we’ve had.

Smallmouth Bass: Excellent – Smallies bedding on most lakes with anglers reporting days of over 100 fish per boat from both staging and bedding fish. Technique? Our choice or Your choice!!! Tubes, Ned rigs, top-water, suspending twitchbaits. Rising water temps had fish on fire, lots of action and of course lots of fun! Remember, Catch and Release only!

Walleye: Very Good – Despite the fact weed growth is still behind on most lakes (but catching up), keep in mind most lakes still had ice on them the first couple days of May. Most stomach contents of filleted Walleye still containing mostly larvae of midge and mayflies. The full on weed bite is just beginning. That being said, leeches have been the ticket for a lot of the best catches. Of note, guide Greg Bohn had a three day stretch of three 30”+ and over Walleyes on three different lakes-he’s not telling, but from his purchase history here, he’s probably using chubs, both black and redtails (when available), just guessing.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Find standing weeds and you’ll probably find Pike. Swimbaits, spinnerbaits and jig and suckers have been hot. Lots of action and good fish into the low 30’s.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Staging in the warm shallows. Shallow running square billed crankbaits, 3 1/2“ swimbaits and flukes have been getting hammered. Don’t be surprised that if water temps crest and hold into the 70’s on some lakes that Largemouth won’t start bedding soon.

Bluegill: Very Good – Not bedding, but staging in the shallows. Fly anglers using small poppers and dry flies as well as “normal” anglers using tiny tubes, worms, leeches or thunderbugs scoring very well in 2-4’ shallows. Look for cover such as wood or flooded saplings.

Yellow Perch: Very Good-Good – Not as much attention from the panfish crowd as most are targeting Crappies and Gills. But Perch cruising the newly greening weeds in 4-8’ taking medium leeches, medium fatheads and thunderbugs on small jigs or under slip-floats.

Musky: Good-Very Good – With only three days of the season in, some good reports from anglers boating Musky using smaller bucktails (think Smity’s Wizards, Bucher 500’s) and smaller twitchbaits. Lots of fish being seen, but not hitting in shallows as fish paired up to spawn. Top reported fish here was Charlie Scott’s 45”.

With highs in the low to mid-80’s forecasted for the remainder of the week, expect more of the same on fishing with certain species (Walleye, Bass and Musky) only expecting to get better. Great time to be out on the water, just don’t forget the bug spray!

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 6-06-23:

Unseasonably hot weather the past week (three days hit low 90’s) have had water temps soaring. Surface temps in the mid-70’s are common with some reports of temps hitting 80+. Fortunately, the coming week sees some cooling with daytime highs in mid-70’s and lows at night in the 50’s.

Luckily, fishing has been hot! Weed growth to hide the bugs and minnows hatching, as well as Largemouth Bass and Gills moving in to spawn, have given anglers lots of options.

Walleye: Very Good-Good – Weed bite is on. Anglers working cabbage of 4-8’ finding plenty of fish using 1/16 oz weedless Invasion jigs to present leeches and fatheads doing very well. With all the cloudless days we’ve had, any wind has helped.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Catch and Release only. Spawn winding down, but great action on Ned rigs, Wacky Worms and top-water. Post spawn Smallies out on first break away from spawning areas (usually 8-12’) smashing Husky Jerks, X-Raps, Rattlin Rouges. Working craw imitations on jigs putting some nice 18-20” fish in the net.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Starting to bed and working shallows. Lots of top-water action on Chug Bugs, Torpedos. Wacky worming and Ned rigs easy choices. Shallow cranks and light (1/8 oz) bass jigs with craw trailers.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Bedding up and aggressive. Poppers on fly rods or behind small floats. Thunderbugs, small leeches, worms or tiny tubes all being gobbled up.

Yellow Perch: Very Good-Good Active in same weed areas as Walleye. Nice eater Perch of 9-11” being caught on leeches and minnows meant for Walleyes. Thunderbugs a favorite of Perch, the hatch is happening quickly now with temps so high, so availability will end soon.

Northern Pike: Good – With attention in the weeds for Walleye, some Pike getting caught, but not when Walleye seem to control the cabbage. Still some nice Pike to 30” this past week. Live bait out producing artificials.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Spawn being over, Crappies recovering. Very scattered throughout 8-12’ weeds (Narrow leafed cabbage). Fan casting through weed tops with small beetle spins, Crappie Thumpers and Slider Charlie Bees best bet for finding scattered fish.

Musky: Good-Fair – Smaller bucktails and surface baits producing best action for anglers working shallows of 4-10’.

These unusually high-water temps help to accelerate fish metabolism, causing the need to feed more often. The bright sun is a negative, but target low light times (early mornings, evenings) and any wind to offset the light. Would not be surprised to see some Hexagenia (big mayfly) hatches soon due to heat. That will put a damper on the Walleye fishing we’ve been experiencing. But hopefully a couple weeks away.

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 06-13-23:

Some cool temps moved into the area following all that heat pushing lake temps down into the mid-60s (from highs of mid 70’s to 80’s just over a week ago). The cold snap did take an effect on fishing, with a nice bounce back late in the week as things warmed, till the weekend when the chill rebounded.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Actually still finding some bedding fish as late as June 8th on the larger lakes that warmed last. Ned rigs, Wacky Worms, and Chug Bugs for the “nesters”. Once off the nest, working Husky Jerks and X-Raps along 8–12’ breaks, providing some post spawn hawgs to 19” this week.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good–Good – Some bedding starting, but cold stopped most. Staging Largemouth, along 6–8’ weeds taking jig/creature combos and Wacky Worms. Once waters move back into the 70’s watch for shallow bite to pick up on top-water.

Yellow Perch: Very Good-Good – Best in the weeds of 5-8’. Thunderbugs, medium leeches and medium fats. Look for broad leafed cabbage (brown Musky cabbage) for best results.

Northern Pike: Good – Best on live bait over the weekend as cool seemed to slow bite. Jigging chubs or floating through 6-10’ cabbage best, not a lot of chasing, but a few nice fish to 30” this past week.

Walleye: Fair-Very Good-Poor-Fair – Just a roller coaster as some minor buggy hatches (March Browns), cold and wind with a few nice warming days in between made a guy go from a goat to a hero to a goat again. Jig and leeches proved best, but some decent action on minnows and crawlers on Walleyes relating to weeds.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Gills are getting active yet pushed out by cold front. Best in heavy weeds of 5-8’ using worms, small leeches and thunder bugs.

Musky: Good-Fair – Most reports of smaller fish (under 34”) hitting smaller bucktails in shallow weeds. Need to see some temps rise to get top-water bite back.

Crappies: Fair – Anglers locating Crappies, yet hard to get bites. Crappie minnows best when Crappies negative. Flowage anglers in wood, lakes in 8-12’ weeds.

Looks like the temps going to slowly rise this week, but not bounce back till next week (mid-week). We’ve needed the little rain we’ve gotten, but not the cold (lows in mid to upper 30’s at night!) Lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s will make early morning bites better. With air temps 25+ degrees colder than water temps, steam coming off water looks pretty, but tough on bite. Once air/water temps get closer, bite will improve.

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 06-20-23:

Last week was a cold one for the most part. Temps at night into the 30’s with mornings on the water in the low 40’s. Surface temps dropped into low 60’s (from highs in upper 70’s to 80 degrees). Wind chill made early fishing tough to deal with (pulled out the heavy sweatshirts and jackets). With tough cold weather came some tough fishing. Temps are rising again now, yet the fishing seems to be a bit behind.

Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – Perch never get a high ranking in the summer reports, but this week they top the charts! Working 6-9’ cabbage flats with red, brown or orange 1/16 oz weedless jigs tipped with ½ crawlers produced some very nice 9-12” Perch this week. Slip-floats baited with ½ crawlers, medium leeches or their favorite, thunderbugs also effective. Yes, Perch got some love on a tough week and anglers got some great eating.

Largemouth Bass: Fair–Good – Setting up in their favorite summer time weed pattern. Fish same 6-10’ cabbage flats using jig Ned Rigs, Wacky Worms, Jig/creature combos. Largemouth have picked up the “action” slack. Even anglers jigging large leeches for Walleyes in weeds reporting “lots” of LMB!

Pumpkinseed: Good – Pumpkinseeds?! Yes, had an outing with the Pumpkinseed Kid AKA Remy Anderson (5 yrs old) and he tore up the shorelines with the ol’ bobber and worm trick. Knocked ‘em dead! (But released all alive!) First time ever fishing, but won’t be his last!

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Cold had Gills slowed way down. This should pick up once water temps get back into 70’s and Gills move into shallows to spawn.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good – Actually found one still on a bed, poor bugger, got stuck with the babysitting duty. Shallow water, inside weeds worked for some using Wacky Worms, Sweet Beavers. Also reports from anglers working jerkbaits along breaks of 8-12’, but action slow.

Musky: Fair-Good – Report from guide Jake Smith finding Musky very shallow, comparable to first cool down of September. Surface baits, such as Flaptails, small bucktails (Wizards) and 9” jerkbaits worked slowly in the early mornings near inlets/outlets or some type of current best.

Northern Pike: Fair – Oddly off. Best dragging suckers or chubs slowly through cabbage flats. Bites light. Not a lot of chasing, but some spinnerbait action.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – One good day in seven…yeah, I’d say poor. Working redtails through heavy weeds of 6-10’. Slow and low. Bites reluctant.

Crappies: Fair-Poor – Not a lot of reports. Anglers once again finding schools of unresponsive fish. Tough to trigger. Live minnows on the smallest jig and plastics you can fish with in wind best.

Temps on the way up this week. Highs in the mid-80’s. Summer patterns should return as water temps will be breaking into 70’s again. Still no sign of big mayfly (Hexagenia) hatch so that cloud still coming! Mosquitos bad, not as bad as three weeks ago, but light rain, humidity and warmth bringing more out. Dragonflies help, but they don’t start their day as early as us anglers.

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 06-26-23:

Finally, a break from the heat and straight sunshine made it to the Northwoods in the form of much needed rain, clouds and cooler temps. Following several days in a row of highs in the lower 90’s, looks like more typical Northern Wisconsin temps of upper 70’s to low 80’s. Most patterns had been off, but are now starting to solidify!

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Early mornings and evenings usings top-water (Whopper Ploppers, Buzz Baits, plastic frogs & spiders and the classics, Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers). Mid-mornings work twitchbaits over cabbage tops (Husky Jerks, X-Raps and custom jerks from FAFO, if you can find them) as Bass seen chasing schools of bait fish along surfaces in these areas. Later in the afternoon, slide down the water/weed column using Wacky Worms, Ned Rigs and Carolina Rigs to entice bites from the plant bottoms.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Working into summer patterns of deep gravel/rock during mid-day. Drop-shot 3” minnow or craw imitations. AMs finding Smallies cruising outside weed lines hitting deep running cranks (also FAFO’s) or tubes in 12-16’ edges.

Yellow Perch: Very Good – Loved the heat! Catching nice 9-12” Perch scattered through out 8-12’ cabbage on weedless jig with bait (minnows, ½ crawlers or medium leeches).

Musky: Good – Double bladed #8 bucktails, surface baits worked well for anglers fishing early and late. Shallow fish, inside weedlines and inlets. Fast retrieves during heat last week, a bit slower this coming week.

Bluegill: Good – Some reports of Gills moving in to spawn and being done in 4-5 days due to heat. Still some bedding on larger lakes. Evening shoreline casting with poppers effective. Mid-morning thru afternoons using small leeches, worms, thunderbugs and tiny tube jigs best.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Outside of a HUGE 44” Pike brought to net in Guide George Metrich’s boat, overall, Pike activity good to NOT great. Swimming 4” swimbaits on ¼ oz heads along 10-14’ weed edges or working spinnerbaits over cabbage of 6-8’ in the mornings working best.

Walleye: Fair – Bright, cloudless, calm days made for tough daytime bites last week. Best at dusk or early dawn using XL leeches or redtailed chubs along 10-14’ weed edges or out over rocks in 16-20’

Crappies: Fair-Poor – Been a bit of a mystery as anglers best reports are of smaller fish (7-9”) on lakes where populations are high! Fishing deeper weed edges of 12-16’ using 1/32 oz jigs tipped with Gulp Alive or small minnows.

Looks liked some rain mid-week, then nice weather for over the 4th Holiday. Should continue to see fishing moving into good predictable summer patterns for next 6 weeks until mid-August cool downs.

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 07-04-23:

Got a little rain last week, thankfully! Our mosquito population was dropping (poor things), but the rain and humidity helped pump a little life back into those friendly little buggers! Now that we have hit July, most summer patterns are starting to emerge. Things will stabilize for the most part and with the exception of any daily changes from storms etc., should be fairly consistent.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – With Largemouth populations high, a lot of anglers are catching these fish whether they mean to or not! Mornings, twitchbaits and top-water action great. Work inside weed edges (Husky Jerks, X-Raps, Whopper Ploppers). Mid-mornings through mid-day, Wacky Worms, Jig and Creature, Sweet Beavers all good choices. Towards evening back to shore with Jitterbugs or plastic Frogs and Spiders.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Most action off deep gravel drops using drop-shot rigs with 3” craws, Ned rigs or suspending hair jigs below slip-floats. Nice fish in the 17-20” range this week coming from 16-23’ rock slides.

Bluegill: Very Good – Gills working weed beds in 7-10’. Use Mini Mites, small leeches or worms. Evenings with small poppers providing great action on calm water.

Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – Still very nice (9-12”) Perch in cabbage beds of 8-12’. Use weedless 1/16 oz Invasion jigs to work 1/2 crawlers along plant bottoms. Slip-floats with medium leeches or medium fatheads also good choice.

Northern Pike: Good – Casting spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and 4” swimbaits over cabbage flats. Jig and chub/sucker using wire leader to prevent bite-offs. Twitchbaits also bringing good fish to the boat.

Musky: Good – Fast burning bucktails has been effective. Top-water baits early and late. Word of a 50”+ by a row troller in this morning, waiting on details!

Crappies: Fair-Good – Different reports. Some from water as shallow as 6’ during mid-day while others finding fish mixed in tall narrow leaf cabbage using small bladed lures such as Charlie Bees, Road Runners and Beetle Spins to find fish.

Walleye: Poor-Fair – Dark waters best as most clear water lakes not giving up fish ‘til dusk or after. Crankbaits after dark, either casted over off-shore humps or trolled. Daytime bites on leeches or crawlers, best near drowned wood. Look for cloudy or windy days to increase daytime bite.

A very busy 4th of July holiday. Lots of boat traffic, but early birds can fish a while in peace ‘til everyone else wakes up! Have a great 4th and celebrate this great country we live in!!

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 07-11-23:

Overall, a nice week after the festivities of the 4th subsided. Lakes were not overly crowded and some good fishing was had. A few overnight rains/thunderstorms but not enough to affect anything. Water temps ranging 69-73 degrees on most bodies.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Bass remain active, dawn to dusk. Daytime fishing using plastics (Wacky, Beavers, Craws) in the weeds, as well as twitching stick baits (Husky Jerks, X-Raps) and lipless cranks (Rattle Traps, Rattlin Raps) very effective. Top-water action best early and late. Whopper Ploppers, Choppos, Spooks and Combat Frogs close to shore weeds and lily pads.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – On lakes, outside weed edges using tubes, Wacky Worms choice! Rock bars try drop-shotting 3” Gulp Alive Minnows, Z-Man TRD Craws or Berkley Leeches. Nice bass this week, tops Shelly Justice with a 20 ½” C&R.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Gills working cabbage flats taking Mini-Mites, 1” twister tails, small leeches. Best action in water of 6-10’.

Yellow Perch: Good – Stick to cabbage (broad leaf if possible) in 6-10’. Weedless jigs (1/16) tipped with ½ crawlers, medium leeches or fatheads. Also, the lightest Ned jig tipped with small ½ plastic Ned worm or tiniest rubber craw you can find work great also.

Musky: Good – Bucktails and top-water best over cabbage beds early and late in the day. Good numbers of fish moving in the mornings. Late mornings work outside coontail of 12-18’ using rubber baits parallel to edges.

Northern Pike: Good – Casting chatterbaits and spinnerbaits over weed tops. Fish more active of late.

Crappies: Fair-Good – Some better reports as anglers finding Crappies working tall narrow leaf cabbage in 8-12’. 2” Twisters, Kalins Crappie Scrubs and 2” Ripple Shads to locate. Slips and small minnows to zero in.

Walleye: Fair – Varying reports from anglers fishing deep rock finding fish on larger lakes and flowages to some finding weed and wood fish in water from 10 to as shallow as 4’. Crawlers and leeches first choice, but redtails, black chubs, as well as jigging twister tails also producing!

Forecast for drizzle and clouds July 12th-14th with highs in low to mid-70’s should make things comfortable for the week. With stable temps and some shield from the sun looking to see some better Walleye and Crappie action.

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 07-18-23:

The cool/hot weather pattern for the summer of 2023 continues. This week…cool. Air temps at night in low 50’s has cooled lake surface temps into low 70’s to upper 60’s. Fishing somewhat affected, but not overly.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – A bit of a drop in action, smaller Bass on average, less willing to commit (like most males)! Smaller Wacky Worms (4”:3”), as well as a simple crawler or leech below a slip-float. Cool mornings tough, but evenings better for top-water action on plastic frogs and spiders in calm shadows.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Off-shore gravel/rock humps topping at 14-22’. Ned rigs, drop-shots and football jigs with plastic creatures or craws. Also finding Smallies along outside weed lines of coontail in 14-18’ taking big leeches.

Bluegill: Good – Active in 8-10’ weeds. Typical worm/small leeches. Tiny jigs tipped with waxies also productive!

Yellow Perch: Good – Better mid-morning on as water warms a bit. Finding nice Perch of 8-11” in cabbage of 8-12’. Beavertails (small night crawlers) under slip-floats best. Medium fats also working.

Northern Pike: Good – Working chubs or suckers on jigs with wire leaders through dense weeds on cool mornings. As temps rise, casting spinnerbaits and chatterbaits over same weed tops best.

Musky: Good-Fair – Bucktails over cabbage beds mid-morning on. Top-water towards dusk.

Crappies: Fair – Scattered through tall curly leaf cabbage in 10-14’. Tiny twister tails, Charlie Bees and Crappie Thumpers working to locate. Finish up with small minnows fished at weed top level.

Walleye: Fair – Night time trollers on deep clear lakes using deep diving (14-20’) cranks. Lighted slip-floats over gravel humps baited with crawlers or leeches. Redtails along weed edges of 10-14’ in the early AM.

The “cool” has slowed some early morning action, but the overall bite is not bad. If fishing early, slow down size bait/lure to induce bites.

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

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 07-25-23:

Summer is heating up…again…here in the Northwoods! Following some cool mornings last week, temps are rising into the upper 80’s this week, pushing lake surface temps up with them. This warming trend should put the bites back into early mornings and evenings more than the previous week when cool mornings held bites off until mid/late AM.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Top-water action in the evenings has been getting good reports as anglers finding active fish hitting Whopper Ploppers, Jitterbugs, Frogs and Buzzbaits. Pre-rigged plastic worms, twitchbaits (Husky Jerks) and Wacky Worms getting the nod mornings and afternoons.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Sandgrass flats, off-shore humps, rock slides holding good numbers and size. Drop-shotting Z-Man Craws and 3” Gulp Alive Minnows, as well as Ned rigging, has scored nice Smallies this past week from those targeting these fighters. Simple slip-floating hair jigs or large leeches along coontail edges in 14-18’ of water also producing nice fish of 16-19”.

Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Daytime work weed tops of cabbage flats in 8-10’ using Mini-Mites, 1” twisters or small leeches under small slip-floats. Evenings fish poppers on the surface around calm shores.

Yellow Perch: Good – Heat has Perch action picking up. Both cabbage flats, and on deeper lakes sand grass flats, Perch taking beaver tails or pieces of crawlers. On Flowages, target drowned wood using slip-floats with medium fatheads or beaver tails.

Musky: Good – Action picking up on top-water (Dr. Evils, Pacemakers, Flaptails and Fat monkeybutts), as well as bucktails, over weed flats. Musky seem to be found all over, in water as shallow as 2-3’ and out along deep weeds (coontail) in 18-20’. Deeper fish responding to rubber baits.

Crappie: Good – Weed tops in 10-14’ using Kalin Crappie Scrubs or other 2” twister style plastics. Fish are scattered, picking up fish here and there.

Northern Pike: Fair – A recent drop off in activity by most reports. Live chubs and suckers on weedless jigs or below floats when Pike not willing to chase spinnerbaits or chatterbaits.

Walleye: Fair – Some signs of scattered late Mayfly hatches could be a reason for the “soft” Walleye reports. Crawlers, redtails and the largest leeches available to tempt during small windows of activity.

Scattered weather in the form of small showers and warming water is a bit of an inconvenience, but should help spur some good action for both Bass species and Musky this week.

Mark adds: “With water temps moving towards 80*, please take great care in handling the muskies!!! Hopefully once this heat wave diminishes, water temps will stay below that 80* mark allowing for easier handling. Good luck!!!”

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

Mark