Minocqua Area Report – 2024

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 01-01-24:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welcome to 2024!!!

We’re slowly sliding back into a “second” early ice season. Despite warnings to the contrary, some anglers got out on the ice and continued to fish. Things got dicey with shorelines pulling out 1-2’ from banks (some even further), some open water Musky fishing and water skiing was also witnessed (Trout Lake). But as nights have gotten colder (and the days since 12/30) ice is firming up and slowly building. It would be nice to get some sub-zero temps, but the forecast only shows teens for the first 12 days of 2024.

Walleye: Good-Very Good – Most reports on tip-ups using suckers and shiners as anglers not willing to do as much hole jumping with jigging raps, rattlin raps and hyper glides. Not that jigging hasn’t been working, it has for those willing to do, but the less walking on 3-4” of spongy ice the better. Nice catches before dusk and pre-dawn, still most in 6-12’ weeds.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Nice catches using large suckers and river shiners. Nothing out of the usual, live green weeds in 5-10’ best. Nice fish to 36” reported this past week with the best, a 38” caught and released on Friday (12/29).

Crappies: Good-Very Good – This species being found actively biting (except 12/28) in both weeds and in open basins. The basins have not been as accessible due to thinner ice (2”) so most activity has been weed related. Tip-downs with Crappie minnows or small rosies, as well as rocker style jigs with white, pink and yellow plastics. Jigs with blades such as Lethal Cecils and Tikka Flash tipped with waxies also producing well!

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Not typically targeted, but moving the needle in a big way! Several reports of Bass in the 18-20”+ range caught and released by anglers using medium shiners on tip-ups, as well as those jigging spoons tipped with waxies or minnow heads. The warm temps always seem to bring out the best in Largemouth activity, with no real “cold” days on the forecast, expect good action to continue.

Yellow Perch: Good – Anglers looking for Gills finding Perch in 6-10’ weed flats taking #3 tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or waxies. No jumbos being reported but nice eaters in the 8-9 ½” range. Also picking some up on tip-downs baited with minnows for Crappies.

Bluegill: Good – Once past Thursday’s high-pressure system, Gills once again biting well on small, dark jigs (black, red, green) tipped with red spikes or dark colored plastics. While most attention is spent in weeds of 5-10’, a few anglers (where ice is thick enough) finding suspended Gills in 20-25’ basins.

Thankfully, no reports, that I’ve heard of locally, of people breaking through the ice. While things will be getting better from here on out for a while, caution is still advised. Most ice reports have gone from 2-4” mid-week up to the 3-5” mark, some small lakes with 6”. Can’t recommend vehicle travel of any kind. Creepers are essential for safely walking and safety spikes and flotation suits or throw cushions still a must. Looks like we will be getting our ice back, not quickly, but enough to have an ice fishing season.

Upcoming Tournaments
Jan 6th – 73rd Annual Rib Lake Area Ice Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
Jan 6th – 16th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Nokomis
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake

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 01-09-24:

Ice continues to build here in the Northwoods. We have been fortunate to be just north of the heavy snow falling on the lower ¾’s of the state, this will keep the insulation off the lakes up here and allow more ice to build.

Walleye: Very Good-Good – Low light level times best using shiners amongst cabbage flats of 8-12’ in the mornings. Switch to outside weed edges (12-16’), off-shore humps of gravel/rock using suckers on tip-ups or jigging Raps, Rippin Raps, Z-Darters or Tikka Minnows towards and right after dusk.

Crappie: Very Good-Good – Better reports from anglers fishing basins of 22-27’ using tip-downs baited with rosies or crappie minnows or jigging Kenders T-Rips, Kastmaster spoons or Clam Tikka Flash tipped with waxies. For Crappies still holding in weeds (10-14’ Narrow leaf cabbage), Little Cecil spoons, Euro Tackle Z-Vibers, Kenders K-Rips and tip-down/minnow set ups all working well.

Northern Pike: Very Good-Good – Lots of good action and some nice Pike in the 8-12’ of weeds. Big shiners and suckers as per usual with fish to 34” reported this weekend. A pair of anglers jigging Raps and Chubby Darters on thin wire leaders reported fun action working baits at weed tops in 8-10’.

Bluegill: Good – While most reports were of good numbers, but lots of sorting for size, a few anglers did better by leaving the crowds behind. Most action in 8-12’ weeds using #3 and #4 tungsten jigs tipped with waxies, spikes and the rare moussee. Others finding BIG Gills (10-11”) over mud basins in 20-25’ of water using small tungsten jigs with hair, tipped with moussees. Anglers targeting these big Gills using select harvest (and sneaky approaches) to maintain these populations of such special fish.

Yellow Perch: Good – While not the numbers (or the effort), nice Perch (9-11”) in shallow weed flats of 6-9’ on jigs shaped like small Gills (Z-Vibes, K-Rips, T-Rips) tipped with waxies. Also a few reports of Perch starting to show over mud (14-18’) on wigglers presented on Hali style spoons.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Temps above 20 degrees seem to be best for Largemouth. Some very nice fish to 20” caught this past week, mostly by anglers targeting Pike or panfish in 6-12’ weeds.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Rarely seen in the winter, but providing some added fun for anglers, especially those jigging for Walleyes over gravel/rock humps. Fun on a jig rod.

With light snow and cold temps ice thickness is coming along nicely. Most anglers reporting 6-8”+. We are seeing more ATV, UTV and snowmobile use on the lakes. Still use caution on the big lakes (Fence, Trout, Big Crawling Stone, Tomahawk) as these were still open just two weeks ago and are just now getting 2-4”’s of ice reports.

While snow is still a concern at this stage, forecast show temperature lows below zero and highs in the single digits for Sunday (1/14) thru Wed (1/12) that should put some nice finishing touches on our lakes and get us into the 12” plus range by the following weekend.

Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake

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 01-16-24:

Don’t look now, but winter is here! Halfway through January and the cold and snow has finally arrived. Here, up North, the snow wasn’t too much, 3-4” of light stuff. The cold and windchill on the other hand is substantial. Temps in the double digits below zero at night and wind chills of 20-30 below kept a lot of anglers off the ice by Saturday (1/13). Prior to that, fishing was very good, especially Friday before the front hit. Ice conditions are improving fairly rapidly with the sub-zero temps. As much as this weekend hurt, it will only make things better for the remainder of January into February.

Crappie: Very Good-Poor – Reports on Thurs/Fri (1/11-12) were hot! Anglers could do no wrong working basin Crappies in 22-30’ of water 3-5’ off the bottom. Small flashy spoons (Kastmasters, Flash Champs, Bull Spoons) as well as #3 Ultralight Rippin Raps, T-Rips and Tikka Flash lures, even not “scented up” with bait were being inhaled. Once the storm hit, that bite, along with angler participation shut down. There is still a portion of the Crappie population holding in 9-14’ weeds that are taking slow dropped plastics or grubs.

Northern Pike: Very Good-Poor – As with the other fish, Pike had been active. Weeds in 5-10’ were holding Pike, but even this bite shut down with the front. As always, big shiners and suckers on tip-ups.

Walleye: Very Good-Poor – Bite here started to slip mid-week, only to get a bump Friday morn (1/12) before really closing down. Expect more fish to move out deeper as ice thickens and rely on typical off shore humps and even some down in mud basins to feed. Suckers usually do better in these instances as well as jigging Raps.

Yellow Perch: Good-Poor – Starting to show up more in catches as more anglers moving out over mud in 15-25’. Wigglers on pimples, Kastmasters, Hallis and bull spoons. Still some nice weed fish in 5-12’ taking tiny Bluegill shaped lures, K-Rips, T-Rips and Tikka Flash. The bite also died, but should pick up this coming weekend.

Bluegill: Good-Poor – Just like everything else on report, was good, then slammed shut. Weed fish in 5-12’ on tear drop style jigs baited with waxies and mousses. Some nice Gills being found over mud basins of 15-25’ on heavier tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or mousses.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Poor – Once temps get much below 20 degrees LMB seem to bite less. Very few anglers target anyways, but they are a fun mix to anyone jigging and tip-up fishing weeds.

Getting reports of anglers finding 8-9” of ice as of early yesterday morning (1/15). Not only that, but the bite was surprisingly good (Wife filled the bird feeders twice!) So even though I doubted the mental capacity of those going out in that cold and wind, I don’t doubt that the fish bit as the barometer rose. With more lows in single below zero temps and not cracking teens for high until Saturday, we should see plenty of 10-13” of ice (to be on the conservative side) by the weekend.

Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake

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 01-23-24:

With the number of sub-zero nights we had last week, several in negative teens, we disappointedly did not get all the ice I thought for sure we would have by now. Seems what snow we did get from the previous “storm” (3-4”) was enough to insulate the lakes and slow ice production.

I conservatively predicted 10-12” by last Fri/Sat. Unfortunately, most reports were of 7-10” (I found 9” on two separate lakes) with a few well-trodden lakes supporting up to 12-12 ½”. There were even reports of open water last week on Trout, Tomahawk, Fence, Big Crawling Stone and an open rift from Rock Island to North Bay on the Willow Flowage. Some of these areas froze over during last Thursday’s cold, windless morning (1/18), but should still be traveled with extreme caution.

Northern Pike: Poor-Good – A few nice fish reported over the weekend following days of very few anglers out due to cold. Tip-ups with large shiners or suckers, no real secrets here, work weed beds of 6-12’ with green weeds.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Very small windows of activity. Best over basins of 22-30’ of water. Small Kastmasters, Pinhead jigs, Tikka Flash and T-Rips tipped with waxies. Fish spotted suspended 4-8’ off bottom, selective bite. If not interested in above spoons, drop small (#3) tungsten jigs w/hair and single spike to coax bites. With warm up on the way, tip-downs with small minnows should do better.

Bluegill: Poor-Fair – Lots of “lookers”. Barometer must have fish “spooky” as lots of reports of fish on the screen, but not biting. Tiny jigs (#2.5 Fiskas, #12 Rockers) in dull finishes tipped with single red or colored spike teased some bites. As the week moves on and temps warm, expect better action in weeds of 6-10’ but also look for suspended Gill over sandgrass or mud in 18-26’.

Yellow Perch: Poor-Fair – Like Gills, two places to find. Weed fish in 6-10’ taking Northland Forage Minnows and Z-Vibes loaded with waxies. Also, the mud flat bite is slowly, but surely, picking up as a few anglers are reporting some action over mud basins of 20-30’ using Halis tipped with wigglers or red spikes. Bang the mud to create a disturbance and watch closely on your flasher for Perch to move in.

Largemouth Bass: Poor-Fair – A few reports over the weekend as temps got into mid-teens. Watch as this species will get active as weather warms. Medium shiners on tip-ups, Jiggin Raps and Rippin Raps in the cabbage of 6-10’.

Walleye: Poor-Fair – Bite fell off during week, started to slowly pick up by weekend. Most bites at dusk over sandgrass or along deep weed edges as Walleyes move up for the night. Walleye suckers, medium river shiners on tip-ups. A few reports of Walleye taking #3 Jiggin Raps fished over sandgrass of 16-18’ on 1/21, two hours before dusk.

Super cold, super high pressure, super low pressure and the dreaded east-southeast wind all seemed to put a damper on this past week’s bite. Things looking up as the forecast shows milder temps and more westerly winds. No major cold to help with what has to be the least amount of ice we’ve seen in the Northwoods this late in the season.

As stated, expect to find 7-10” averages (some as little as 4” others to 12”) with 1-2” of slush between the ice and 3” of snow. Snowmobiles and ATV use has been fine so far, some UTV where ice 8”+, but definitely no trucks, don’t risk your life or anyone else’s! Wise to keep a float suit or life preserver on if venturing out to unknown or big water.

Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake

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 01-23-24:

What a month for mid-winter. Typically, by the end of January, we would see 30-34” of ice and at least a foot or more of snow. This year, as January winds down to its end, we are looking at 7-12” of ice (as little as 4-5” on Trout) and no real snow, just slush (1-4”). Fishing, though typically tougher in mid-winter, seems to be holding its own. Sure we’re seeing a drop-off in action, as is the norm, but the lack of snow cover and lack of ice thickness, allowing more light for remaining aquatic plants to produce oxygen, is helping some with activity.

Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Pike action picked up as the week went on. Nothing special here, big shiners and suckers attracting the biggest fish.

Crappie: Fair-Good – May be due to the lack of ice, but there seems to continue to be a two “story” fishery. Anglers fishing green, tall narrow leaf cabbage in 10-12’ slow dropping Lethal Cecils, Shrimpos and rockers tipped with waxies. At the same time, a large portion of the Crappie population suspending over deeper basins in 22-30’ of water. Clam Pinheads, Tikka Flash as well as #4 glow tungsten jigs tipped with waxies. In both areas, tip-downs with small rosies or regular Crappie minnows doing well.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Perch seem to be concentrating together in deeper water. Gold or glow Kastmasters, Pimples and Halis tipped with wigglers (when available) best over mud of 20-30’. Shallower flats (12-18) seem to have smaller fish in most cases. Anglers finding some Perch in broad leaf cabbage flats of 7-10’ using Bluegill shaped jigs tipped with waxies.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good – Liking the warm weather, LMB showing up on tip-ups and jigging spoons in and along weed flats.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Gill catches vary. Several days last week, Gills (and other species) were “present” but not biting except for small windows of time, usually just an hour before dusk. Things improving as we seem to be moving away from full moon phase.

Walleye: Poor-Good – With green weeds still present in depths of 8-12’ – good places to set up tip-ups with medium shiners just before dusk. Humps sporting sandgrass or rock bringing fish in the evenings as well.

Overall fishing picking up from the lows of the previous week. Not first ice good, but probably better than most end of January.

Forecast have 14 straight days of temps above freezing (34-45 degrees) with all but two nights with temps below (23-27 degrees). We won’t make ice during this time, but shouldn’t lose either. The tops of most lakes have slush ranging from 1-4”. On some lakes the water has drained off. Either way, water proof (rubber) boots, cleats, picks and floatation gear should be part of your “attire”. With some luck and a little cold we can have a full February of ice fishing in the Northwoods.

Only five weekends remain of the inland gamefish season, so make the most of it!

Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sports Shop – Like us on Facebook

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 01-30-24:

What a month for mid-winter. Typically, by the end of January, we would see 30-34” of ice and at least a foot or more of snow. This year, as January winds down to its end, we are looking at 7-12” of ice (as little as 4-5” on Trout) and no real snow, just slush (1-4”). Fishing, though typically tougher in mid-winter, seems to be holding its own. Sure we’re seeing a drop-off in action, as is the norm, but the lack of snow cover and lack of ice thickness, allowing more light for remaining aquatic plants to produce oxygen, is helping some with activity.

Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Pike action picked up as the week went on. Nothing special here, big shiners and suckers attracting the biggest fish.

Crappie: Fair-Good – May be due to the lack of ice, but there seems to continue to be a two “story” fishery. Anglers fishing green, tall narrow leaf cabbage in 10-12’ slow dropping Lethal Cecils, Shrimpos and rockers tipped with waxies. At the same time, a large portion of the Crappie population suspending over deeper basins in 22-30’ of water. Clam Pinheads, Tikka Flash as well as #4 glow tungsten jigs tipped with waxies. In both areas, tip-downs with small rosies or regular Crappie minnows doing well.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Perch seem to be concentrating together in deeper water. Gold or glow Kastmasters, Pimples and Halis tipped with wigglers (when available) best over mud of 20-30’. Shallower flats (12-18) seem to have smaller fish in most cases. Anglers finding some Perch in broad leaf cabbage flats of 7-10’ using Bluegill shaped jigs tipped with waxies.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good – Liking the warm weather, LMB showing up on tip-ups and jigging spoons in and along weed flats.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Gill catches vary. Several days last week, Gills (and other species) were “present” but not biting except for small windows of time, usually just an hour before dusk. Things improving as we seem to be moving away from full moon phase.

Walleye: Poor-Good – With green weeds still present in depths of 8-12’ – good places to set up tip-ups with medium shiners just before dusk. Humps sporting sandgrass or rock bringing fish in the evenings as well.

Overall fishing picking up from the lows of the previous week. Not first ice good, but probably better than most end of January.

Forecast have 14 straight days of temps above freezing (34-45 degrees) with all but two nights with temps below (23-27 degrees). We won’t make ice during this time, but shouldn’t lose either. The tops of most lakes have slush ranging from 1-4”. On some lakes the water has drained off. Either way, water proof (rubber) boots, cleats, picks and floatation gear should be part of your “attire”. With some luck and a little cold we can have a full February of ice fishing in the Northwoods.

Only five weekends remain of the inland gamefish season, so make the most of it!

Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua

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 02-13-24:

Once again there was much concern in regards to the Northwoods ice conditions following last weeks temps that cracked the 50 degree mark on Thursday (2/8). It definitely is correct to be worried as pressure cracks (Willow, Rainbow Flowages) and open water areas (North Trout, Squirrel) and areas of thin ice (South Trout – 4-5”). On the other hand, we’ve had below freezing temps since Friday (2/9) and the sounds of “making” ice can be heard at night and mornings.

Ice thickness has been measured on many area lakes at 6-10” with 7 ½ – 8 ½ being the most common. No matter where you go, always check, especially along shorelines by walking out and drilling first. Usually (but not always) the shoreline ice has been thinner than ice out towards the middle.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Lots of action on tip-ups baited with large shiners and suckers in depths from as little as 4’ out to 14’ where weeds are found. Good numbers and some very nice fish in the 30-36” range this past week. Let some of those big girls (30”+) go to grow and pass on those good genetics!

Crappie: Very Good-Good – The bite slowed on Sunday (2/11) and Monday (2/12) a bit. Action could still be found in 11-13” weeds but Crappies held tight to bottom those mornings. Coaxing bites with tungsten jigs (5’s & 6’s due to wind) tipped with plastics (pink, yellow, white) best. Basin fish (20-34’) moving rather quickly, most being caught 4-6’ off bottom using “blingy” type jigs and spoons to lure fish up to bite, followed up by a more subdued tungsten jig to deliver a subtle piece of plastic or grub to seal the deal. Lots of reports of good action with some 14-15” slabs to brag about.

Bluegill: Good-Very Good (size) – As with Crappies, anglers finding weed relating fish in 6-10’ using tungsten jigs to deliver waxies, spikes and plastics (red, motor oil, black and purple) to hold their lines down in the wind. Nice catches with enough 7 ½ – 8 ½“ ers for a meal or two. Others plying open water Gills in 20-34’ finding large Gills (8-11”, yes, I saw the pics) suspending 4-8’ off bottom taking large size 6mm tungsten jigs to offer spikes and dark plastics!

Yellow Perch: Good – Lots of action Perch, seemingly all over weed flats (4-10’) adjoining mud flats (12-18’) but you really need to sort through for the keepers (8-11”). Off shore over sandgrass humps (18-22’) or mud bottoms (20-30’) using Halis, Pimples and Kastmasters to get wigglers down has been most effective for better average eaters.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Conditions over the weekend slowed from what was a good week during the warm spell. Jigging with Raps, Tikka Minnows and Slender spoons in 9-12’ along weed edges at dusk. Tip-ups with suckers best from 4:30 PM through 6:30 PM, then another bite about 10:00 PM.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Lots of reports earlier in the week, quieted down by windy weekend. Medium shiners in cabbage of 8-12’. Jigging with Bluegill shaped lures (Forage Minnows, Chubby Darters, K-Rips) also picking up fish for the rod & reel gang

Bullheads: Poor – What happened to our Bullhead reports? Someone isn’t trying hard enough to score…or they are staying tight lipped so as not to see a rush on these tasty mid-winter treats!

Forecast, forecast, forecast…
What do they know? If we can believe it, we may see at least 15 straight nights of sub-freezing temps (some in teens to single digits). Only a few afternoons above freezing in that span. We hear the lakes making ice, as I wrote at the start of this report. If you had asked at the beginning of February, I would have said I doubt we will have ice by the end of the month, but now it looks like things will improve on into March. Still not enough for trucks or large UTV’s as of now, but easy access and good travel by foot (bring creepers), ATV and snowdogs.

Just three weekends left to Wisconsin inland lakes gamefish, so get yourself and your tip-ups out on the ice.

Upcoming Events
Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Feb 24th – Winter free fishing contest – Any Lake – Sponsored by County Line Station
Feb 24th – Kids Ice Fishing Day – Lake Minocqua – Sponsored by Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua

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 02-19-24:

Unfortunately, a cold and windy holiday (President’s Day) weekend greeted anglers who had the time off. Lows in the single digits with winds in the upper teens to upper 20’s made things feel worse. Lots of anglers still gave it their best (considering we are not accustomed to such “brutally” cold weather this winter). Action overall dipped, still some fish being caught, just a bit slower and harder to do over the past week.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Weed bite (8-13’) tougher as ability to move about in wind and detect light bites a chore. Crappies held tight to bottom, use tungsten jigs to get bait to hold – plastics in pink, yellow, silver or waxies best. Deadstick inside shacks with Crappie minnows picking up some fish. Basin Crappies over 22-32’ responding to Kastmasters, Tikka Flashes and #5 or #6 mm tungsten in glow tipped with waxies. Fish on the move, with wind it was reported to sit and wait for them to return rather than chase. Use a flashy spoon to draw attention, then have second rod ready with a subtle offering if fish seem spooky.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A noticeable slow down from the past few weeks. Mornings not as good as afternoons (watch for moonrise times, thanks Shelly)! Not much for signs of heavy feeding but that will come. Some nice fish of 31-34” this weekend with most on large shiners and suckers on tip-ups.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Surprisingly better Gills in deep water (28-34’) with a number of fish in the 9-10+” range (measured w/ photos). Heavy tungsten jigs (4,5 & 6 mm) to get down baited with red spikes or red, motor oil or black plastic. Weed Bluegills tougher to pin point. Should improve with warm up, but over the weekend tighter lipped. Taking jigs tipped with waxies, the smallest you could fish with in the wind.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Mud, deeper sandgrass Perch in 18-30’. Wigglers on #2 Pimples, Halis or Z-Rips. Best very early AM or late afternoon. Some reports of Perch relating to sandgrass flats in 16-22’ being caught on jigs tipped with small minnows. Still some nicer Perch in weeds taking waxies on small sunfish shaped jigs (T-Rips, Tikka Flash). Anglers haunted by “ghost” flags reporting bigger Perch (10-12”) on smaller shiners on their tip-ups.

Walleye: Fair – Despite some nicer fish reported (up to 27”) this weekend, bite for the most part (some exceptions) from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Suckers along the deepest weed edges (8-12’) and over humps supporting sandgrass or rock. Little jigging action (cold?).

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Poor – Cold likely culprit for reduced reports. Watch for spike mid-week as temps climb into 40’s. Medium golden shiners best.

Bullheads: Poor – Second weekend without a Bullhead report – step it up people!

With cold and little snow on ice, conditions getting better as most reports have 8-15” of ice on most lakes. Caution still advised especially on spots on the Rainbow and Willow Flowages as well as North Trout and an incident that raises some concern on White Sand Lake on the Lac Du Flambeau Reservation.

Now to the guessing portion of our report…If we can believe the forecast (pause for laughter to subside) we will only have one night in the next 15 above freezing (good for making or not losing ice). Fourteen of the next 15 days our highs will be above freezing (2/21 to 48 degrees), not great, but not enough to get worried. But seven of those 15 days will be above 40 degrees. With that said, we should still have safe, fishable ice as the last two weeks of the Inland gamefish season ends at Midnight, March 3rd. Shanty’s (North of Hwy 64) off by March 17th.

Upcoming Events
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Feb 24th – Kids Ice Fishing Day – Lake Minocqua – Sponsored by Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua

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 02-26-24:

Just one week left to the inland gamefish season here in the Northwoods. Lines out of the water at 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 3rd!

Thanks to a couple more single digit mornings last week, we may have some of the best ice we’ve had all season, reports and personal measurements are ranging from 10-15” with 11-13” the most common. Even had a report of 11” on South Trout! Last week at bat for gamefish so we will start there…

Walleye: Fair-Good – Tough with high pressure, but evenings picked up by Sunday night (2/25). Jigging Raps, Tikka Minnows and Slab Raps produced fish in the upper teen to mid-20” range. Tip-ups with suckers seemed best after dark. Most reports from off shore humps and sand bars, though weed edges in 9-14’ also picking up evening traffic.

Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Following a slow down of action, Pike activity also improved as of 2/25. Big baits to deter smaller Bass and Pike preferred. Pike suckers and large shiners. Mornings still slower (could be single digit temps) but improve as things warm.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Action best on warmer days. Medium shiners on tip-ups, but a #3 pimple loaded with waxies will also work. Anglers using tip-downs with small minnows also reporting catching Bass – try small golden shiners if Bass are your target on tip-downs.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Like everything else, action came late in the weekend. Anglers reported hardest part keeping lines in the water. Nice Gills (7 ½+”) in weeds of 5-9’. Others finding Gills over basins of smaller lakes (less than 500 acres) using tungsten to get (and keep) waxies, spikes or mousses down to the fish.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Most reports from anglers fishing weeds of 5-12’ for other panfish scoring on nice “eaters” of
8– 9 ½” on jigs with waxies or deadsticks and minnows. Get just outside of the weeds into mud and lots of little ones. Deeper mud flats (20-30’) providing some nice fish on spoons with wigglers.

Crappie: Fair – Best over basins of 22-34’. Be patient as schools seem to be on the move. Small, flashy lures to attract – Tikka Flash, Jointed Pin Heads and small Kastmasters, then a more subtle approach at times to trigger shy fish.

A few Burbot being caught by night time Walleye anglers. Not much on Whitefish. Nothing on Bullheads.

Forecast: I had down 58 hours of temps above freezing and 72 hours below through Saturday. Aboves in 50’s at times, lows in single digits (one 17-hour stretch) bracketed by temps in teens mid-week to firm things up. Dare I say ice should hold through the weekend, but if we don’t get more cold snaps in March, it may not last long.

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 03-05-24:

The inland gamefish season is over! The warm winter of 23/24 continues to confound anglers with unseasonably warm weather and ice thickness far less than we’ve ever seen at this time of year. Temps in the 50’s and even 60’s followed by lows in the Sub-Zero range this past week made ice safety a real concern. As of this writing March 5th, ice is still good on most lakes averaging 8 to 10 in thick but access to the good ice is deteriorating.

Use caution anywhere you are ice fishing from here on out. Access with Southern or Southeastern exposures are the first to pull away. Northern exposures, those with South shores that get the least sun hold ice the longest. It was better than usual during the last weekend of the game fish season. Nice catches of walleye to 26″ and Northern Pike 36 to 37″ reported and largemouth bass several of the 18 to 20 inch kind were caught and released.
Thanks to the teams for Winneconne, Neenah, Slinger, Kettle Moraine and Rosholt for helping gather such great reports during our 6th annual K.I.S.S. High School ice fishing tournament this past Saturday, great anglers and great sports people!!!

Crappies. Very good > Best bite very early morning from dawn till 8:30 a.m. then again in the late afternoons. Basin fishing shined on tip downs using small fathead minnows or rosies. Flashy jigs or spoons such as pinheads and Tika flashes produced best tipped with wax worms. For shallower anglers, 8 to 13 ft weeds while slow dropping lightweight spoons tipped with waxes or plastics plenty of nice 10 to 12 inch fish with lots of slabs of 13 to 14 in being caught.

Bluegills. Very good > Early morning through mid-morning and again mid-afternoon till dusk. Nice girls in the seven to nine and a half inch range with averages of 7″ to 8″, 3 mm tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or mousies or plastics to invest. Jigs with hair on seem to also convince the hesitant biters. While weeds and 6 to 10 ft seem to best reports of larger gills 8 and 1/2 to 10 in coming from over deeper water of 14 to 18 ft.

Yellow perch. Good to very good > Mud bite just outside weeds in 14 to 18 ft using spoons such as pimples, Kastmasters to deliver wigglers or red spikes best. Nice eaters in that 8-10 range just a few reports of larger fish.

Having checked ice this morning March 5th my guess is there will be opportunities throughout portions of the Northwoods to ice fish through the upcoming weekend. Walking only, use creepers, take safety spikes wear flotation and take a friend. Be very careful, travel light. We will continue to monitor the ice this week, so check our Facebook page and website for updates.

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 03-08-24:

ICE UPDATE: Despite some cold nights and the sounds of ice firming up through the night into the early mornings our ice season is coming to a close.
Still, I measured 9 1/2″ on Wednesday evening on one lake with a southern access but other reports of lakes without a base of clear black ice are coming in. Some lakes with 7-8″ of ice have no black ice and are crumbling easily with a couple pokes of a spud bar or just the weight of anglers.

Two men broke through (and were successfully rescued) on the Willow Flowage yesterday (3/7) walking out from the sand landing. Shorelines on the North shores of lakes pulling away. Some anglers using planks to access but on warm afternoons. These areas can get wider so it’s not advisable.
This weekend we will have mostly sub-freezing weather, 53 hours of below freezing versus 19 above but by Monday /Tuesday next week (3/11-3/12) with forecast into the low ’60s that will end all if not almost all access. It’s been a different season to say the least but best to stay safe and leave things until the ice is out at this point.

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 03-11-24:

We can put a fork in the ice season (or a chisel, spike, cleat, whatever your favorite euphemism would be).

While spots out on certain lakes still had fishable ice by Friday (3/8), even the weekend’s cold weather couldn’t hold up against the wind. Shorelines are pulling away. Ice (even when 6-8” was found) is not strong, crumbling under just a couple chisel strokes. The next 40+ hours will be above freezing with some temps in the 50’s even possible 60’s with cooler weather the following week, things look to be just enough for neither ice nor boat anglers to be able to get out and fish panfish.

Without abilities to fish locally, this fishing report will suspend until there is something to write about.

Keep the evening of April 8th open to attend your local Conservation Congress Spring Hearings. This is your chance to voice your opinion on subjects that affect you, the outdoors people! Your support (or non-support) helps the Natural Resource Board to direct the Department of Natural Resources as to upcoming rules and regulations that affect us. Remember, a non-vote is like a ½ vote for the opinion you have, so share.

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

Mark

PS > There is lots of open water all the way up to the MI border from the last two to three days. Even Tomahawk Lake is mostly open at this time. Whether your favorite lake is open currently, I don’t really know, but more of it is probably open than what you can get your boat to depending on the landing’s location.

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 04-22-24:

We’re back…

Per usual, April showed us what April can be. Cold and wind this past week disrupted the nice warm up that seemed to be occurring. With limited options to the fishing here in the Northwoods (panfish and catch & release Bass) what was a slowly improving bite came to a crashing halt.

No worries, not a lot of anglers take advantage of the super early open water opportunities for panfish at times like these. But it can be productive under the right conditions.

On warming day, with air temps in the 50’s and 60’s, Crappies and Gills will congregate in the shallows to warm themselves and feed on invertebrates (Perch have or will be spawning further out away from these areas). These Gills and Crappies are not spawning, as some think, just collecting heat to help with the development of their eggs. These fish can be in as little as one foot of water and very spooky. Stay as far back as a long cast will allow to offer up waxies, leaf worms, small minnows or tiny tube jigs. Heavy, weighted floats, such as Rocket Bobbers, will help with these casts.

Forecast of highs in the 50’s, maybe low 60’s with bright sun will be best.

We are extending our line sale through April 28th, so take advantage and get freshly spooled.

As a reminder, the Lake Tomahawk/Lake Minocqua Chain will NOT be open to hook and line angling for Walleye at the time of the opener. In fact, if the LDF tribe does not spear Walleyes (they have not as of this writing) then the chain will remain closed until the 2025 opener.

As Walleyes For Tomorrow has asked in the past, please refrain from targeting Walleyes on the chain as we continue to work to rehabilitate the population.

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 04-29-24:

On the cusp of the 2024 opener! First opener in three seasons we haven’t been concerned with ice out. For the most part Walleye spawning is done. Water temps are averaging 43-46 degrees. Cool nights (in the 30’s) has kept the warmer days from heating up too quickly. We have received some rain, not as much as we need but enough to bring lake and Flowage levels up.

Walleye anglers for the opener should for the most part be targeting post spawn Walleyes. This is a time where your temperature gauge on your electronics becomes very important. Differences in 1-2 degrees surface temp, from one side of a lake to another, can make all the difference in fish activity. Wind will push the warmest water (at the surface) across lakes lowering the temperature or the lee side while raising the temperature on the windward side and having a distinct effect on fish activity at this time of year.

Look for any newly emerging green weeds in 2-8’ of water. This is where insects and minnows will be that draws these hungry post spawn Walleyes in to feed. A light weight 1/32-1/16 oz jig tipped with a lively fathead minnow, dace, chub or even leech as the water warms into the low 50’s will work great. Slip-bobbers rig with the same live baits as well as shallow running stick baits in the 3-4” length such as floating Rapalas, Storm Jr Thundersticks and Smithwick Rattlin Rouges are also a great choice. Just Work these shallow running baits just over the new weed tops.

Northern Pike should also be actively feeding as it’s also the post spawn period for them. The earlier mentioned stick baits as well as 3-4” swimbaits or a good ol’ jig and chub on a wire leader is always a good choice.

Yellow Perch will also be post spawn. Typically, the larger Perch will be scattered throughout green weeds. They really love dragonfly larvae, but will eat minnows, leeches and crawlers just as well.

Crappies have mostly been holding out in 6-8’ of water unless warm sunny days pull them into the 1-2’ shallows. Tiny tubes, hair jigs or small minnows have been working best. Any wood in the water will help collect some heat and draw them in a little better.

Bluegills have been seen sunning themselves on warm days in the shallows.

Largemouth Bass are working dark mud bottomed areas for the most part, though I did get a report of big LMB holding up on shallow rocks, fish to 20”, where water was warmer.

Smallmouth Bass anglers finding Smallies on rock/gravel breaks using Ned rigs and hair jigs.

Overall, water temp will be key. Forecast for rain/clouds should extend the bite on opening day. Warmer weather on Sunday should bode well for all species as waters start to warm up again.

Walleye Fishing on the Minocqua Chain
As of Friday, April 26th, the Lac Du Flambeau band of Chippewa’s exercised their right to spear the Lake Tomahawk/Minocqua Chain.

So all hook and line anglers understand, there is a process to go through for the DNR to be able to open the catch and keep season for non-tribal harvest. The chain WILL NOT BE OPEN at the start of Walleye opener May 4th.

The DNR is working on getting a special meeting with the Natural Resource Board (NRB) to work out details to open the season. Once this meeting is scheduled, make sure to have your comments heard as to what you’d like to see done (i.e. open season, remain catch & release etc)

Please respect the rules and refrain from keeping Walleyes from the chain until the season opens!

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 05-07-24:

The 2024 Inland Gamefish Opener is in the books. Nice weather, compared to most openers, greeted early morning anglers the first day until the skies opened up late morning. Water temps of 46 degrees (large, deep lakes) to 52 degrees (smaller lakes and flowages) greeted open morning anglers. The urge to go shallow from past experiences (or reading this fishing post) did NOT pan out for most of us. Yet, Walleyes were caught and a LOT of anglers were out on the water!

Walleye: Good – With most bodies of water in the “post spawn” time frame for Walleye, it was expected they would have the feed bag on in the shallows, gorging on young Perch and minnows. While some reports of success on smaller Walleyes in tight, better catches came from somewhat deeper water, many in 12-15’. Many of these fish were full of Mayfly larvae rooted out of the mud. Air temps fell overnight into Sunday, crept up, fell again into Monday then surged with the sunshine to reach into upper 50’s. Activity in the shallower water picked up, not fast and furious, but a show of what’s to come. Live bait in the form of large fatheads, Dace minnows, leeches (and even wigglers on a slip-float) a few anglers found Walleyes hitting #6 Flicker Shads and #6 Shad Raps over 10-15’ flats next to breaks. On larger, cooler lakes, Lindy rigging chubs or suckers (3-5”) in 18-25’ off known spawning habitat worked best.

Northern Pike: Good – Not a lot targeted on purpose, but plenty of incidental catches on minnow/chub and jig presentations. Big River Shiners under a float good at this time of year. As focus spreads from Walleye, we will get more reports.

Crappie: Fair-Good – Very temperature oriented, warm afternoon best. Hanging in 6-10’ weeds, yet moving into shallows at the warmest parts of the day to soak up some sun.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Not much attention, but like Crappies and Gills, moving up tight during warm spells. Wacky worms, jig and creature and swim jigs around shoreline cover.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Few nice Perch (8-10”) picked up by shallow water Walleye anglers. Action should improve as these fish spawned after Walleye and should be getting hungry.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair – Not being targeted. Still catch and release only until June.

Bluegill: Poor-Fair – No reports

While the opener wasn’t as action packed as some others, there is still a very good post spawn bite building.

In other news… Due to an emergency rule meeting with the Natural Resource Board and Department of Natural Resources last Thursday (5/2) and a lightning-fast signing from the Governor’s office, the Lake Tomahawk/Lake Minocqua Chain is open as of this writing (5/7) for hook and line angling for Walleye. Bag limit of 1 (18-22”) on the Chain per day.

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 05-13-24:

Things are looking up for fishing in the Lakeland Area. Following a slow week at times last week (magnetic storm in outer space, how’s that sound?), the forecasted lows seem to be rising, so mornings should get better. Prior it has been afternoons that were better fishing as lake temps would rise, then fall again with the morning’s air temps dropping into the 30’s.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Good reports from Crappie anglers finding pre-spawn (many VERY pre-spawn) Crappies in 7-10’ weeds and shallower at times. Kalin Crappie Scrubs, Charlie Bee’s, Garland Itty Bits and small tube jigs as well as small minnows on slip-floats. Very reliable source also reported Crappies bedding already on a few smaller lakes. Once they’ve committed, these bedders won’t leave. With forecast, expect a lot more similar situations.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Most activity in shallows with dark bottoms on warming afternoons. Wacky Worms, light weighted Ned rigs, 4” plastic worms producing action with nice fish of 18-20” reported.

Bluegill: Good – With no report last week, readers let me know they did in fact find Gills and its only getting better! Mostly in 5-8’ using leafworms, Mini-Mites tipped with waxies or the tiniest of tube jigs. Not warm enough for top-water popper fishing, but one good report from an angler using wet flies.

Northern Pike: Good – As weeds slowly green and grow, anglers finding more opportunities in 6-10’. Spinners (#3-#4 Mepps) spinnerbaits, swimbaits and chub/jig combos. Good action and nice size of 24-30” fish reported.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Not as many targeting (still only catch and release) but some very nice Smallies being caught by anglers using tube jigs, Ned rigs and Jigging Raps/Shiver Minnows along breaks outside of spawning areas. Twitching X-Raps and Husky Jerks working just at the areas where the shallows fall to deep also.

Walleye: Fair-Good – Had a lull last week it seemed. Mornings were toughest with action improving in afternoons. Water temps playing big role, but that looks to level off. Green weeds, jig and bait time. Dace, fats, smaller chubs and even leeches working well. Anglers casting stickbaits (Rapalas, Thundersticks, Rattlin Rouges) also picking up nice catches towards dusk in shallower weeds (7’ less).

Surface temps ranging 52-58 degrees on most lakes. It’s been either windy or flat most days (both on some days). Small fronts moving through bring rain and temperature changes. Look forward to a nice consistent week with lows in the 40’s and highs mid to upper 60’s bringing some consistency. Great time to get out on the water as fishing good, temps nice and bugs low.

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 05-21-24:

Fishing has picked up as we move into the later part of May. For some species, the season seems to have charged ahead of schedule. Water temps range from 54 degrees on larger lakes to 65 degrees on smaller lakes and the dark water of Flowages. Overall averages about 58-62 degrees. With the Memorial holiday weekend and the Musky opener coming up, expect lots of anglers to be out enjoying the good fishing!

Crappie: Excellent – Lots of reports from anglers finding staging, bedding and post spawn Crappies depending on the size and average surface temperature of the lakes. Small plastics such as tubes and Mini-mites fished below floats or without, small grub/spinner combos (beetle spins, Charlie Bees) and the good ol’ Crappie minnow and bobber. Nice catches reported with lots of fish in the 10-12”+ range with slabs up to 15” being caught. Good to see some anglers not pushing the bedded fish and releasing those big slabs.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Excellent – Reports of fish bedding on certain lakes already! Lots of action on staging fish in 8-14’ using swimbaits (Keitech Swing Impact, Berkley Ripple Shads), Wacky worms, Ned rigs, tubes and jerkbaits. Nice fish of 18-20” reported this past weekend. Catch and Release only on Smallies.

Bluegill: Very Good – Not bedding as some would think (temps need to get higher) but good numbers of nice fish in the shallow weeds of 4-8’. Tiny tubes, Mini-mites, small leeches and leaf worms. Nice fish in the 7 ½-9” range with some honest 10”+ to make things very interesting.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – LMB roaming shallows, target using swimbaits, jerkbaits, Carolina rigs with sweet beavers or creature baits. Or do like Ryan Deitz, 16 yrs old from Wisconsin Rapids using a wacky worm in 5’ of water to catch the biggest Largemouth I’ve seen in a longtime up here, 23”- 6 ½#’s!

Walleye: Very Good-Good – Working tall cabbage in 8-12’ using 1/16 oz weedless jigs tipped with Dace, fatheads or large leeches. Slip-bobbers also effective, especially towards dusk along the edges of these weed beds. Casting Rattlin Rouges over 10-14’ edges/breaks has been scoring nice catches for anglers working large lakes where temps run in the mid-50’s still.

Northern Pike: Very Good-Good – Casting swimbaits of 4-5”, Mepps #3’s & #4’s, chatterbaits and even Daredevils working over green cabbage beds. Big minnows (chubs, suckers) on a jig or under floats with a wide gap hook and wire leader also effective. Some nice fish in the upper 20” to low 30” range this week. Action and size very good.

Yellow Perch: Not as many people targeting, but nice catches in shallow weeds. Fish of 8-10”+ from 5-8’ weeds taking medium fatheads and leeches.

Musky have been active in shallows, chasing hooked Bass and Crappies. Should be a good opener to use shallow twitchbaits, smaller bucktails and swimbaits.

Following some rain midweek through Friday, looks like a good fisherman weekend for the holiday.

Mosquitoes are starting to show, not bad on the water, but better cover up at the landings.

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 05-28-24:

Weather could have been kinder for the Memorial Weekend, we just had winds on Saturday that made for some challenging fishing. Wind shifts and threats of rain along with some advancement on the fish spawning calendar disappointed some anglers. While giving rise to others up for the holiday weekend.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Excellent – Somewhat earlier than usual, Smallies are up and bedding on many lakes. Season not open, all catch and release, but reports of hot fishing in the shallows using Wacky Worms, Ned Rigs, and Tubes. If you only could find the Lee side of the lake, top-water action is a blast. Lots of reports from anglers experiencing 30 to 40, and 50 fish days.

Walleye: Very Good – Weeds being key, depth varies. Finding Walleyes along 22′ breaks in sandgrass, taking black chubs and red tails. Working into weeds (tall, narrow leaf cabbage) of 10-14′ also producing. Jigging chubs or setting up slip floats with large fatheads or large leeches. Casting stickbaits over weed tops of 10-14′ just along breaks into deeper water producing well using Rattlin Rouge Perfect 10’s.

Crappies: Very Good-Good – Most spawning is done, though some lakes still have bedding fish. Most consistent bite using small plastic, swimbait twister tails on 1/32oz jigs, through 6-10′ weeds. Mini Mites or Crappie minnows under small floats, rocking in the wind also producing.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Action in 6-10′ weeds using wacky worms, tube jigs and #8 Husky Jerks. Pre-rigged plastic worms slowly retrieved through some areas and a real “do nothing” approach that’s been deadly.

Northern Pike: Good – Most reports came from Walleye anglers jigging chubs or Musky anglers working swimbaits and smaller musky bucktails. A couple of reports from anglers targeting using #3 and #4 Mepps.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Prior to wind, anglers finding Perch taking medium fatheads in green cabbage of 6-8′. Slip bobbers in pockets working best. Worms and leeches always seem to work when Perch are around.

Bluegills: Good-Fair – Probably more due to wind and rain than anything. Many Bluegill anglers prefer nicer weather. Gills found from 2-8′ of water, not bedding yet, but taking advantage of warmer waters and shallow bug hatches.

Musky: Fair–Poor – Wind on opening day was brutal for boat control, and seeing what reports I could gather (my boat struck out!). Few fish seen and even fewer caught. I’m sure I will hear (and see) more as this week progresses.

Water temps that had been into the mid-60s, (64–65 degrees) early last week dropped into the upper 50s (58 average). May have been the rain and hail, yet Smallies have moved in and Largemouth won’t be far behind if temps get back into the mid-60s. Forecast for cool mornings mid-week but nice days with temp pushing 70 degrees. Unfortunately, rain is forecasted for the weekend, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Rain forecasts have been unreliable as far as the intensity the past 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 06-04-24:

Another off spring! Aren’t they all lately? Early ice out you’d think would equate to ahead of schedule weed growth, but it doesn’t seem to be on many lakes. Water temps hovered in the upper 50’s for a long time, finally moving into the 60’s but likely falling again with the forecast for the end of the week. Some species of fish bedded early this year (Crappies, Smallmouth) and were done before what anglers were used to seeing. Probably a good way to protect these fish while they are so vulnerable to harvest (Crappies) and harassment (Smallies). Either way it all adds up to anglers having to adjust methods and locations while chasing their preferred fish!

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – Nice reports of high number, high quality fish (18-20”+). Lots of this action fishing Wacky worms and Ned rigs around first drop wood or rocks. Top-water in evenings and early mornings and twitching slash style baits (X-Raps, Husky Jerks) over 6-10’ of same types of water.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Staging, no reports of bedding yet, but if temps hold in mid-60’s and up they will be in. Wacky worming and drop shotting in 6-10’ cabbage. Evening top-water (Whopper Ploppers) and swimbaits such as Kietechs Swinging Impacts on 1/8 oz swim heads during late mornings thru mid-day.

Bluegills: Good-Very Good – Very shallow on warm days, some signs of bedding colonies. Tiny tubes, grubs (1-1 ½”) Mini-mites and small leeches. Fish 2-6’.

Crappies: Good – Confusion with the Crappie catchers as some anglers are finding eggs in the females they’ve filleted. These fish missed their chance and they won’t get another this year! These Crappies will slowly reabsorb these eggs, so don’t be surprised to find egg filled Crappies come August (soft, squishy, greenish eggs). Casting small jig/twister, swim or under spin (Charlie Bees) effective, 6-12’ weeds.

Northern Pike: Good – Swimbaits, spinnerbaits over thickest weeds you can find. Stickbaits and 4-6” glidebaits as well as jigs with chubs or suckers a good bet.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Those seeking Perch finding in spread out cabbage flats of 5-10’. Small floats baited with medium fatheads cast into pockets within weed beds best.

Walleye: Fair-Good – Mornings, especially early, have been tough. Windows of opportunity seem to arise for jig anglers starting mid-morning and again late afternoon/early evening. Still a decent minnow bite, but leeches under slip-floats have been effective. Casting stickbaits over 8-12’ weeds (when you can find) producing nice, but mostly slot fish (20-24’). Overcast with rain forecast could help throughout the week until things clear up on weekend.

Musky: Fair–Good – Most reports of smaller fish hitting 6” Cranes and #5 Mepps. Small Smity Jerks and similar glidebaits. Most action in water less than 10’!

As always weather dictates fish and anglers alike. Lots of wind shifts this past week with either high clear skies or rainy, stormy weather. Lots of rain in a short period (6/3) saw some lakes and Flowage levels rise. Water temps are fluctuating from 58-64 degree averages. As said, some lakes are behind on weed growth (others fine). Mosquitoes are liking the rain, but luckily dragon fly hatches showing up. Despite call for rain (6/5 – 6/7), and cooler temps, fishing during new moon usually very good. Just keep an eye on the sky for electricity!

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 06-10-24:

Lots of North by Northeast wind made for cooler temps and tough fishing conditions this past weekend. The rain didn’t add to the fun, but it did add to lake and flowage levels that rose. Water temps stayed down in the low 60’s, stalling any movement from Largemouth Bass and Gills from setting up beds.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Holding in heavy weeds, laying low. Requiring getting down and working slow using jig/creature, Ned rigs, weighted Wackys. Not as much activity or chasing in cold wind, action much slower but should pick up with warmer temps moving in.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – No signs of beds, Smallies have moved off the shallows hard bottoms and are being caught in weeds using Ned rigs and drop-shotting weedless craw rigs. This bite will get better as the post spawn winds down.

Musky: Good-Fair – Start with shallow weeds using Wizards, #5 Mepps and 500 Buchertails early mornings. Move to deeper 10-12’ weed lines by late mornings/early afternoons using small gliders, jerks. Cold front and North winds slowed action. Slow working small jerks with long pauses worked best during this time.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Boat control in high wind key to holding along weed edges to present 1/8-1/4 oz jigs with redtails or crawlers in 8 to 14’ (depending on edge depth). Cooler water temps should keep Walleye bite going in these areas for a while.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Not a lot of anglers targeted, but some nice fish of 24-30” caught while jigging chubs for Walleye. Wind made casting tough unless anglers stuck to the lee side of lakes using spinnerbaits and #3 Mepps

Bluegills, Crappie, Perch: Fair – Tough conditions for panfish anglers. Getting out of the wind crucial to be able to fish weeds using small tubes, Mini-Mites under floats with any consistency.

Looks like by Wednesday (6/12), warmer weather will return and more comfortable fishing conditions along with it. Nicer weekend ahead! We have seen a lot of rain and some more in the future. Mosquitoes at landings will be an issue once winds die down, so be prepared.

Largemouth Bass and Bluegills will be up next (spawning) with Pumpkinseeds and Rock Bass following. Hexagenia (Mayfly) hatch will most likely hold off until waters warm.

Have a great Father’s Day weekend!!

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 06-18-24:

Heading into the first day of summer and it continues to be a wet, windy season so far. Lots of fronts moving through keeping anglers off the water or making it tough to stay with the winds we keep getting. Those able to wet some lines doing well with good reports from gamefish anglers.

Musky: Good-Very Good – Keep in mind the “bite” window for these long fish is sometimes short. Some very nice fish over the past week, topping 50” have been boated. Bucktails over deep weedlines along big drops. Double bladed to push water and rubber baits were key. Muggy, warm evenings have been hot for top-water action. Smaller bucktails such as #500, #700 Buchertails and Wizards doing best in mornings over shallower weeds producing mid-30” to low-40” fish.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – No reports of bedding to our knowledge, yet good reports of nice LMB in 6-10’ weeds on Wacky Worms, jig/creature, pre-rigged worms and top-water baits (evenings). Casting big weed flats with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits also effective.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – First move off the beds has been out in 8-14’ weeds. Ned rigs and Wacky Worms best. As waters warm up, we should see more movement out to rock bars.

Walleye: Good – Signs of Mayfly (Hexagenia) hatches moving up the water columns over the weekend and now actual reports of hatches reaching the surface has slowed those waters. Yet on waters not ready, nice fish being caught using redtails or full crawlers along coontail edges of 14-16’ on larger lakes. Lots of reports of protected “slot” fish and those larger being caught and released.

Northern Pike: Good – Best on 4-5” swimbaits over cabbage flats of 6-12’. Nice averages of 25-30” fish with two over 36” this past weekend.

Bluegills: Good – Lots of reports of staging Gills, lots of heavy egg laden fish in 6-9’ outside shallow spawning areas. Most on worms with floats on tiny jigs. Wind making small/light presentations tough.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Wind biggest factor as fishing pockets in shallow flats tough. Beavertails, medium fatheads or leeches under weighted floats best. No concentrations, but some very respectable (9-11”) fish scattered about.

Crappies: Fair – As with other panfish, tough to sit on productive spots and use viable presentations. Live Crappie minnows or small tubes under weighted floats in 8-14’ narrow leaf cabbage best.

More weather expected through this weekend, coming in small waves. The following week looks to get very summer-like with highs in the upper 70’s to mid-80’s should get the summer patterns locked in. Mosquitoes have been heavy, especially on the calm, humid spells. Out away from shore, no skeeters – just some flies.

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 07-02-24:

Happy Birthday United States of America!!

No other country enjoys the freedoms we have and the freedom to fish the way we do!

The rain just doesn’t want to go away. What is usually a bright, sunny summer with a rain day here and there, is now a cloudy rainy summer with a chance of sun here and there. We did see a rash of Hexagenia (Mayfly) hatches last week. That hatch takes a toll on Walleye fishing as the Eyes feast up on these easy to catch prey. But that is mostly behind us so things will only improve from here on out.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – With the weather bouncing around (wind, rain, temps), key on top-water action on the warmer afternoons/evenings. Pre-rigged plastic worms, 3-4” swimbaits, square billed cranks over weed tops mid-mornings through mid-afternoons. Wacky worms in cabbage flats through the day. Twitching stickbaits along inside weed edges in early mornings also effective.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – With water temps still hovering around 68 degrees, best action coming along deep coontail edges of 14-18’. Drop-shot rigs, tubes and Ned rigs best. Not a lot of rock related reports coming in.

Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Still some signs of bedding colonies on larger lakes. Overall, best using worms or small leeches in 5-9’ of weeds. A few anglers reporting action on poppers in the evenings.

Musky: Good – Bucktails over weeds best. Some top-water action. Most reports still have fish hanging on around shallow (relatively) weeds of 6-12’, could be the late panfish bedding.

Crappie: Good – Starting to get more reports from Crappie anglers finding these fish setting up over tall weeds. Small plastics such as Bobby Garland, Slab Slayers, Kalin’s Crappie Scrubs and Berkley Atomic Teasers scoring well. Work these and small Crappie minnows 1-2’ into weed tops for best action.

Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, Mepps #3 spinners and chatterbaits over weed flats. With water in upper 60’s/low 70’s live bait with chubs or suckers also very effective.

Walleye: Fair-Good – After shutting off on many lakes due to mayfly hatch, Walleyes starting to find their appetites for leeches and crawlers. Deeper rock humps of 20-24’ using either bait on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. Coontail edges with sandgrass flats extending out in 14-18’ holding pods of fish also.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Not as many reports. Look for warm, flat days to get these fish riles up. Medium fatheads or ½ crawlers under slip-floats in thick cabbage beds of 6-10’ have been holding some nice (8-10”) fish.

Looks like the third and fourth will be nice, weather wise, before rain comes back on Friday and Saturday. Watch for those windows of opportunity and enjoy the freedom to fish.

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 07-09-24:

Into the summer we go! Warmer temps, but still too much rain, has water temps in low 70’s and many species setting up into summer patterns.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Setting up in heavy cabbage of 8-12’. Using Wacky Worms, Ned rigs and Jig/Sweet Beavers. Top-water action on Whopper Ploppers, Jitter Bugs and Savage Spiders hot! Fly rodders using large poppers also scoring.

Crappie: Good – Setting up at tops of narrow leaf cabbage taking small jig spinner combos, 2” plastics on 1/32-1/16 oz jigs and tiny hair jigs (Gapen Freshwater Shrimp). Fish the top 2’ of the 8-12’ cabbage.

Bluegill: Good – Action on small leeches, worms or Mini-Mites under small floats in 6-9’ of broad leaf cabbage. Poppers or dry flys on top towards evenings.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Drop-shotting and Ned rigging coontail edges of 14-18’. Some rock/gravel humps starting to produce. Twitching #8 or #10 X-Raps and Husky Jerks in minnow patterns also working on Smallies targeting schools of surface feeding bait fish (works on Largemouth also).

Walleye: Good – Best outside weeds edges of 14-20’ where sandgrass can be found. Large to XL leeches, full crawlers under slip-floats or worked on 1/8 oz jigs. Reports of anglers finding Walleye on rock humps of 22-30’ using redtails or crawlers on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. Drop-shotting live bait also a good way to present bait.

Northern Pike: Good – Mepps spinners, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits over weeds of 6-10’. If slow, work back over using chubs or suckers on weedless jig with weed guard.

Yellow Perch: Good – Not many reports, not many trying. Still nice eaters in heavy cabbage taking ½ crawlers or beavertails in 6-10’.

Musky: Fair-Good – Timing, as always, important! Overcast days, warm evenings and early mornings for best action. Top-water coming into play more over weeds with Fat monkeybutts and Whopper Ploppers working well. #8 bladed bucktails, especially twin blades, also moving fish.

Lots of traffic on the water through last Saturday (7/6) of the holiday week. Still dealing with passing rain/storms. Lakes settling down and water temps slowly rising (70-72 degrees avg.). With forecast climbing into 80’s for the weekend, expect both Bass species, as well as Musky action to pick 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 07-16-24:

With surface water temps into the mid-70’s (74-77 degrees), summer patterns settling in. Warm days in the 80’s, and all that brings – lots of boat traffic, it’s best to schedule your fishing early and late in the day (even after dark!).

Largemouth: Very Good – The “heroes” of summer! Evening action on top-water baits such as plastic frogs and spiders, buzz baits and tail baits such as Whopper Ploppers HOT! Early mornings twitchbaits on inside weed lines and great Wacky Worm action throughout the day. Mid-day fish also coming on square bill cranks and chatterbaits over cabbage flats and stump fields. Nice fish to 6#’s reported (with photographic proof) this past week on the above-mentioned baits.

Bluegill: Very Good – Actively chasing small plastics (1-2” twister tails) roaming cabbage flats and coontail tops. Fan casting these areas to locate then coming back with small leeches under small floats effective.

Smallmouth: Good-Very Good – Working rock/gravel humps with drop-shot rigs using 2 ½” Gulp Alive minnows or 3” Wacky Worms, Ned Rigs and tube jigs in 14-22’ of water. Search deep coontail edges also, especially with the drop-shot rigs.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Work deep weed tops using jig/minnow, 3” Keitech Swing baits or 2” twister tails. Aggressive fish willing to chase and take! On flowages deep wood in 16-20’+ using tubes or jig/minnow combos.

Yellow Perch: Good – Finding in heavy weeds using weedless jigs tipped with minnows or crawlers. Also picking up nice Perch on 3” Wacky Worms and light Ned Rigs. Good Perch in the 9-11” range.

Walleye: Good – Either along deep weed edges or 14-18’ or out on rocky bars of 18-26’. Use redtails or the largest leeches you can find. 1/8-1/4 oz jigs, Lindy Rigs, drop-shotting and slip-bobber rigs. The brighter the day the deeper typically. Mornings and evenings. Lighted slip-floats in 10-14’ weeds at night.

Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits over cabbage flats. Twitchbaits also effective.

Musky: Good – Early and late. Bucktails and top-water bait time. Work weeds early, then moving out to deeper water as the heat builds. After dark, top-water for the fearless!

Typical summer-time patterns, nice that the weather has finally matched the calendar. Enjoy this time, get out early on the larger lakes – boat traffic building by 9:30-10:00 AM. We anglers need to share, so pick your time on the water wisely.

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 07-23-24:

Even in the midst of summer, things can sometimes be hit or miss!
A cooling off one day (surface temps dropped 4° one night), high sky’s (expected not necessarily welcome), changing winds, full moon, etc.
With fishing it’s always something though at least in the summer there is more consistency.

Largemouth Bass: Good/Fair >Seems to be a decline in action and size of late. Typical weed bites, using wacky worms or drop shotting craw imitations. Live baiting using leeches and crawlers on 1/16 ounce weedless jigs as well as some top water action in the evenings.

Smallmouth Bass: Good > Possibly a bit better on some lakes than largemouth. Deep rock humps using drop shot with plastic craws and minnows or Ned rigging has produced some dandy fish of late in the 19-to-21-inch range this past week. Work tubes along coontail edges of 14 feet as well. Have a rod set up with a walking the dog type bait on calm days, ready for action as schools chase minnows on the surface.

Northern Pike: Good > Best on lakes with expansive weed flats working spinner baits over weed tops. Swim baits, and chatter baits also producing. Reports of some eaters, but not much on larger fish.

Walleye: Good/Fair > Had some good shallow water (less than 6 foot) walleye action late in the week. Walleye feeding on 2-inch perch. Red tails and large fatheads were the ticket. On deeper rock big leeches or red tail scored 1/8-ounce jigs in 14 to 22 feet of water.

Bluegill: Good > Up to their old tricks by following baits meant for other fish up to the boat. Tiny spinners like number zero mepps, beetle spins or 1 inch twister tails to “draw them in”. Ultralight rods to cast ultralight baits and enjoy.

Crappie: Good > Picking up nice crappies of 10 to 12 inches over tall weed patches shaking medium to large fathead minnows on 1/32-to-1/16-ounce jigs. Slip floats with the same set just at weed top depth or casting Charlie Bee’s or Road Runners over the same.

Yellow Perch: Good/Fair > Not a lot of reports, mostly anglers surprised to finding larger perch of 10 to 11 inches plus taking 4-inch wacky worms meant for bass. A half crawler on a 1/16-ounce jig is always a good search bait.

Musky: Fair > Not a lot of reports at this shop. Most from anglers using bucktails over 8 to 12-foot weeds in the mornings and Topwater tail baits like Fat monkeybutts or Whopper Poppers in the evening.

A little cool down mid-week combined with a full moon may slow things a bit, but a warm-up by the weekend looks to bring the bite back up. Early morning and evenings will be best while midweek may see better action late mornings.

OUR SECOND EVER BARN SALE at 92388 County Highway J in Woodruff will be held:
August 2, 7am to 5pm,
August 3, 7am to 5pm,
August 4, 7am to 3pm.

We have to make some room for some changes to the business and its just time to clean out the old bait shop closet. There’ll be deals on Rods, reels, overstock tackle, fishing line, Shanties (both flip and hub style) clothing, footwear, ice electronics, ice augers, discontinued Saint Croix Rods. Check it out! lots of good inventory at sale prices to move on out.

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 07-29-24:

July is as exciting as planned. Hot and sticky with a few heat showers. Good time for angling with certain species, such as “the bass of summer” and evening musky. The heat brings out some exciting fishing for the summer anglers.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good > Smallie action up on rocks and along coon tail edges. Drop shot minnow and craw imitations, Ned rigging,tubes and football jigs with Sweet Beavers working very well. Mornings, work top-water frogs or chug bugs, inside weed lines and near wood or docks. Dandy fish over 20 inches this past week.

Largemouth Bass; Good > Heavy cabbage holding largemouth that appeared to be feeding heavily on crayfish. Work 8-12 foot cabbage beds, using Sweet Beavers, wacky worms or 7-inch plastic worms rigged Carolina style. Jig/leech or jig/chubs combos also producing for the live bait anglers. Action was slower on cool mornings, but picked up with the warmer temperatures. Whopper Ploppers, poppers, and buzz baits rule in the hot evening action closer to shore.

Musky; Good > Best reports from anglers, casting rubber baits for suspended fish over open water during the day. Evenings are good for casting Fat monkeybutts, Whopper Ploppers and Flap Tails.

Bluegill; Good > Actively taking worms, waxies, small leeches under float/jig combos or small jigs. Tiny plastic, such as 1 inch twister tails and mini mites working as well.

Northern Pike; Good > Taking chubs or suckers on weedless jigs with wire leaders also hitting spinner baits worked over cabbage flats of 6 to 9 feet.

Crappies; Good-Fair > Narrow leaf cabbage in 10 to 14 feet holding crappies taking Charlie B’s and Crappie Thumpers worked over weed tops.

Walleye; Good-Fair > On deeper lakes, look for walleye cruising 14 to 18 foot Coontail edges or 22 to 28 foot rock, gravel humps using red tail chubs or large leeches. On Flowages look for weeds and 7 to 9 feet of water using whole nightcrawlers on 1/16 ounce weedless jigs.

Yellow perch; Good-Fair > Work cabbage flats, using slip floats in pockets of cabbage of 6 to 9 foot. Medium leeches, fathead minnows or beaver tails for bait.

It’s the Midsummer, water temperatures are high averaging 74 to 78°. With the water temperature high, so are the fish’s metabolisms. They need to feed, but there is also a lot of feed out there. Work lures and baits a bit faster than usual to trigger bites and cover more water. The recent full moon time may have affected the daytime bite some, but get out early or late in the day to capitalize on this summer bite.

OUR SECOND EVER BARN SALE at 9238 County Highway J and Woodruff will be held August 2, from 7am to 5pm, August 3, from 7am to 5pm and August 4, 7am to 3pm. We have to make some room for some changes to the business and just time to clean out the old bait shop closet. They’ll be deals on Rod’s, reels, overstock tackle, fishing line, Shanties (both flip and hub style) clothing, footwear, ice electronics, ice augers, discontinued St Croix Rods. Check it out! lots of good inventory at sale prices to move on out.

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 08-06-24:

The new moon and heat of the end of July combined for some very good fishing this past week. While sunshine and lack of wind inhibited some mid-day action, those willing to fish early and late had very good results. Water temps hit highs of over 82 degrees on some waters, which is not common for us “Northerners”. Most hovered with an average surface temp of 78 degrees. Expect that to drop with the new cool front that has moved in.

Walleye: Very Good-Good – Bite heated up along with the water for those willing to get out early (or fish late). Live bait, (Crawlers, leeches or red tails) out on gravel/rock humps in 22-28’ on 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigs, slip-bobbers or using drop-shot techniques with these live baits all working well. Anglers finding transitional fish (fish suspended, traveling from hump to hump?) being targeted by search lures with crawlers. Some very good reports of Walleye in heavy weed growth as shallow as 6-9’ using red tails on 1/16 oz weedless jigs. These fish showed signs of feeding heavily on 1 ½-2” Perch. Fish accordingly! It was nice to give something other than Bass top billing for a change. The current cool front may slow these bites, we’ll see.

Smallmouth: Very Good-Good – Early and late, some hot top-water action on Spooks, Torpedos, Jitterbugs and Whopper Ploppers. Out over rock bars, Ned rigs and Drop-Shot rigs best. Along weed edges (yes, at times they seem to be everywhere) tubes and Wacky Worms are fantastic.

Largemouth: Very Good-Good – Like their bronze cousins, Largemouth action good early and late on top-water. Frogs, Spiders and buzzbaits working best. Out over weeds, pre-rigged plastic worms, lipless cranks and square billed cranks for the more aggressive bites. Wacky Worms and light tube jigs for the “denser” fish.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Fired up in this heat! Lots of action on Gills from shallow dock cover to outside coontail edges using tiny jigs tipped with waxies, worms with floats or the smallest Beetle Spins or Charlie Bees. Towards evening, fly rodders scoring using poppers or ants around shallow pads.

Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – Most all reports from anglers fishing heavy weeds of 6-10’ using ½ crawlers or beavertails to catch nice 9-11” Perch scattered throughout cabbage flats. A few falling for Ned jigs or small Wacky Worms in orange/Brown colors (most likely due to crayfish match).

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Tickling the tops of narrow leaf cabbage in 9-14’ using 1/16 oz underspin jigs (Crappie Thumpers, Charlie Bees or Road Runners) or jigging small plastics up high in the canopy producing nice Crappies of 10-12” with plenty of 13 up to 14” slabs included.

Musky: Good – Early morning and late evening top-water on tail baits (Pace Makers, Whopper Ploppers and Fat monkeybutts). Bucktails also bringing fish to the net. Mid-morning on, open water action working rubber baits where the Ciscos roam best.

Northern Pike: Good – Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and 4-5” swimbaits. #4-#5 Mepps also helping anglers cash in on Pike action.

With lows in the 50’s and highs only in the 60’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday, expect a little push back from the activity we had been getting. Surface temps will drop and fish will need some time to adjust their patterns. Looks like a warm up from then (8/11) onwards, so shouldn’t be too severe of a change. Leeches coming to an end of the supply. Fish will still eat, but expect fewer to be available. Weeds and water still above average, hope to see both stay up for August.

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 08-13-24:

Had a rough weekend with cool weather (dropped most lake surface temps by 4-5 degrees+) and lots of wind making for trying conditions. The cooling temps took its toll, but wind was probably the toughest condition to work with. Despite that, some nice fish were caught by anglers willing to tough it out.

Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Some very nice Gills (thanks for the tip Youth Conservation Congress anglers) working deeper weed edges (10-14’). Nice fish to 9 ½”. I took the tip to a similar lake 15 miles away and scored similar results with a family of 4 on Monday. Gotta get your baits (leeches, beavertails) to keep the little ones away.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Wind the biggest hindrance. Drop-shot TRD Gobyz/Crawz as well as Savage Gear DS Minnows along 14-18’ weed walls and over 18-26’ rock humps best. Fish to 21” this weekend in less than easy conditions.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Still holding in those 8-12’ cabbage beds, feeding on craws (from the looks down their tonsils). Tube jigs working on the outskirts of these beds while using drop-shot rigs Christie Craws and fishing Wacky Worms to dig out of the deeper, thicker stuff.

Musky: Good-Fair – For one angler GREAT as Herbert Vella boated a beautiful 48” on a #9 bucktail over an isolated rock bar. Overall, it’s been large bladed bucktails over structure, rubber over open water and evenings with top-water (Fat monkeybutts). Bite off, but should improve with warm mid-week weather.

Walleye: Fair-Good – Took a hit with cold front, yet some deep rock fish still caught jigging and Lindy rigging redtail chubs and crawlers in 22-30’ rock tops. The shallow bite slowed, but should pick up as minnows and young Perch return to shallows with warmer temps (8/11 hit 82 degrees).

Crappie: Fair-Good – As with Walleye, cold pushed them out of weed tops. Those that still caught Crappies found them deeper outside weeds using Charlie Brewer Sliders, Northland Crappie Thumpers and Bobby Garland Itty Bits. With water temps working back into 70’s, expect Crappies to return to higher (1-2’ below weed top) levels

Yellow Perch: Good – Still scattered about in 8-10’ cabbage flats. Medium leeches or beaver tails (small night crawlers) and medium fatheads under slip floats. Use extra weight to get bait down quickly past marauding small Gills. Try drop-shot rigs w/small crayfish imitations as that is what they are feeding on. Should improve for our brief warm up, those days best.

Northern Pike: Fair – Not as many reports, mostly anglers targeting Musky in weeds or Largemouth Bass anglers using lipless cranks over weed tops. #4 or #5 Mepps and spinnerbaits always good choices.

Forecast has highs in upper 70’s to low 80’s through Wednesday (8/14), then looks like Mother Nature is going to soak us for a couple/three days. Hopefully, the forecast doesn’t stick and we can get a good week of fishing in. Can’t fret until it actually gets here.

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 08-20-24:

Following a couple of lousy days last week (and it wasn’t just me…), fishing picked back up with the arrival of some stable weather. The cool down hit the bite surprisingly hard considering it wasn’t major. Water temps dipped below 70 degrees by Friday (8/16) only to return into the low 70’s by Sunday (8/18).

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good – Action returned as waters warmed. Largemouth holding on outside weed edges of 8-14’ taking tube jigs, Wacky Worms, 3-4” swimbaits and small (1/16 oz) hair jigs. With waters warming, expect the top-water frog bite to return. Active fish will be back to smashing Whopper Ploppers and buzzbaits by the weekend with high temps expected in the 80’s.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good – Liking the warm up. Drop-shotting craw imitations, 3” Gulp Alive minnows or leeches, over rock/gravel humps, along coontail edges of 14-18’ that has sandgrass “pockets” outside. Ned rigs with Ned craws also worth trying.

Bluegill: Fair-Good – Suspending outside weed edges of 10-16’. Tiny tubes, jigs tipped with waxies or small leeches. Watch for flying ant hatch to happen soon, brings up fun top-water action.

Walleye: Poor-Good – Following a couple tough days, bite came back using redtails, crawlers and large leeches. Belly check shows feeding on small Perch. Weed bite improved while rock bite slowed.

Yellow Perch: Poor-Good – Uptick with warmer weather. Continue to probe cabbage flats of 8-12’ using medium fatheads, leeches or small crawlers (beavertails). Heavier jigs like 1/8 oz or weight your slip-floats to get bait past high riding Bluegills.

Musky: Poor-Good – Same mid-week blahs followed by action as water warmed. Night time anglers on loud top-water or glow bladed bucktails. Off-shore on rubber baits while some early morning action on bucktails at weed tops.

Crappie: Poor-Fair – Hasn’t quite picked up, but will. Stick to live bait near wood when things are slow. Once water temps climb expect to see some action as they chase small jigs and bladed baits through weed tops.

Northern Pike: Poor-Good – Picking up as anglers casting Musky baits scoring Pike on bucktails. Cooler water called for live bait, but spinnerbait and chatterbait action improving.

Nice steady forecast in mid-70’s until Saturday (8/24) which will start a late summer “scorcher” into the 80’s. Expect some good top-water action for Largemouth, Smallies and Musky. Perch, Walleye and Gill action should improve also. Typically, a quiet weekend with school preparations leading to a lull of activity on the lakes.

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 08-26-24:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark