Minocqua Area Report – 2024

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 09-03-24:

Holiday weekend in the rear-view mirror and on to our favorite time of year, fall fishing. I know the calendar says its summer until September 21st, but for us anglers it’s the start of the early fall bite. Following a crazy heat wave on Monday (8/26), with air temps hitting the mid-90’s, raising surface temps into the 80’s, things have cooled off and water temps are hovering in the 69–71-degree area. Conditions have been cool in the am (lows in upper 40’s), but comfortable, into the 70’s by afternoon. Except for a lot of wind over the weekend. Overall fishing pretty good.

Walleye: Good-Very Good – Lakes under 1,000 acres and flowages seeing good bites, weed related. These fish seem to be feeding heavily on 1 ½-2” Perch! Red-tailed chubs, large fatheads and crawlers on 1/16-1/8 oz weedless jigs. Others taken snap jigging bucktail jigs or 3” swimbaits scoring well. On larger lakes, drifting crawler harnesses along 22-30’, wind made for tough fishing, so slow trolling and keeping these rigs touching bottom key.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Heavy weed beds holding nice Largemouth to 20” this weekend for anglers working heavy jigs (due to wind) in 8-12’ weeds using Sweet Beavers and Christie Craws. Heavy drop-shot rigs with minnow and craw imitations scoring also. Wind made it tough for top-water fishing, but September is a great time to fish up high.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Action picked up as water cooled from last Monday’s heat wave. Spinnerbaits such as Boonies, Reed Runners and Booyahs, Chatterbaits and 4” swimbaits all worked well. This species seems to pick up speed as the waters cool into 60’s. Nice fish to 30” this past week.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Off-shore fish hard to stay on in winds. Use heavy drop-shot rigs and good boat control to stay on top. #’s will be out over deep gravel/rock, but the biggest bruisers will start working shallow, inside weeds. Target them using swimbaits and Whopper Ploppers!

Musky: Good – Reports ranging from anglers finding in weeds on bucktails and top-water to others working deep open basins using rubber. As fish move into shallower weeds, top-water works great until turn-over (55 degrees), so plenty of time left.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Action should pick right back up as wind dies down. The flying ant bite was short lived, but anglers should find good suspended Gills outside coontail edges. Slip-floats with Mini-Mites or other small jig/plastics work great. Worms and waxies can’t be beat. On lakes with larger Gills, try a Crappie minnow, big Gills will have no problem with these.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Like Gills, wind made for tough conditions. Still weed related feeding on small, young of year Bluegills. Try medium fatheads on a light jig or the small 1 ¾-2” Ned worms on a 1/16 oz head.

Crappie: Fair – This bite will pick up it was just tough over the past weekend to present small baits in such wind. Some anglers did score some nice 10-12” Crappies. Reportedly from lee sides of lakes where cribs could be found. Small plastics fished on 1/32-1/16 oz jigs around the cribs and cabbage that surrounds them.

A nice steady stretch of weather plus a new moon this week should be a big plus for anglers (not to mention not many pleasure boaters, but I just did!). Great time to take advantage of the next 6 to 7 weeks of some of the best fishing and weather of the Northwoods.

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 09-10-24:

It sure felt like fall earlier this week, seeing people break out jackets, football starting, bear hunting opening up and hearing geese fly overhead. Unfortunately, for those hoping that we’re heading into the fall fishing patterns, that we are all so fond of, Mother Nature’s throwing a heatwave at us. 80’s are forecasted in the Northwoods for the next five days.

Yes, this fluctuation in temperature has made fishing a little frustrating for some species of late. Although there have been some good reports from the Musky world. Fish have been caught cruising shallow, weedier areas with reports of fish coming on Smity Flaptails and bucktails.

With the warm weather, look for Bass fishing to also be productive. Target the Smallmouth over deeper gravel with drop-shot techniques, but also don’t forget to poke around those shallower, inside weeds. Some of the bigger Smallies might be cruising around there looking for a swimbait or a top-water to grab.

For Largemouth, look for 8-12’ of water with weeds. A variety of techniques will work, creature baits have been productive and top-water should be productive with the warm weather.

It’s been a quiet week in terms of anglers on the lakes the past few days due to cooler temperatures and a lot of wind earlier in the week. Hope to get more anglers out fishing in the coming days and also more reports.

That’s about it for now, get out and enjoy the warm weather, it could be the last warm spell until June??

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 09-16-24:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 09-23-24:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 09-30-24:

Been a very warm September. Thought with forecast of cooler mornings and temps to come, that things would get back to a normal fall. Well, with the temps cracking into the 80’s in the afternoons, not much has changed. Surface temps dropping overnight to lows in upper 60’s climbing back to low 70’s by afternoons. As we turn the calendar page, looks like October may FINALLY bring some fall like temps.

Bluegill: Good – Same as past couple weeks. Suspending outside coontail edges in 12-14’ and around drowned wood. Beavertails (small crawlers) best.

Musky: Good-Fair – Early mornings best up tight on inside weed edges and shallow weeds. With bright sun and mostly flat water, better to move out to deeper water weeds as things brighten up. Top-water and bucktails that you can ride up over weeds. Gliders and twitchbaits moving fish also. Best fish of the week, a 48” “first fish” Musky caught with guide Jake Smith!

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Drop-shotting over gravel humps in 18-28’ providing some action. Lots of searching for active fish, best in late mornings.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Flat, warm afternoons not helping. #4 & #5 Mepps and spinnerbaits picking up fish in deeper weeds. Pike prefer the cooler temps, bite should improve.

Crappie: Good-Fair – Another species (Nearly all of them actually), that seems to be waiting for a drop in water temps to kick in. Some decent catches of fish suspending 2-4’ off bottom outside coontail edges and over drowned wood in 12-14’ of water.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Best in remaining green cabbage and woody bottoms on medium fatheads or half crawlers.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Surprisingly few reports at our shop. Couple reports of good plastic frog top-water bites in the slop. Some fish on Wackys mid-day.

Walleye: Fair-Poor – Conditions NOT on our side. Crawlers and large fatheads over off-shore gravel humps of 22-30’, but mostly smaller fish. Some still weed related, just outside deepest cabbage in 12-15’ over mud.

We are finally seeing some patches of color in the area, they seemed to pop up overnight and will probably fill in quickly due to the late start. Can’t recall such a warm, sunny, and many days windless, September. Thought it was going to change this past week, but didn’t. Yet now, as we start October, forecast of lows in upper 30’s/low 40’s and highs in the upper 50’s to low 60’s, we will finally get this fall fishing bite going.

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 09-30-24:

Into October, finally some cold mornings (as low as 29 degrees on 10/4) driving temps into the low 60’s (as it should be). Colors starting to pop and Musky action on the upswing. Our weather has been either calm or very windy, but one constant has been very few clouds. Somewhere in the middle would be a much better compromise for anglers. Bite windows have been small for some species, but when it’s on, it’s been good.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Two distinct bites… off-shore, along coontail edges or over rock humps. Numbers of Smallies to 16” using drop-shot rigs with 3” minnow imitations. For a crack at a big fish, work top-water (Whopper Ploppers, Choppos, Torpedo’s) over shallow weeds. Fish to 6 ½ #’s this past week with several 5#+ fish from reports of guide Todd Powell!

Crappie: Very Good-Good – Wind made weekend bite tough to work for Crappies. Yet once surface temps hit below the mid 60-degree mark, Crappies have been on the feed. Depth of 10-16’ with wood or green weed edges. Medium fatheads or 1/16 oz jigs with Charlie Brewer Crappie Sliders, Garland Slab Slayers or Mr. Crappie Sugar Gliders either jigged or worked under a slip-float have been killer. Good catches and size to 14” this past week.

Musky: Good-Very Good – It’s the start of “sucker season”. While bucktails and top-water lures still providing good results (and will until surface temps hit 55 degrees/turn-over), suckers are really coming into play. Fish just outside of shallow weed flats, drawing fish to suckers on quick-set rigs with blades. Twitch and gliders also picking up their share.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Liking the cooler temps. Good catches reported from anglers casting spinnerbaits or jigging chub/jig combos on wire leaders. Some very nice mid-30” fish being caught on 12-13” suckers meant for Musky.

Yellow Perch: Good – Best along sandgrass just outside coontail edges or mixed in drown weeds. ½ crawlers or medium fatheads on weedless jigs, Lindy rigs or under slip-floats.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Wind held off what was an improving bite. On “fishable” days, outside weeds over sandgrass in 15-18’ and also, depending on lake, over gravel/rock humps in 17-28’. Redtails along weeds. Large fatheads or ½ crawlers on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. May be the cloudless skies, but the hard jigging lures (Shiver Minnows, Jigging Raps) have not been as effective, as bite over deep has been light.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Not many anglers actively pursuing. Outside weed edges as bigger fish rule the shallow weeds. Wacky Worms, drop-shot been best. Some top-water where competition from Musky not present.

Bluegill: Fair – Had a great run! Wind over the weekend made pan fishing almost impossible. Seems bite fading as water cools.

We’ve seen water temps drop from low 70’s over a week ago into upper 50’s to low 60’s (62 about average). Definitely bringing about some better patterns for the “October” anglers pursuing Musky, Walleye, Smallmouth and Crappies. With the two-week forecast showing lows below 40 degrees almost every morning and highs of mid 60’s at the warmest, we should start seeing signs of turn-over in a week or so. Don’t confuse turn-over with the heavy algae blooms on some of our lakes, those should be clearing up with the colder temps.

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

Mark

Apologies for the late updates from Kurt… Been one of those summers where family events have kind of overrun other activities, but I have fished more this summer and hope to make a good run to the end now!!! Be Safe and Good Luck!!!

Mark

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 10-15-24:

Mid-October and a fast change in water temps as lakes react to the 30-degree lows and highs in the upper 40’s. Surface temp reports from low of 50 degrees to high of 58 degrees (never got much of a shot at the wonderful mid-60’s), have anglers on alert for turnover (usually 55-57 degrees) on their favorite lakes. Look for murky water, debris from bottom of lake (not fresh dead tree leaves or algae) floating or suspended. Pick-up and go somewhere else, lots of lakes to choose from in the Lakeland area and lakes don’t all turn at the same time. Only going to do reports on species still being fished at this time. Windy weekend and rain kept anglers off water. If missing reports come into shop, I’ll add later.

Musky: Good-Fair – Not the great weekend we normally expect for mid-October. Maybe the water temps, but fish scattered. Anglers finding fish still weed related, either in or just off. Other reports have anglers picking up fish off rock humps on deep diving cranks. Surprisingly sucker bite not as strong as expected, but twitchbaits, jerks and gliders accounting for boated fish. Top fish reported at shop, 48 ½” guided by Jake Smith on Thursday (10/10).

Crappie: Good-Fair – Action cranking up (before wind made tough to fish). Good action and size (10-13”+) on medium fatheads or light hair jigs fished under slip-floats over submerged wood or along coontail edges of 12-14’.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Not as much targeted as being caught by anglers fishing for Musky. Nice fat Pike of 28-34” on suckers, twitchbaits and gliders.

Walleye: Fair – With water temps, best action on shallow lakes (that don’t stratify-no turnover), flowages (current-no turnover) or deeper lakes that haven’t cooled as fast. Redtails, large fatheads, ½ crawlers best. Not many reports of jigging lures (Shiver Minnows, Rapalas) but always have a rod ready. Bites have been light, so live bait has produced best.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair – Some Bass fishing still going on but not much. Best relating to offshore humps using drop-shot methods. Some close-up shore fishing producing a few big fish, but as temps have cooled and baitfish move out of these areas, less of those fish being caught.

I’ll add reports on Largemouth, Perch and Bluegill if we get any, but as season progresses, the ones reported on are the most targeted species.

We have an uptick in temps for the coming weekend, with highs forecasted into mid to upper 60’s with lows in 40’s. Not a fan of daytime full-moon fishing, but some noteworthy guides I know are, so fingers crossed. Colors have peaked, things are beautiful in the Northwoods. Take advantage if you can before things cool the following 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 10-22-24:

Mild to warm weather (almost 80 degrees on 10/21), not common for this time in October. Water surface temps averaging 52-55 degrees (low of 48 degrees-high of 57 degrees). Nice weather to be out and about.

Musky: Good-Very Good – Maybe not surprising, but a larger percentage of Musky than usual being caught on artificials this past week. Fish from shallow weeds to out over 20’+. Jerk baits, divers, gliders, twitch baits and even word of a top-water catch! Suckers working also, but not at the ratio expected. Kudos to guide Jake Smith leading his client to a 49 ½” fish a week after boating a 48 ½”er.

Northern Pike: Good – Not many people targeting, but good action on black chubs fished on weedless jigs. Eaters in the 22-27” range with a few low 30” fish for fun. Also being caught incidentally by Musky anglers on twitch and glide baits.

Smallmouth Bass: Good – Good Smallies on drop-shot rigs over gravel/rock humps of 16-26’. Ned rigging also scoring.

Walleye: Fair-Good – Best along transition areas of gravel to mud on large fatheads and smaller redtails on 3/8-1/2 oz jigs in 22-34’. Jigging Shiver Minnows and Jiggin Raps picking up some aggressive strikes. On lakes without the deep water (25’+) look for remaining green cabbage to drag chubs on lighter jigs.

That’s all the reports I gathered as fishing pressure for other fish has dropped. With one more “nice” day as of this report (10/22), a week plus of low 30 to highs of mid 50’s will put surface temps into upper 40’s/low 50’s. Should improve sucker bite while slow artificial action. Moving away from full moon period should help action. Still plenty of time left.

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 11-04-24:

Fairly quiet on the Lakeland front. Water temps did not drop as much as I predicted. Most lakes in the 50-52 degrees mark (following snow and upper 20’s on 10/31, I thought we would see more in the 48-50 degree range).

Musky: Good – Could be most of us fishing too deep! Reports from several guides and anglers catching fish in 3-5’ using twitch baits such as Cranes, Slammers and light gliders. Pattern not what we expect for this time of year. Lakes holding their temps and off breaks not seeing signs of bait fish. Typically, I don’t use bobbers when sucker fishing, but to keep suckers out of weeds going that shallow, floats the way to go.

Crappie: Good – After no report last week, finally some anglers talking. Nice catches on medium fatheads over wood or cribs in 8-12’. Floats to hold bait at structure top or cast and swim paddle tails on 1/16 oz jigs.

Northern Pike: Good – Most reports on Pike picked up while Musky fishing using twitch baits in shallow weeds. Also casting jigs on wire leaders with 4-5” chubs and suckers for those targeting Pike.

Walleye: Fair – Few reports. Mostly deeper water with live bait as fish not very aggressive. Seeing lots of fish holding in 35-40’ relating to big schools of bait fish.

Following a small warm up, (60 degrees on 11/4) lows in the 30’s this week with highs in the low 50’s means patterns should remain about the same. With Ciscos staging on lakes that have them, anglers should start to see Musky staging just outside these gravel spawning areas themselves.

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 11-11-24:

Moving into mid-November and still with such mild temperatures. Daytime highs cresting 50 degrees some days and lows in upper 30’s to low 40’s continue to buoy lake surface temps. Have reports of lakes as low as 44 degrees with large lakes still reading 49-50 degrees.

Fishing pressure light with most anglers targeting Musky, though a few taking advantage of mild weekend to pursue Perch and Walleye.

Musky: Good – Suckers accounting for most catches. Holding rigged suckers in 14-24’ of water while casting gliders and twitch baits worked slowly up across weed edges. Fish will become more sluggish as water temps cool making slow moving lures and suckers more appealing. Takes (bites) can start getting softer and will continue to be so as water chills.

Yellow Perch: – Good – Surprise entry, but a good one as anglers working weeds of 12-14’ finding nice numbers on Crappie minnows. No jumbos but lots of good 9-10”+ eaters.

Northern Pike: Good – Liking the cool water! Pike providing some fun, late season open water action. Target remaining green weeds of 8-14’. Jig and chubs or suckers (4-6”) best. Like their bigger cousins, Pike bites surprisingly light, hence the live bait preference.

Walleye: Fair – Anglers working mud flats of 22-30’ reporting some fish on redtails and Walleye suckers on Lindy style rigs. Best along edges or flats where hard bottom meets.

With high, cold winds from the North mixing things up today (11/11), water temps will most likely slide down. Lows the rest of the week in 30’s with highs of mid-40’s will continue trend.

As a side note, rarely mentioned Whitefish on Trout Lake have been biting as they stage in 30-40’ off potential spawning flats. Swedish Pimples tipped with waxies, minnow heads or Gulp.

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 11-18-24:

Nice week to fish, until weekend biting winds took their toll on the fun. With temps cresting into the 50’s until Saturday, fishing was unusually pleasurable for mid-November. Reading on lakes ranged from a low of 42 degrees to highs of 46 degrees surface. With Tuesday’s forecast of rain and highs in the 50’s, that will be the last we will see of temps hitting 40 degrees for a while, so expect the inevitable.

Musky: Good – Strongest on suckers with lake temps now in 40’s. Still worth casting gliders and twitch baits as well as lighter rubber baits to draw attention. Best activity has been mid-late mornings through mid-afternoons.

Yellow Perch: – Good – Anglers still finding nice eaters along 10-12’ weeds using small minnows. Not jumbos, but nice 9-10” fish.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Not many targeting, but some nice Pike to mid-30” range taking suckers meant for Musky.

That’s it for fishing reports for now. A reminder, that the Musky season remains open through the month of December, BUT…you can only fish from shore or a boat for Musky. Ice cannot be a base to fish from for Musky (No tip-up fishing).

While deer season in the Northwoods has not been what it used to be, gotta say seeing some trail cam pics of nice bucks this year. Could be last year’s mild winter helped survivability and antler growth. Signs of rutting good so despite a late gun season opener, hopeful for some good success to our hunters.

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 11-26-24:

With a very quiet deer opener behind us, some cold and snow (11/25-11/26) and very few anglers taking part in open water fishing of late, looks like most everyone I talk to has early ice on their mind. Will get to that!

Musky: Fair – Unless you’re the angler who boated a HUGE 51” recently (I’d post his name if I had permission). A fish that has unreal girth from shoulder to tail, look it up! Otherwise, very little to report.

Whitefish: – Good – Anglers using Swedish Pimples and Shiver Minnows in 25-40’ outside of nighttime spawning areas doing extremely well.

With the few anglers I’ve talked to fishing larger lakes, reports of surface temps averaging 42-44 degrees. I’m sure smaller lakes and those with less depth are in the upper 30’s and dropping as the snow falls. Ice is starting to form on the pond behind our shop this morning (11/26). I’d be EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS to consider ice to be safe this coming weekend. If I get reports. I’ll pass them along!

The following weekend? Well, that’s another story. Forecast of highs to 30 degrees thru 11/28 followed by highs in low 20’s with lows in single digits to below zero will make for some good early ice as long as we don’t get much snow. Even then, if it comes in cold (single digits) and we get wind to blow it off the lakes, we should have some safe ice to work with.

Crossing our fingers for a good ice season.

Don’t forget, Dec 6th, 7th and 8th is our 15th Annual Ice Extravaganza! Lots of great deals, add-ons, raffles, even food (Sat, Dec 7th). Cash in on these great deals while supplies last! Three days only!

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 12-02-24:

Looks like its “On like Donkey Kong”!

We have fishable ice on some smaller lakes and bays (2-3 ½”) and building! Bay across from shop locked up overnight! All we really needed was wind to stop long enough to let ice form. As much as we all complained about that biting wind this past week, it helped super cool the water so it was ready to freeze

Further north in Mercer, reports of 4+” of ice, we should see lots of access by this coming weekend.

Caution is still advised, but the outlook is for a good stretch of ice building weather. Snow flurries mid-week should be light and dry enough to not latch onto ice. As always for early ice, spud bars, creepers, float suits (vest), rope and friend are advised.

Not a lot of reports from anglers. Staffer, Bret Bender was doing well casting from shore for shallow Walleyes, but as he says, once the cast starts clinking, time to go ice dinking! Nolan Waltz and his father, Jeff hit a smaller Vilas Co. Lake on Sunday and found 3+” of good ice as well as a couple Pike over 30” (both C&R). I’m sure the reports will be pouring in over the weekend.

This weekend is our 15th Annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec 6th-8th. There will be deals storewide, add-ons, raffles, free smoked pork sandwiches (Sat only). Best chance to see our huge selection of flip-shacks on display! Stop in and take advantage of our best show deals ever.

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 12-10-24:

Wrong again!

Last week I was SO SURE we were going to have some great early ice conditions, just waiting for the wind to lay down and let the cold take over…then the snow…then the not so cold…

Was there ice fishing? Yes. Was it great? For the few that found some safe, fishable ice, not great, but good. Problem was some of the ice that started to form, unformed. Holes opened up in areas that had freshly skimmed and some areas got soft following warmth and rain Sunday (12/8).

The bright side is there are areas with 3-5+” of ice and anglers have done well for Walleye, Pike, Bluegills and Crappies where safe ice has allowed angling. All ratings where fishing is ice safe to do.

Walleye: Very Good – Shallow water, 3-6’ at and just after dusk. Shiners on tip-ups as water a bit shallow for most jigging rap techniques.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Shallow weeds from early morning on. Medium to large shiners in 3-8’ of green weeds.

Bluegill: Very Good – Good numbers of nice Gills in the 7-8” plus ranges over mud/cabbage flats in 3-8’. Starting mid-morning through late afternoon.

Crappie: Good – Not as many reports as Gills, but some anglers finding Crappies in 6-8’ weeds using Gulp Alive minnows on horizontal jigs.

We have forecast of some snow (12/10-12/11) but also of temps coming in below zero or just barely over. That should give us the base we need to lock up some good ice. Following that, a mild weekend, but hopefully not so much it hurts.

Lesson is, I’m too old to use comments like “its on like Donkey Kong”, never even played it when I was young. I’ll stick to verbiage I’m used to like “23 Skidoo” and “Cat’s meow”.

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 12-17-24:

Ice conditions improved significantly by mid-week, closing up some trouble spots and adding inches to the ice and confidence to the anglers. With many of the more popular spots reporting 6-8” and with the weather very mild, many anglers headed out over the weekend. Fishing was good overall, yet anglers should still use caution when venturing out to areas untraveled or on larger deep lakes.

Walleye: Very Good – Not all day, but for anglers willing to get out pre-dawn or fish the first hour and a half after dark, nice catches in 4-8’ of water using medium goldens or river shiners on tip-ups. Jigging Rapalas (#5), Shiver Minnows (#2) and Hyper Glides (1.5:2’s). also working well. Keeping bait 2’ off bottom to just over weed tops working best as Eyes moving into shallows at dusk to actively feed. Nice fish, many slots (20-24”) and several 26-28”ers reported.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Nice thick fish in the upper 20” to low 30” size on big suckers and shiners. Some right at dusk surprising anglers targeting Walleyes in 4-8’ of water.

Bluegill: Very Good – Mornings until about 10-11 AM then again picking up about 3 PM until dusk. For the most part, shallower weeds of 4-8’ using light jigs tipped with waxies or plastics. Anglers fishing small, deeper lakes with less weeds finding Gills in 12-14’ using tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or plastics. Nice Gills, most in the 7 ½-8” range, but enough 9”+ to make things interesting.

Crappie: Good – Anglers working fish along 8-12’ weeds using jigs with small flutter blades like Lethal Cecil’s and Tikka Flashes scoring well. Warm temps keeping holes open, so tip-downs are working well baited with small rosies or crappie minnows. Clam Niku Bolt Minnows and Flutter Fly’s also producing.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Some reports of nice eaters in the 8-9” range taking jigs with waxies meant for Gills. Depth still shallow 4-10’ while ice is relatively thin.

Second weekend of warm up and light rain making some areas slushy and spooky (dark). Cool off (highs to 20 degrees and upper teens) mid-week with some single digit lows should firm up the top and hopefully add a few more inches to make snowmobile and ATV travel better. The week of Christmas to New Year’s looks good, with nice winter temps and a little snow.

There have been a few trucks reported on the ice…NOT GOOD! With only 8” and less of ice, it’s not safe for these drivers or the other people enjoying the ice. Please hold off from driving full size trucks on these lakes until we get a good 14-16” of solid ice out there.

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 12-23-24:

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Ice conditions in and around the Lakeland area are good, but not great. With ice thickness varying from 5-10” (with 6-8” being comfortable average), most ice good for walking, ATV and snowmobile use. With another report of a truck breaking through down in Newbold, just can’t stress enough to keep cars and trucks off the ice until we get a good 14-16” minimum! While access and conditions on the ice have been great (only about 2” of snow on ice as of this report- creepers still a good idea). Fishing has been good, but not as great.

Walleye: Good-Very Good – Still a post dusk/pre-dawn bite for the most part. Jigging Raps (#5), Shiver Minnows (2.5:3), Hyper Glides (#5) and Rippin Raps producing nice fish worked in 6-10’ weeds. Tip-ups with medium shiners, river shiners and Walleye suckers strategically set up on weed edges prior to dusk bite best call. Plenty of good eaters (15-19”) but also reports of “over” fish in the 20-24” range.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Big shiners and suckers hanging just above weed tops or along weed edges of 5-10’. Adding a small blade to give wired rigs some flash seems to be “tipping” odds in tip-up anglers favor. (Get it?…tipping/tip-ups. I’ll be here at the bait shop all week folks, there will be a two minnow scoop minimum! Haha)

Crappie: Good – Reports starting to pick up as anglers venturing out to more areas as ice conditions improve. Still a tall weed bite using tip-downs and Crappie minnows/small rosies in 10-14’ narrow leaf cabbage bays. Others finding suspended Crappies taking Tikka Flashes and small Kastmasters tipped with waxies in 14-20’. These roaming schools take some drilling to find, but nice fish in the 9-11” range on average with some 12-14” slabs reported.

Bluegill: Good – Slowed a little from previous week, but more high pressure days and some southwest winds at times may have been biggest turn-off. Otherwise, bays with good weeds in 5-10’ holding Gills. Small jigs tipped with waxies, spikes or plastics producing. Mid-mornings through late afternoons on most lakes. Reports from small, hard to reach lakes have best bite at dawn to 9 AM using #3:#4 dark colored tungsten jigs tipped with red spikes in 12-18’ basins. These small out of the way lakes produce quality Gills, but can’t sustain much harvest, so be gentle.

Largemouth Bass: Good – With most daytime temps above 20 degrees (and forecasted for 30 degrees after Christmas), Largemouth have been active taking medium shiners meant for Walleye, but also jigs and waxies meant for Gills and Perch. Weeds of 5-10’ best, same as being targeted for Gills.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Reports picking up as anglers working a bit deeper (10-14’). Just outside weed edges in mud flats where jigging spoons, such as Northland Forage Minnow Spoons, Buckshot Spoons and Clam Leech Flutter Spoons tipped with waxies, spikes or minnow heads producing. Tip-downs with small to medium fatheads working well in the mild weather where holes not freezing up.

With the coming of the New Moon period after Christmas and through New Years, I’m liking the outlook for some great ice fishing during the holiday week. On the less optimistic side, days with temps peaking in the 30’s (possibly 40’s on 12/28) plus some rain will make things slippery and messy. Be sure to bring cleats and waterproof boots out on the ice. While the warm up will hurt making more ice, it shouldn’t be enough to lose much of what we have. Always be cautious.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

Ice Fishing Tournaments
January 4th – 74th Annual Rib Lake Area Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
January 11th – 17th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 – Lake Nokomis
January 11th – 31st year – Rainbow Ice Jamboree – Rainbow Flowage
January 18th – Kurt’s Minocqua Madness – WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
January 18th – 10th Annual Iceholes of the North – Sponsored by Team Retreat Musky Club – Various lakes
March 1st – KISS – WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain

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

Mark

Happy New Year to All!!!

While I’m still checking out the last of the WI Archery season, our ice fishing seems to be off to a fantastic start here in the Northwoods… Our ice may be as good as its been in all the years since I’ve been living here (’94). And this the last report of the season, here’s hoping to a Safe and Prosperous 2025!!!

From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 12-30-24:

Another strange week of weather. Should we expect anything else? Warm (above freezing for three days) and rain ate up whatever snow cover we had. Lake tops have been wet and slippery. Luckily, we didn’t lose much ice, its more about getting on the ice and staying on your feet! While some anglers reported just fair fishing in spots, overall fishing this past weekend was very good. I’m sure this new moon period combined with mild weather and lots of anglers on the ice helped pump up the successful reports. Lots of good catches (and releases) this past holiday weekend.

Walleye: Very Good – Evening bite hot with reports from anglers both using tip-downs with live shiners and those jigging Raps, Hyper Glides and Tikka Minnows. Best action coming just at dark and next 1½-2 hours after. The few willing to get out a couple hours before light in the morning being rewarded with nice Eyes on tip-up in 6-8’ weeds. Evening fish a bit deeper at dusk in 10-14’. With lots of good catches and some very nice fish over the “eater” slot, top honors go to 5 yr old Clara of Hinkley, IL with a 29” C&R trophy Eye, while out with Dad and Grandpa after dark…on Banana Lake of course.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Good numbers and some exceptionally nice Pike taking the largest of golden or river shiners and big suckers on tip-up rigs in 6-12’. Tops for the week was 14 yr old Molly of Madison, WI with a 39” C&R Banana Lake beauty!

Crappie: Very Good – Two areas to target! Standing tall weeds of 10-14’ slow dropping plastics or tip-downs with minnows. The basin Crappies have been roaming in 20-28’ mud flats. A jig with a rattle (Rattlin Kastmasters) or blade (Tikka Flash) to lure fish in have been best. Tip either with a waxie or spike. Tip-downs with small rosies also working, setting at correct depth for suspended fish is the trick.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Not a typical target through the ice. Yet with the warm weather and so much “bait” to look at, anglers reporting lots of “green bass” activity on tip-ups with medium shiners and also taking jigs with waxies meant for Gills. Lots of 14-16” being reported with fish to 20” also being C&R.

Bluegill: Very Good – Deeper weed edges of 8-12’ producing nice Gills in the 7-8½” range. Several photos of 9-10”+ fish at shop showing the positive side of selective harvest. Plastics in red, purple, motor oil on #3mm tungsten jigs in subtle colors proving best.

Yellow Perch: Good – Not as many anglers targeting Perch with Crappie action being so good. Those targeting Perch doing well using wigglers on small spoons (Pimples, Bull Spoons, Northland Forage Minnows). Medium fatheads on tip-downs also working up closer to weed edges, about 1 foot off bottom.

With no snow on the ice to impede access, anglers are finding a lot of areas to fish by foot travel (with cleats), ATV and snowmobile. Still can’t recommend car or truck travel (though some people are, I know). Most lakes supporting an average of 8” with larger lakes as little as 4”. Parts of our local flowages have reports of 11-12”, but always use caution as these bodies of water also have current.

As the late, great Merle Haggard one wrote – “If we make it through December”, (and we almost are as of this report), “everything’s gonna be alright I know!” Following this recent warm spell, which left enough ice for us to continue fishing, we got some cold coming in! Starting 12/31, forecast has 14 straight days below freezing, with at least 12 nights in single digits and below! With no snow on the lakes as of now, and very little snow in the forecast, we should see good ice building weather from here on out, everything’s gonna be alright I know…
Hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!

Ice Fishing Tournaments:
January 4th – 74th Annual Rib Lake Area Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
January 11th – 17th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 – Lake Nokomis
January 11th – 31st year – Rainbow Ice Jamboree – Rainbow Flowage
January 18th – Kurt’s Minocqua Madness-WIFA Highschool: Minocqua Chain
January 18th – 10th Annual Iceholes of the North–Sponsored by Team
Retreat Musky Club – Various lakes
March 1st – KISS – WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain

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

Mark