09/01/2026
Minocqua Area Fishing Report
Summer isn’t done with us yet according to the forecast. Highs in the mid to upper-80’s (8/31-9/1), following with upper-70’s. So not expected to see surface temps, which dipped into the upper-60’s, drop any further. Actually, may rise a little again. Due to the heat, as usual for this time of year, algae blooms have occurred. Big and Little Arbor Lakes, Big St. Germaine and Bearskin are a few of the recently visited and reported “green” lakes. Fish are being caught, but not an encouraging sight.
Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Strong reports of catches along w**d edges and over cribs and drowned wood. Beaver tails, small leeches, even small crappie minnows below slip floats. Working tiny plastics, such as Mini Mites and 1” tubes are a less messy alternative.
Crappie: Good-Very Good – Look for suspended schools outside w**d lines in 14-20” of water. Hang minnows at depths to entice bites. Vertical jigging, small ultra-light Rip ‘n Raps and #2 jigging Raps scoring on these suspended Crappies. Small bladed under spins. Beetle spins or #1 Mepps spinners also working.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Still taking the high road (top-water). Whopper Ploppers, Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers and buzz baits early, and especially late, in the day. Heavy w**d, flat action has slowed, but still out there. Wacky Worms and dropping urchin baits working here.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Gravel/rock bars topping out at 12’, but most deeper, are producing for anglers. Ned rigging or drop-shotting minnow or craw imitations along with urchin baits. A few larger specimens reported by Musky anglers, casting bucktails in shallows. Typical of Smallies…No Fear!
Walleye: Good – Work away from w**d edges out along mud bottoms of 22-25’ using redtails or full crawlers. Always check rock bars as it seems fish on top are ready to eat. Vertical jigging with Raps and Shiver minnows good way to pick up active biters over the mud.
Northern Pike: Good – Spinners, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits – work cabbage flats in 6-12’ of water. Go with jigging chubs or suckers for a slower pace on bright days with little cloud cover and little wind.
Musky: Good - Bucktails over cabbage flats, Wizards and Hunsey’s producing. Top-water will remain a good choice throughout September. With water temperatures remaining high, keep speed up, even when working wood or plastic baits such as gliders and jerks.
Yellow Perch: Good – Better size Perch found outside w**d edges, over mud, taking ½ crawlers, Beaver tails, medium fatheads. Drifting sandgrass flats of 14-18’ with pencil style weights and floating jig heads to keep the bait 1 to 1 ½’ off the bottom effective. Drop-shotting live bait here also producing.
Didn’t see annual flying ant hatch until after last report for you Bluegill anglers asking. Starting to see a little bit of color from a very few Sugar Maples, but will probably stop with warm weather this week. Consistent, yet a little warm, weather should help patterns persist. Forecast for chance of rain on September 4th, but overall, good weather to start the first week of September. Don’t see any real changes until late during the second week of the month.
Pics of the Week
Rory (7 YO) with her mother Becky and her nice Largemouth Bass
Judy Stohlman holds a 37” Musky she caught on a Smity Wizard
Jim Stohlman with aggressive Crappie on his Mepps
Ethan of Lake Tomahawk landed this Northern Pike on the pier at Torpy Park
Asher (10 yo) from Lake Tomahawk caught this 26” Northern from the Torpy Park dock
Rory again with Grandpa Brad and a fat Largemouth Bass
Judy Stohlman holds a nice Crappie
Jesse DeYoung of Lake Tomahawk with a 4 ½ # beaut of a Smallie
Lake Tomahawk’s Jess DeYoung with a huge 5 ½ # Largemouth Bass
Rip ‘n Rap Crappie
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