Minocqua/Kawaga

I was hoping to get some viewpoints from anglers who fish Minocqua/Kawagasaga for Muskies on a regular basis. I fished it a lot in my youth 35 years ago and it was a great musky fishery. I had a break of about 15 years where I didn't fish there much. Now I have had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time on the two lakes for past three years and it seems like it's not what it used to be. The water is clearer, and yes it is very busy, but the tactics and spots that were automatic years ago are slow at best. Can I get some input on if this has slipped as a musky fishery. Is it strictly a night bite due to the traffic? It sure has become a terrific bass lake. Big walleyes, yes. Muskies....??? Thank you for your input.

I fish it from time to time and my uncle used to manage a campground on the west shore of Kawaga back in the 1970s. He was the first family member to fish for muskies and got some of the rest of us started on it. I have not caught anything big from there in the past several years, but my 12 year old son did have a follow from a big one there last year. He will never forget that follow and talked about it just yesterday. (Upper 40" class fish, in my opinion). We were working a weedline with perch colored cranks. I typically fish weedlines and like either perch cranks or silver/black bucktails- nothing fancy. I also have had some results with a Mepps giant killer in the deeper weed areas. It is a decent body of water in my opinion, but I only fish it early or late in the season to avoid the crazies. I also stick to areas that are more out of the way to keep the boat traffic down.

Its been over 15 yrs since I fished it for muskies and I agree its been a weed edge type structure that holds them. They do hit at night very well, but my problem with fishing after dark is the walleye guys fish with their lights off and those Chris Crafts run full bore without their light on. We had this happen one night where we almost hit a walleye boat, they turned on their light when we were almost on top of them and a short while later heard a big V8 fly by and a wake afterwards. So be careful after dark, as there are some real dandies out there. Oh almost forgot red with silver blades for bucktails and perch or firetiger colored deep running jerkbaits

In the last 4 years we were able to C&R 49.5, 49, 45, and a 43... First 3 all at night, with the 43 coming about 1/2 before dark. 2 in july and the other 2 were the 2nd week of september in a weed line. Have not had much in morning, afternoon. Caught them on a mepps bucktail, creeper, red october tube, and bulldog.... All 4 at different locations.. Only common theme was on weedline or on top

minocqua is one of my stops, kawaga not so much. i dont know what minocqua was like years ago, but the last few years has produced some nice fish for me although if i figure the hours fished per fish, maybe not so good, there is some really big fish in that lake if you can get them to go.