Lake Minocqua

14 in of ice

Minocqua area Fishing report August 19, 2025
Some messy weather with heavy rain and lightning put a damper ( get it?) over the weekend through Monday, August 18.
 Had some hot and muggy then cool mornings to boot! Looks as if the late August cooldown is on its way.
  Lake temps are in the 72 to 74 range on average and not likely to rise with the current forecast. Fishing has plateaued or fallen off in most cases. Not that fish can't be caught, just action not what it had been.
  Largemouth, bass; good to fair
  When nothing else is working, largemouth have saved the day. Continue working cabbage beds where largemouth seem to be still feeding on crayfish. This has made crayfish imitations on jigs and Ned rigs popular. Wacky still a solid go using weedless hooks.
  Bluegill; good to fair
  Numbers and size down this week, but conditions not the best (there's a reason they are called sunfish). Can't beat a small leech or a piece of worm. Tiny tubes and plastic finding fish suspended off weed edges in 8 to 14 feet of water.
  Yellow perch; fair
  When action slows, tough to beat half crawler on a 1/16 ounce jig in 8 to 12 foot cabbage. Search sand grass flats in 14 to 22 feet using a deep slip float or walking sinker with a half crawler on a spinner rig.
  
  Northern pike; fair
  Light seemed off. Live bait is best under tough conditions using wire leaders on weedless 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs to work chubs or suckers through heavy weeds.
  
  Crappie; fair
  Some nice fish, but not much for concentrations along deep weed edges using medium fat heads. Outside Coontail edges, suspended 4 to6 feet up off the bottom in 14 to 18 feet of water best.
  Smallmouth bass; fair
  Dropping down because I'm having a tough time- even Leighton can't catch them this week. Should be on Rock humps hunting up sculpin and crayfish in 18 to 28 feet of water.
  Musky; fair 
  Most reports of mid 30 inch fish on Bucktails over weeds of 8 to 12 foot. Top water action slowed with the weather.
Walleye; fair
  Just when things were looking up! Some weed related bites on leeches crawlers and red tails, yet inconsistent. Rock/gravel bites the same.
  Could be the recent weather or just the mid August slump with the new moon working its way in, things should improve. Let's hope the weather stabilizes! 
Photo:
Rachel Graff age 29 (?) of Manitowoc  Wi.  with a nice Largemouth  Bass on her Birthday!
Judy B of West Salem Wi. 21 1/2" caught and released walleye.