Northern Wisconsin Fishing

Seasoned anglers and novices alike enjoy testing their skills in the Minocqua area’s lakes, rivers and streams. Most support a variety of fish, such as Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Large and Smallmouth Bass, Trout and Walleye, and most have public access.

Minocqua Area Fishing Report  11/22/2022

by Kurt's Island Sport Shop

Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Following some heavy cold, wind with a good mix of snow, several Lakeland Area lakes are starting to skim over. Closing the window for Musky anglers, but just opening the door some for ice fishermen (and women).

High winds made it tough to cause freezing, but wind of single digit temps mixed lakes up enough that if we ever get the wind to lay down, lots more lakes will freeze up.

Anglers safely checking ice reporting 1 ½ - 2 ½”. Temps in the upper teens to low 20’s overnights should help. Forecast into the low 40’s over the weekend sounds bad, but shouldn’t last long enough each day to hurt. In fact, it may help to melt down what’s left of the snow (which mostly got blown off the lakes) and allow for firmer ice to be made.

Musky: Good - Very few anglers out in this wind (and opening of deer season), but some success on the sucker end.

A few reports of early ice Pike from shallow bays. Not much on Walleye, but it’s coming.

As a reminder, Musky open water season up north here runs through the end of December. But….you cannot use ice for your base to Musky fish. No targeting Musky through the ice.

Popular Fishing Lakes

Some of the more popular fishing lakes favored by visitors and locals include, Big Arbor Vitae, Clear Carrol, Madeline, Squirrel and Squaw. Bassmaster recently named the Minocqua chain one of the 25 best bass lakes in America’s central region and one of the top 100 in the nation. There are numerous wilderness sites for a quiet escape. Some good bets are the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area and the many lakes dimpling the Northern Highlands-American Legion State Forest.

Mid Lake, which has shallow water that warms quickly, is the place to be in spring, when Musky and Northern swim here to spawn.

Minocqua Chain Walleye Project

The Minocqua Chain is a 5,929-acre chain of lakes in Oneida County. The Chain includes Kawaguesaga, Minocqua, Jerome, Mid, Tomahawk, Little Tomahawk and Mud lakes, along with the Minocqua and Tomahawk thoroughfares. The Minocqua Chain forms the headwaters of the Tomahawk River and is part of the Upper Wisconsin River watershed. Tomahawk (3,462 acres), Minocqua (1,339 acres) and Kawaguesaga (700 acres) are the largest lakes of the Chain and provide the majority of the Walleye spawning habitat.

The adult walleye population and natural reproduction of the Minocqua Chain of Lakes in Oneida County has experienced a substantial decline since the early 1990s because of low recruitment of young fish into the population. The Minocqua chain currently has catch and release walleye regulations through the 2024-2025 fishing season. 
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