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Temps cooler, but best fishing yet to come

Delavan Lake 8/13/12 through 8/20/12

With the cooler weather, the fishing has moved slightly shallower for the largemouth bass. The northern pike fishing is still a bit elusive.

Largemouth bass have been biting both in 6 to 8 feet of water or as deep as 20 feet of water. The best approach has been drop shotting green pumpkin worms about 1 foot above bottom. I like the Yum Houdini worms. For live bait fishermen, it’s hard to beat a split shot rigged night crawler or a medium sucker fished beneath a Thill big fish slip bobber. The best location has been by the Yacht Club or by Willow Point. Early morning hours also see success with top water lures. You want to fish chrome/blue or chrome/black Chug bugs or Pop R’s.

Bluegill fishing remains excellent. The best location is in 30 feet of water. The fish are suspended 10 feet down. The best location has been by Assembly Park or by the Township Park. The best presentation is using Thill slip bobbers and leaf worms. A secondary pattern, although not as productive, is right off the weed line in 20 feet of water. These fish are right on bottom but they tend to be a little smaller.

Northern pike fishing has been very slow. The best success has been in 30-35 feet of water. I haven’t been fishing them that deep because I’m fishing for multiple species at the same time. They are being caught on lindy rigged suckers. The best location is by Belvidere Park or by the old Boy Scout camp on the west end.

Walleye fishing has been spotty. The best time to fish is just before dawn or in the evening. Lindy rigged leeches are producing most of the fish. The best location has been just west of the Yacht Club or by the Oriental boathouse. It has been a struggle to catch any legal fish lately.

Crappie fishing has been excellent once you find the fish. The best time to fish is in the early morning hours. It’s easy to see where the fish are when it’s flat calm as the fish are feeding on bugs on the surface. The fish can be caught on small plastics, purple and chartreuse are the best colors. The fish aren’t associating with structure, they are roaming with the availability of the food source.

Daily Reports

8/11/12 Delavan Lake, sunny, 72 degrees, water temp 76 degrees. North wind at 15 mph. Caught 22 largemouth, the biggest was 21 inches and a bunch of bluegills. Most of the fish were caught on split shot rigged night crawlers; however we also had success with slip bobbered medium suckers in 6-9 feet of water.

8/9/12 Delavan lake, cloudy and 70 degrees, water temp 74 degrees. East wind at 13 mph. Caught 14 largemouth and 30 bluegills. The fish were off the weed line in 16-20 feet of water. The best presentation was a night crawler fished on a split shot rig.

8/7/12 Delavan Lake, sunny, 70 degrees, West wind at 10 mph. Water temp 79 degrees. Caught 10

Geneva Lake 8/13/12 through 8/20/12

As the end of summer nears, the boat traffic has been decreasing as the weeks go by. The cooler weather may also be contributing to the reduction. Some of the best fishing is ahead of us in fall. After Labor Day, we see some of the best catches and opportunities for trophy fish.

Smallmouth bass are in the 20- to 25-foot depth range off of weed points. The best location has been by the Military Academy or by Fontana. The best approach has been lindy rigging night crawlers or jumbo leeches. Drop shot anglers are also catching quality fish.

Largemouth bass remain in the deeper water from 20 feet down to 30 feet. You want to check the weed points or little changes in the weed line. Most of the success is coming either dragging a night crawler or Carolina rigging green pumpkin 6-inch lizards. When Carolina rigging Geneva Lake, I prefer a ½ oz.-sinker and a 24-inch leader, if I’m fishing less than 20 feet of water. Anything over 20 feet, I switch to a ¾- oz. sinker and a 24-inch leader. Early morning and evening top water action can still be effective. You want to find the emergent weeds, which are difficult to find on Geneva Lake, but they are there. Look for these spots by the Military Academy or by Linn Pier.

Northern pike fishing has been steady. The fish are in 35 feet of water tight to bottom. They can be caught by lindy rigging suckers or chubs if you can find them. I continue to use a ¾-oz. walking sinker with a 24-inch leader. The best location has been in Fontana Beach or off of Maytag Point.

Lake trout fishing continues to be good. The fish are still in the main lake basin in front of Williams Bay. Look for them 90 to100 feet down in 112 to 120 feet of water. Dodger and flies have been producing most of the fish. You want to use a small nickel dodger with a green or purple fly.

Walleye fishing has been very good at night. Last week, some real hogs were caught. The best time to fish for them is midnight to 3 a.m. Most of the success is coming off of large Rapalas trolled straight behind the boat. A little wind also helps. The best location is by Abbey Springs or Yerkes Observatory.

Bluegill fishing has been very good in 18 to 20 feet of water. The best location has been by Elgin Club or in Geneva Bay. You want to use leaf worms fished on a split shot right on bottom.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at (608) 883-2050.

Dave Duwe has been a fishing guide on Delavan and Geneva lakes for nearly 20 years. Dave is a community blogger and is not a part of Walworth County Today staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of Walworth County Today staff or management.