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Fish move to shallows with cool temps

Lake Geneva 10/15/12 through 10/22/12

With the cooling temperatures, the fish have been aggressively biting. The best bite on the lake has been the smallmouth bass and the yellow perch.

Smallmouth bass can be caught lindy rigging in 22-28 feet of water off the main lake points. I’ve been catching most of my fish by the yacht club, military academy or in front of Gage Marine. The fish can be caught on fat head minnows or yellow perch caught in the lake. With cooler temperatures forecasted, the fish will even move shallower making the main lake points even more productive. For shallower points, try Black Point and Conference Point.

Yellow perch can be caught in 2-9 feet of water. The best location is by Knollwood, Rainbow Point or Belvidere Park. The best approach is fishing Thill slip bobbers tipped with a fat head minnow. You want to position the bait, one foot above the weeds or one foot above the bottom. There are a lot of fish in the 10- to 12-inch range.

Largemouth bass are in the shallows. Look for the fish in Geneva Bay around the piers or in Trinkes. With the cooler water, the fish have moved very shallow, look for them in 4-6 feet of water. The best approach is casting spinner baits or a white swim jig. This bite will be consistent for the next few weeks with the water temperatures as cool as they are.

Northern pike have moved into the shallow weeds. The best bet is Williams Bay or Fontana Beach. They can be caught on slip bobber rigged large golden shiners or medium suckers. You want to position the boat in 12-15 feet of water, keeping the bait 1-2 feet above the weeds.

Walleyes can be caught at night. They are being caught on large Rapallas or Smithwick medium diving rogues. The best location has been trolling from Abbey Springs to the Yacht Club or in front of Yerkes Observatory.

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

Daily Reports

10/13/12 Lake Geneva, cloudy, rainy, 55 degrees, winds W at 10-15 mph. Water temp 55 degrees. Caught 25 smallmouth. The fish were caught on lindy rigged large fat head minnows. The best location was by the Military Academy and by the Yacht Club. This time of year, the fish are very schooled up so if you catch one there is a likelihood you will catch several more.

10/10/12 Lake Geneva, sunny, 60 degrees, W winds at 15-30 mph. Water temp 56 degrees. Caught 15 smallmouth bass--seven were legal, and 20 perch. The fish were located in 25-28 feet of water. Fished large fat head minnows on lindy rigs on the east side of Conference Point and in front of Gage Marine.

Delavan Lake 10/15/12 through 10/22/12

With the cooler water temperatures the fish are moving shallow. Northern pike and walleyes are becoming more accessible to the average fishermen. Most of the fish in the shallower water are aggressively hitting crank baits, which is a great method for late fall fishing.

Walleye fishing has been excellent in pre-dusk. They are biting on Smithwick Rogues in chrome/blue or chrome/black or Excalibur Spots in the same colors. Look for the fish by the yacht club, Assembly Park Point or by the Village Supper Club. The fish are located in 12-15 feet of water, so when you cast out, you need to let the bait sink a little so you are touching the weeds with the crank baits.

Northern pike are being caught in the 12- to 15-foot depth range. They are biting on large suckers. With suckers larger than 8 inches, I use a quick strike rig, but if they are less than 8 inches I’ve been single hooking them through the mouth. Most of the fish are being taken on main lake points, like Willow Point and the Yacht Club.

Bluegill fishing has been very good. The fish are suspended in 40 feet of water, approximately 15-20 feet down. Without wind, you want to anchor and fish straight beneath the boat. The best bait is a one half of a leaf worm or wax worm. Look for the fish off of the yacht club or off of Willow Point.

Crappies are again on the weed lines in 12-15 feet depth range. They can be caught with purple or chartreuse plastics. Look for the fish by Browns Channel or the marina on North Shore. The key has been casting out and letting the lure sink and retrieving slowly back.

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.