On the Lakes: Transition time on lakes
PrintDelavan Lake fishing report 9/14/15 through 9/20/15
With the warm weather and cold fronts, the fishing has been up and down. We are in a weird transition period from the heat of the summer to the fall pattern. The best bite on the lake continues to be the bluegills. The walleye have been almost non-existent so far.
Bluegill fishing has been very good in 14-16 feet of water. The best location has been by the Township Park or by Willow Point. The best bait remains leaf worms fished on a split shot rig or a Thill split bobber rig. You want to fish the bait 6 inches to 1 foot off bottom. The average size of the fish has been 7-9 inches. In the next couple of weeks will start to move deeper.
Walleye fishing has been very difficult. I've tried jigging and fishing fat head minnows in 20-24 feet of water with very limited success. As the water cools, the bite should increase tremendously.
Northern pike fishing has been average. I've been catching 3-4 fish each trip. They are located in 20-24 feet of water. I'm starting to increase the size of the bait. Most of the bait I've been using have been extra large suckers, averaging 8-9 inches. Look for the fish by the gray condos or by Belvidere Park.
Crappie fishing has been starting to improve as the water cools. The fish are being caught in 10-12 feet of water on the weed line. The best bait has been small plastics in purple and chartreuse colors. Look for the fish by the gray condos or by Willow Point.
Largemouth bass are still located on the main lake points in 15-17 feet of water. The best location has been by the Yacht Club or by the Village Point. With the cooling water temperature the fish are not in very large schools. You want to continually move and catch the fish throughout the weed lines. I'm catching most of my fish on Thill slip bobbers fished with medium suckers or with a split shot rigged night crawler. As the water cools, the bass will start biting almost exclusively on minnows.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050.
Geneva Lake fishing report 9/14/15 through 9/20/15
Overall the fishing on Lake Geneva has been above average for the transition period between summer and fall. There hasn't been large numbers of catches but there are fish to be had.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been good. The average catch has been 6-10 fish per trip. The fish are being caught in 22-25 ft of water. The best location has been by Yerkes Observatory or Colemans Point. I've been catching most of my fish Lindy rigged night crawlers or Lindy rigged fat head minnows. The fish are associating tight to the bottom. The fish are in very small schools so if you catch 3-4 fish in an area, it might be time to move on.
Largemouth bass are starting to move from their deep water summer haunts to the shallower waters. Most of the fish are in 14-15 feet of water. Look for the fish by Trinkes Bay or by Colemans Point. You can catch them Carolina Rigging green pumpkin lizards or by Lindy rigging night crawlers. As the water continues to cool, they will continue to move shallower.
Rock bass fishing has been excellent. The last couple of weeks the fish have been in large schools in 18-22 feet of water. The fish can be caught in 15-20 feet of water. The best bait has been extra large fat head minnows or night crawlers. I've been fishing most of the live bait on lindy rigs.
Perch fishing has been excellent in 10-12 feet of water. The best approach is small fat head minnows fished on a slip bobber rig. You want to fish the baits 6 inches above the weed growth or on the bottom. Look for the fish by Knollwood or by Belvidere Park.
Northern pike fishing has started to slow as the thermocline starts to break. As the water starts to cool, the pike will move into the shallow weed line. Look for the fish by Williams Bay or by Fontana Beach. Once they move shallow, the best approach will be large slip bobber-rigged medium suckers.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050.