On the Lakes: Good time to take kids fishing

Dave Duwe | June 7, 2016

Geneva Lake fishing report 6/5/16 through 6/12/16

Geneva Lake fishing is starting to pick up with the warming waters. The smallmouth bass have almost completed their spawn and remain near their spawning flats. Next to spawn will be the largemouth bass which will happen in the next week or so.

Smallmouth bass are near their spawning flats such as Elgin Club, South Shore Club and Belvidere Park. They are located in 10-12 feet of water. They can be caught on a drop shot rig with a green pumpkin Houdini worm or fishing a white with pink head hair jig in 1/16-oz. For live bait fishermen, using the tried and true split shot rig always works.

Rock bass are everywhere in the 10- to 12-foot range. Right now is a great time to take a kid fishing as there is a lot of action. They are being caught on night crawlers and small fat head minnows. The biggest concentration of fish that I've found has been by Colemans Point.

Largemouth action has been good by Trinkes, Abbey Harbor or in Geneva Bay. They can be caught on green pumpkin Senkos or small Rapala's. This action will continue to improve over the course of the next week due to the spawn.

Bluegill and Pumpkin seed action has been fantastic in the 4- to 5-foot water depths. The best location has been by the Riviera Pier or near Trinkes. They can be caught on bobbers fished with leaf worms. Once you can find a pocket of them, it isn't difficult to catch a whole bunch.

Some walleyes are being caught at night. The best location has been by Maytag Point and Trinkes Bay. Like always, the time to fish for them is midnight to 4 a.m. and if there is a light chop the fishing will be better than if it's calm.

Northern pike action has been slow. The pike are still hunkered down in the shallow weed flats. As a rule by the 4th of July, the thermocline will form and the pike action will improve.

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

Delavan lake Fishing report 6/5/16 through 6/12/16

Delavan has been overall very good. The only bite not really available yet is the northern pike. There are loads of bluegills and perch in the shallows currently and they are heavily feeding.

Bluegill action has been great in 3-4 feet of water. The fish are now spawning, so be selective in harvesting the catch, avoid keeping the spawning fish as they are the future of our fishery. Look for them in the scattered weeds around sand pockets. The best bait has been leaf worms fished with a Thill bobber. The best location has been by Browns Channel, west of Willow Point and around Assembly Park.

Yellow perch action has been fantastic. The perch have been in 5-6 feet of water. The best location has been by Assembly Park or by Browns Channel. The best approach is hellgrammites fished beneath a bobber. You need to sort to catch the larger fish. I've been averaging one keeper for every five caught. The biggest fish last week was over 12 inches.

Largemouth bass have started to conclude their spawn and are moving to deeper water. I'm starting to get them on the weed line in 15-17 ft of water. They've been concentrating around the main lake points. You can either catch them on a split shot rigged night crawler or a drop shot rig. Use a small 4-inch green pumpkin worm.

Crappie fishing has been good in the 7-8 foot weed flats. The best success has come off of purple plastic fished on a 1/32-oz. jig head. The best approach has been long cast with a stop and go retrieve. The best location has been by Browns Channel or a few piers west of the Delavan Yacht Club point.

Last week I caught only a couple Northern pike; they were in 15 feet of water. I caught them with lindy rigging medium suckers. With the cooler water the fish haven't positioned on the deep weeds yet. Fishing for them will be spotty until the water warms.

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