On the Lakes: Fish beginning their summer patterns

Dave Duwe | June 21, 2016

Geneva Lake Fishing Report 6.19.16 through 6.26.16

Lake Geneva has been fantastic both for the smallmouth bass and the largemouth bass. The fish are starting to get into their summer patterns. The thermocline has yet to form but it should be forming within the next week or so driving the northern pike to their summer homes.

Smallmouth bass are in the water depth of 10-12 feet. My best location has been drifting from Knollwood to the Elgin Club. Most of the action has been coming on jumbo leeches but night crawlers are still also effective.

Largemouth bass fishing remain excellent on the east shore of Williams Bay, Trinkes Bay or by Piers 1-20. Green pumpkin Senkos fished wacky rigged or night crawlers on a small split shot have been producing most of the action.

Rock bass are still being caught everywhere. The best depth seems to be in 12-14 feet of water. They pretty much bite on anything you put in the water.

Pumpkinseeds and bluegills are biting in 7-8 feet of water. The best location is Trinkes Bay or Geneva Bay. They are biting on small red worms or leaf worms on a bobber rig.

Lake trout are starting to show up in the main lake basin 80 feet down in 108-120 feet of water. I prefer using flutter spoons in chrome/blue or chrome/green. The best time to try for the trout is first light. I've been trolling them at a speed of 1.5-1.7 mph.
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 6.19.16 through 6.26.16

Fishing on Delavan Lake has been fantastic both in numbers and size. The fish are in their summer patterns, which is the deep weed line bite.

Bluegill fishing has been excellent. I've been catching most of my fish in 13-14 feet of water right on the weed line. The best approach is a small split shot and a single hook fished straight underneath the boat. The best location has been by Browns Channel or the west end near Viewcrest. With the warmer weather the fish will be sliding deeper as the summer wears on. Remember to be selective in harvesting and not just keep all of the big fish.

Largemouth bass are on the deep weed lines in 15-17 feet of water. They are concentrating on the main lake points. They can be caught on 4-inch finesse worms on a drop shot or on night crawlers fished on a split shot rig. The bass have not schooled up yet which makes any weed line on the lake a good place to try.

Northern pike action has been improving due to the warmer weather. The fish are positioning on the deeper side of the weeds avoiding the warmer water. I've been catching my fish on lindy rigged suckers fished one foot off bottom in 17-20 feet of water. The best location has been by Willow Point and just west of the Delavan Yacht Club.

Crappie fishing has slowed. I'm catching a few fish near Browns Channel and by Belvidere Park. The best depth is 12-14 feet of water. Purple plastics fished on a 1/32-oz. jig have been the most productive.

Walleye fishing has been great. The fish are on the weed edge in 15-17 feet of water. They can be caught on lindy rigged jumbo leeches. The key to the lindy rig is a chartreuse painted hook. The best location has been by Browns Channel or by the Oriental boat house.

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