On the Lakes: Bass action very good

Dave Duwe | July 5, 2016

Geneva Lake fishing report 7/3/16 through 7/10/16

Fishing on Geneva Lake remains excellent. The best success remains in the 12- to 14-foot water depth. The fish have been very active with the warmer water.

Largemouth bass action has been very good by Trinkes and by piers 1-20. The best approach is Senkos fished Wacky style or split shot rigged night crawlers. The fish appear to bite better when there is a southwest wind compared to an east wind. The best depth has been 12-14 feet in the scattered weeds.

Rock bass have been aggressively biting by Linn Pier or Elgin Club. The best approach has been with night crawlers or small plastics. The best color of plastics has been white with a 1/32-oz. pink jig head. You want a slow stop and go retrieve for the best success. I've been fishing suspended fish about 1-2 ft off bottom.

With the warmer weather, lake trout action has been improving. The fish are between Conference Point and Cedar Point about 70 feet down in 110-120 feet of water. You want to fish early in the morning or late afternoon for the best success. Spoons or flies have been producing the most action.

Smallmouth bass have been sliding out into deeper water. The best depth has been 16-20 feet of water. The fish have been chasing the pods of minnows. They've been caught either drop shotting small 4-inch finesse worms or fishing medium diving crank baits in chrome/blue or chrome/black. The best location has been by Linn Pier or by Gage Marine. The best success has been coming early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Northern pike action has yet to pick up. The thermocline is just starting to form. Once the thermocline is consistent, the fishing will improve. Some fish are being caught in 22-24 feet of water. The best location has been by Cedar Point or by the boat channel in Fontana.

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 7/3/16 through 7/10/16

Even though you've read reports about the blue-green algae, the fishing remains very good. All the species are in their summer patterns and biting aggressively. Because of the algae, pleasure boat traffic has been substantially less than normal this time of year. I'm not an expert on the algae, but I don't think I've seen any on the lake.

Bluegill fishing has been very good in 13-14 feet of water. The best location has been by Browns Channel or by Willow Point. The best presentation I've found has been a small split shot and a leaf worm. I've been fishing right beneath the boat. If you aren't catching keeper-sized fish, move to a new location as the fish have been schooling up in size classes.

Largemouth bass fishing has been very good. You want to concentrate on the main lake weed points in 15-17 feet of water. A lot of success has come just east of the Yacht club or by Browns Channel. The fish can be caught by drop shotting green pumpkin finesse worms or on a split shot rigged night crawler. With the warmer water temperatures the frog bite will start to improve by north shore drive and by the boat launch channel. The best colors are black or white frogs. You want to fish the frogs on fire line. The key to frog fishing is not setting the hook until you feel the fish on your line.

The northern pike have moved off the weed line into deeper water due to the warming water temperatures. The fish have been in 20-22 feet of water. The best success has been by the gray condos or on the weed line by Browns Channel. You want to fish medium suckers on lindy rigs about 1 foot off bottom. The best presentation is slowly back trolling with the electric trolling motor.

Smallmouth bass action has been very good. The fish are off the weed line in 16-17 feet of water. The best bait has been night crawlers fished on a split shot rig. There have been pockets of fish near Willow Point or by the Village Supper Club. The average size has been relatively small, but if you keep after it, you'll catch some decent sized fish.

Yellow perch have been biting around the piers by Assembly Park or by the channel by the golf course. The best approach has been hellgrammites or small leaf worms. Try for them with slip bobbers about 1 foot off the weeds.

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