On the Lakes: Cooler-than-normal temps mean mixed fishing results

Dave Duwe | August 29, 2017

Delavan Lake fishing report 8/28/17 through 9/3/17

Fishing on Delavan Lake remains inconsistent. One day it's fantastic and the next its very challenging. I believe this is caused by the inconsistent weather pattern and the cooler than normal temperatures, the lake is 5-10 degrees cooler than normal for late August.

The good news with the cooler water temperature is that the walleyes are showing up earlier in the year. I'm starting to catch a few each time out. The best depth is 22-25 feet of water. I'm catching them on lindy rigged night crawlers. Main lake points are currently the best place to try for them, with Willow Point getting the nod as the best location.

Largemouth bass fishing has been great. The fish are in 12-14 feet of water. The one thing different than normal is that the fish aren't in big schools so you need to move around more to find the active fish. I've been keeping the boat moving and not spending much time in any one location. They can be caught on night crawlers or drop shotting wacky rigged worms or small finesse worms.

With the cooler than normal water temperature, smallmouth bass fishing is improving. I'm starting to pick some up on medium suckers or on lindy rigged night crawlers. It seems that the best depth is 18-20 feet of water. The best location has been by Del Mar or just west of the Yacht Club. The smallmouth action will continue to improve as the fall approaches.

For me, northern pike fishing has been very slow. I think the fish are shallower than I've been fishing. I'm catching one here or there but nothing with any consistency. I'm basically still just dragging medium suckers around the weed edge in 15-17 feet of water. It makes sense to look in 12-14 feet of water with shallow diving crank baits in a perch pattern.

Bluegills are in the 12- to 13-foot depth range. They've been schooled up in front of the beach by Township Park or in front of the point at Assembly Park. The best approach is either a wax worm on an ice jig in chartreuse color or a leaf worm fished on a small split shot drifted right above bottom.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063.

Geneva Lake fishing reports 8/28/17 through 9/3/17

The cooler than normal August continues. This is the coolest I've seen the water temps this late in August in a number of years. The good news is that the fishing overall has been steady and normal for this time of year, although the fish are a bit shallower.

Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent. The best depth I've found has been 10-12 feet of water. The fish are concentrated in and around weed flats, such as South Shore Club, Coleman's Point and by Linn Pier. The best approach has been drop shotting 4-inch Chompers Finesse worms or slow rolling white spinner baits. The bass are about 8 or 9 feet shallower than is typical for this time of year.

Rock bass are again showing up in the 12- to 14-foot depth range. They can be caught on split shot rigged night crawlers or leeches. I've been catching them slightly deeper than the largemouth bass. They are starting to become very aggressive. The average sizes are the big 10- to 11-inch fish. The biggest concentration I've found is by South Shore Club.

Bluegills still remain in the deep water. I'm finding most of the large bluegills and pumpkin seeds in 15-17 feet of water. The best location has been by Elgin Club and Gage Marine. They can be caught on split shot rigged night crawlers or leaf worms fished straight beneath the boat.

Smallmouth bass fishing remains spotty. I've been getting a few off main lake points like Black Point and Rainbow Point. I've been catching them either lindy rigging night crawlers or drop shotting four-inch finesse worms. The active fish have been found tight to the bottom in 17-20 feet of water.

Northern pike fishing has been slower than normal due to the cooler waters. I'm catching one here or there but I'm not finding heavy concentrations in the deep water. The best location is by the beach in Fontana or on the north shore in the narrows.

Muskies are starting to become active in the shallows. I've seen quite a few chasing my hooked rock bass. I've been seeing most of them in the 12- to 14-foot depth range by Linn Pier or by Gage Marine.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063.