Delavan Lake Fishing Report 9/27/15 through 10/4/15
Fishing on Delavan Lake has been overall very spotty. The best bite on the lake has been bluegills or northern pike. If you happen to run into a concentration of largemouth or smallmouth bass you can catch quite a few but if you find the school consider yourself lucky.
The largemouth bass have been in and around the piers on the north shore or on the weed flats in 12-14 ft of water. One day I will catch them on medium suckers, the next day they will bite on nightcrawlers. The water temperature is such that if it cools a few more degrees, it will turn into a minnow bite. The best location I’ve found is the buoy line at Viewcrest or by 3 flags. I’ve been fishing a lot of my summer spots with limited success. If you aren’t getting bit, you need to move often.
Bluegill action has been very good in the 10-12 ft depth range. Look for the fish by Township Park or by Willow Point. The fish are being caught on split shot rigged giant reds or an ice jig tipped with a wax worm. Like the largemouth bass, if you aren’t finding them, move around because there are active fish to be caught.
Walleye fishing is still slow. I’ve started to pick up a couple here and there but there isn’t a pattern discernible. The fish I caught last week were in 10-12 ft of water on the weedline. Fall is typically the best bite for Walleyes so hold on for the cooler temps and the best fishing is yet to come.
Crappie fishing has started to improve in the weedlines in 12-16 ft of water. They can be caught on Thill slip bobbers fished with small fat head minnows or small purple or chartreuse plastics fished on a 1/32 oz jig head. Look for the fish by the Delavan Lake marina or by the concrete point.
The larger northern pike are being caught in the weedline in 15-17 ft of water. I’ve been trolling extra large suckers from the Yacht Club down to Willow Point on the north shore. There isn’t a huge number of fish being caught but the fish I have been catching are over 32 inches.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050