Lake Geneva 6/22/20 through 6/29/20
Summer is finally here and the fishing remains very good. Several species are active and readily available.
Largemouth bass are still biting in the shallow waters around docks or in the shallow weeds. Most of the success has been in the 8-12 ft. range. I’ve been fishing a lot of nightcrawlers fished on a split shot rig. Some days you will go through several dozen due to the activity of the pan fish. Dock fishermen are getting several fish on tube baits or jigs. The best docks seem to be in the more shallow water – 7-8 ft. range. The best locations have been Trinkes or Geneva Bay.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been sporadic. The warmer water is starting to push the bass deeper. They are starting to follow the pods of baitfish and suspend. The best depths can vary by up to 10 ft. Most of the active fish were caught in 15-20 ft. of water. Nightcrawlers rigs or Carolina rigs produced most of the action. For Carolina rig fishing, I typically use and 18-24 inch leader. My preferred bait are spider grubs or centipedes. I use exclusively Arkie crawlin’ grubs or Zoom Centipedes. The best colors have been green/pumpkin.
Crappies are done spawning and are suspending in 15-20 ft. of water. The best bait has been small tube baits fished on a 1/32 oz jig. Fish them on light line to get the best depth out of your cast. The best color, as always on Geneva, is the clear or smoke tube baits with silver glitter. The crappies have been located around Conference Point, Coleman’s Point or Piers 168-169.
Rock Bass are still everywhere. The best presentation remains the nightcrawler fished on a split shot rig. Look for the rock bass in 12-15 ft. of water for the most success. Small plastics are still producing a lot of fish. White and Pink have produced most of the action for me.
Northern Pike are in transition from the springtime haunts to the deep weed lines. The pike will be positioned on the thermocline, usually by the 4th of July or a few days after. Start looking for the pike in 27 ft of water. That’s the usually the end of weed growth on the lake. I will be lindy rigging chubs or medium suckers at that time.
I have not fished for walleyes or spoken with anyone who has. They should however start to become active at night. My best success is always about 11 pm to 4 am. Trolling crankbaits produces most of the fish.
Good Luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063.