Lake Geneva Fishing Report 5.18.15 through 5.24.15
Lake Geneva fishing is starting to improve. By Memorial Day it should be getting very good. The current water temperature is about 55 degrees so the fish are still a bit sluggish but with warmer weather the bite will improve every day.
Smallmouth bass are still in pre-spawn. They are cruising their spawning flats in 8-12 ft of water. The best location is by Belvidere Park, the old Military Academy or by Elgin Club. The best presentation has been a 1/16 oz Arkie jig, a pink head with white body is the best. You want to swim the jig back to the boat with many pauses. The strikes are very subtle, it will just feel like additional weight on the line, if you feel it set the hook.
Rock bass are starting to show up in the shallows. They are in 10-12 ft of water. The best approach is drifting a fat head minnow on a split shot rig. The best location is Belvidere Park and the old Military Academy.
Northern Pike action has been consistent in the weed flats, such as Trinkes, Williams Bay and the Fontana Beach. They are being caught on Thill Big Fish Slider bobbers fished with medium suckers. You want to position the bait 12-18 inches above the weeds. The pike will feed from the bottom up so putting them too deep will eliminate some of the strikes.
Largemouth bass fishing has been good in the shallow waters. The best location has been by the Riviera boat docks or by Abbey Harbor. The fish can be caught on split shot rigged nightcrawlers and split shot rigged 4 inch Yum Finesse worms. Fishing for largemouth bass will improve once the water starts to warm.
Crappie Fishing has been good by the Geneva Inn and by Covenant Harbor. You want to fish them with small fat head minnows fished beneath a Thill slip bobber or with a small smoke colored plastic. The best depth is 8-10 ft of water.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050