Delavan Lake Fishing Report 7/9/12 through 7/16/12
The extreme heat continued for another week, it didn’t however, have a negative impact on fishing. Most of the fish are in their mid-summer patterns. They are off the weedlines in 18-20 ft of water.
Northern pike action has been very good in 25-27 ft of water. Look for the fish by Belvidere Park and just west of Willow Point. With the extreme heat, you need to make sure to keep your suckers as cool as possible as they are very fragile with temperature changes. You want to temper the water so it doesn’t shock them once they hit the lake. I find that the larger suckers have been producing the bigger fish. I’m using a lindy rig on 20 lb monofilament.
Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent. They are positioned on the outside edge of the weed in 16-19 ft of water. The best location has been by Browns Channel or by the Yacht Club. You can catch them either on split shot rigged nightcrawlers or drop shotting small plastics. Green pumpkin or black plastics have been producing the most action.
Walleye fishing has been average. The fish are biting at first light and again at dusk. They are pulled off the weedline in 21-23 ft of water. The best approach is lindy rigging leaches or nightcrawlers. I try to get away with the smallest sinker possible and fish it vertical off bottom. The best locations have been the main lake points.
Bluegill fishing has been outstanding. The fish are hitting in about 14-15 ft of water just off weed points. They are schooled up and very hungry. I’ve been using small leaf worms with a small sinker and fishing them straight beneath the boat.
Crappie fishing has been good. Crappies are suspended in about 20 ft of water and the fish are positioned about 5 ft beneath the surface. The best presentation is casting a small plastic on a 1/32 oz jig. The best color has been purple or pink.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
Daily Reports
7/8/12 - Lake Geneva, sunny, 75 degrees, E wind at 10 mph. Water temp 80 degrees. Went Lake Trout fishing at dawn. Had 6 bites but was only able to land one. It was 20 inches. The best depth was 112 ft of water about 60 ft down. Nickel/Blue or Nickel/Green spoons were the best approach.
7/7/12 - Delavan Lake, sunny, 85 degrees, E wind at 10 mph. Water temp 81 degrees. Caught 5 walleyes, 1 northern pike and 9 largemouth bass. Fished the weedlines in 20 ft of water. Almost all of the fish were caught on lindy rigged nightcrawlers off the weedline. The best location was just west of the Yacht Club.
7/7/12 - Lake Geneva, sunny, 93 degrees, SW wind at 10 mph. Water temp 80 degrees. Caught 5 largemouth and 4 smallmouth. Drifted nightcrawlers in 12-17 ft of water. Fished by the Military Academy, Belvidere Park and Abbey Springs. Caught a lot of fish but most were small.
7/4/12 - Lake Geneva, sunny, 95 degrees, SW winds at 10 mph. Water temp 78 degrees. Caught 9 smallmouth, 5 largemouth, and one 33 inch northern pike. Fished by the Military Academy in 15 ft of water using lindy rigged nightcrawlers. The wind was perfect for drifting. The best bite was right at sunrise.