Delavan Lake Fishing Report 5.22.17 through 5.28.17
This spring has been crazy with up and down temps, a lot of rain and excessive wind. The fish has been tough to pattern and the bite is inconsistent. If the weather stabilizes, we should start to see some improvement as they move into their normal spring patterns.
Early in the week, the water temperature was 10 degrees warmer than it is at the time of this writing. The largemouth had been very active early in the week but now they are slow to bite. As the lake heats back up, they should get hungry again. The best baits have been split shot rigged nightcrawlers or Wacky rigged root beer red flake Senkos. The best depth has been 3-5 ft of water.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been spotty. A lot of the fish have been in the shallows in 4-6 ft of water. Most of the fish I’ve been catching have been by the marina at Lake Lawn. The best bait has been split shot rigged nightcrawlers. When I’ve been finding them on the main lake points, they’ve preferred split shot rigged fat head minnows. My biggest smallmouth last week was 19 inches.
Bluegills have been in the 2-3 ft depth range. Most of my success is coming on the West end in Viewcrest Bay tight to shore. The best approach is small leaf worms fished about 1 foot beneath the surface. The blugills have been averaging about 7 inches with some large ones mixed in. You need to move around to find the bigger fish. The spawn is still a few weeks away.
Walleyes are being caught in the mid depth weeds in 12-14 ft of water. The best location has been by Willow Point or by the Oriental boat house. The best approach is either a split shot rigged fat head minnow or an 1/8 oz jig tipped with a fat head minnow.
Northern pike action has been all right in the weedy bays of Viewcrest or the Highlands. The best depth has been 10-12 ft of water. Fished a sucker minnow about 4 ft beneath the surface is the best approach. Use a Thill slip bobber and keep the bait about 1 foot above the weeds.
Crappie fishing has been hit or miss. The crappies I’ve been catching have been in 10-12 ft of water. Small fat head minnows have been producing most of the action. I’ve done the best by Browns Channel or by Belvidere condos.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call or text Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063