Delavan Lake Fishing Report 8/28/17 through 9/3/17
Fishing on Delavan Lake remains inconsistent. One day its fantastic and the next its very challenging. I believe this is caused by the inconsistent weather pattern and the cooler than normal temperatures, the lake is 5-10 degrees cooler than normal for late August.
The good news with the cooler water temperature is that the walleyes are showing up earlier in the year. I’m starting to catch a few each time out. The best depth is 22-25 ft of water. I’m catching them on lindy rigged nightcrawlers. Main lake points are currently the best place to try for them, with Willow Point getting the nod as the best location.
Largemouth bass fishing has been great. The fish are in 12-14 ft of water. The one thing different than normal is that the fish aren’t in big schools so you need to move around more to find the active fish. I’ve been keeping the boat moving and not spending much time in any one location. They can be caught on nightcrawlers or drop shotting wacky rigged worms or small finesse worms.
With the cooler than normal water temperature, smallmouth bass fishing is improving. I’m starting to pick some up on medium suckers or on lindy rigged nightcrawlers. It seems that the best depth is 18-20 ft of water. The best location has been by DelMar or just west of the Yacht Club. The smallmouth action will continue to improve as the fall approaches.
For me, northern pike fishing has been very slow. I think the fish are shallower than I’ve been fishing. I’m catching one here or there but nothing with any consistency. I’m basically still just dragging medium suckers around the weed edge in 15-17 ft of water. It make sense to look in 12-14 ft of water with shallow diving crank baits in a perch pattern.
Bluegills are in the 12-13 ft depth range. They’ve been schooled up in front of the beach by Township Park or in front of the point at Assembly Park. The best approach is either a wax worm on an ice jig in chartreuse color or a leaf worm fished on a small split shot drifted right above bottom.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063