Lake Geneva Fishing report 7/23/17 through 7/30/17
Lake Geneva has not been affected by the flood waters as much as other area lakes. The bite is pretty consistent for this time of year. The bass are deep, so are the northern pike and the walleyes are biting at night.
The largemouth bass are in 15-18 ft of water. The best bite has been by the 700 club, just east of Linn Pier or by Colemans Point. By far the best drop shot lure has been a 4 inch chompers worm with red and purple flake in green pumpkin color. The dropper length should be about 12 inches. The bass have been schooling so if you catch one, you may be able to catch up to 20. The only issue is that the overall size has been 12-15 inches.
Northern pike action has been good in the 30-33 ft depth range. The best location has been by Fontana Beach and the west shore of Williams Bay. Lindy rigged chubs or suckers have been producing most of the action.
Bluegill fishing has been the best bite on the lake. They are on the outside weed edge in 18-22 ft of water. The best location has been by Elgin Club or Gage Marine. You want to use trout worms about 6 inches to 1 foot off bottom on a split shot rig.
Walleye fishing has been very good at night. Large Rapalas in chrome and black and gold and black have been producing most of the action. Look for them by the weed flats in 12-15 ft of water. You want to troll the bait about 170 ft behind your planer boards at about 1.7 mph. The best time is about midnight until 3 a.m.
Smallmouth bass have been difficult to find. If you happen to find pods of minnows, you may find the smallmouth chasing behind. The best spot I’ve found has been by Gage Marine or by the South Shore Club. The fish I’ve been catching have been in 25-30 ft of water. The fish are coming on drop shot rigs with small sassy shads in pearl and black or small grubs.
Rock bass fishing has been all right. Most of the fish I’ve been catching are coming off the deep weed line in 12-15 ft of water. Try for them using nightcrawlers on a splt shot rig. Due to the depth, live bait is working best.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050