Lake Geneva Fishing report 8.24.15 through 8.31.15
Lake Geneva remains in the summer patterns, although the bite throughout the lake has been off some. There are still fish to be caught but the game fish bite has been reduced.
Largemouth bass fishing has been spotty throughout the lake. The best locations have been the weed line in Trinkes or Geneva Bay. The best concentration of larger fish has been in 16-24 ft of water on the outside of the weed edge. They can be caught dragging football head jigs or Carolina rigging green pumpkin lizards. Live bait fishermen have been catching a few in the shallow waters near the South Shore Club and Abbey Springs. In the shallow depths, the average size has been 12-14 inches.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been hit or miss. Some days I catch 10-15 fish and the next day I struggle to catch 1 or 2. The key to the smallmouth bass bite has been finding pods of bait fish in the deeper waters. I’ve been concentrating on fish that are in 21-30 ft of water. The fish are on deep under water structure. Look for the fish by Yerkes Observatory and the beach in Fontana. The best approach is lindy rigged nightcrawlers or extra large fat head minnows.
Bluegill fishing has been the best bite on the lake. The fish are in 18-20 ft of water. You want to fish leaf worms fished on a small split shot rig straight beneath the boat. The best locations have been by Elgin Club or by Gage Marina.
Rock bass fishing has been good. The bigger fish are in the schools of smallmouth in 22-28 ft of water. The best locations have been by South Shore Club or Yerkes Observatory. With the smallmouth bass bite being slow, the rock bass add a little action.
Yellow Perch are in the 10-12 ft depth range. Look for the fish by Conference Point and Cisco Beach. They are being caught on small fat head minnows fished on a slip bobber. As always on Lake Geneva, you need to catch a whole bunch to get a decent keeper bag. Look for the fish in the scattered weed beds associated with sand.
Walleye fishing has been difficult. The only consistent bite is at night. Remember you only want to fish the nights where there is some wind. A calm night won’t produce much action. Work a depth of 15-20 ft of water. Try for them using large Rapalas or crawler harnesses fished above the weeds.
Northern Pike have started to feed. They are on the thermocline in 33-35 ft of water. My best catches have been by Cedar Point and by Abbey Springs. The best approach is lindy rigged medium suckers slowly electric motor trolled.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050