Delavan Lake 5/20/12 through 5/27/12
With the warmer weather, fishing on Delavan has been improving every day. Most of the fish species have been very active.
Northern pike action remains fair. The fish are located in 6-7 ft of water. The best approach is fishing small or medium suckers beneath a Thill big fish slip bobber. You want to position the bait a foot or two above the weed growth. The best location has been in Viewcrest, Highland Bay or by Browns Channel.
Crappies are in two stages, some are spawning and some are preparing to spawn. The active fish are in 7-8 ft of water. The best presentation is small purple or pink plastics fished on a 1/32 oz jig. Look for the fish by Browns Channel or over by the old marina on the north shore. When it is calm out, the easiest way to locate active fish is watching for little boils they create on the surface as they are feeding on insects.
Largemouth bass like the crappies are in two different patterns. Some of the largemouth are still spawning while others are spawned out. The spawned out fish have moved out to the weedline in 12-13 ft of water. The spawners are still in less than 3 ft of water. The best locations have been by Lake Lawn Lodge or west of the Yacht Club.
Bluegills remain in the shallows in 4-5 ft of water. They can be caught by Lake Lawn Lodge or in Viewcrest Bay. The best approach is a small ice jig tipped with a red worm or wax worm. The fish I’ve been catching are still filled with eggs.
Walleye action has started to improve. The fish I’ve been catching are in 12-14 ft of water. My best luck has come while fishing nightcrawlers on a lindy rig. I use about an 18 inch snell with a painted hook. I either like a blood colored or chartreuse colored hook. Good locations are the Oriental boat house or by Assembly park. Walleye fishing should continue to get better in the next few weeks and then the fish will go deep.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050