Delavan Lake Fishing Report 7/16/12 through 7/23/12
The dry weather continues and the good fishing continues as well. Most of the fish are in their late summer pattern. The fish are a bit deeper than most people are fishing. Most of the fish are in 15-20 ft of water. The boat traffic has been crazy, you want to get to the launch before 6 a.m. and off by 11 a.m. The lake is as busy as it has ever been.
Largemouth bass are schooling on deep water points. The best depth is 15-20 ft of water. They can be caught on a split shot rigged nightcrawlers or a swimming All Terrain jig. The best color has been black and blue with a black trailer. Look for the fish west of Willow Point or by Browns Channel. All Terrain jigs can be purchased at Lakeside Bait and Tackle across the street from the boat launch. As a guide I’ve noticed that people are fishing fast, if you catch one you have the possibility of catching 10 since they are schooled up. Slow down a bit because the fish will bite on concurrent casts.
Northern pike action has been relatively slow. You can catch some while trolling the weedline in 18-20 ft of water. The action isn’t as good as years past, but if you put the time in you will catch them. The best location has been by Belvidere Park or west of the Yacht Club. I’ve been lindy rigging medium suckers in 18-20 ft of water.
Bluegill fishing has been slow. The fish have been in 15-20 ft of water. I have been catching a few however the bite has been reduced a bit. Most of the fish are being caught on split shot rigged leaf worms or hellgrammites. Look for the fish by Browns Channel or by the Yacht Club.
Walleye fishing has been above average for this time of year. Most of the fish are being caught trolling. You want to fish a crankbait in 15-20 ft of water right off the weedline. I’ve been using Bandit 300 series or deep diving Fat free shad bombers. The deal has been first light or a night for the most action.
Perch fishing has been good by the Township park or by the outlet by Assembly park. The depth has been 9-10 ft of water for the best success. You want to fish hellgrammites underneath a slip bobber.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
Daily Reports
7/15/12 - Lake Geneva, sunny, 85 degrees, SW winds at 10 mph. Water temp 79 degrees. Caught 1 largemouth, 1 smallmouth and a bunch of rock bass and bluegills. This trip was to get someone acclimated to fishing for the first time. We caught between 50 and 75 fish total. The main lake points produced the most fish.
7/14/12 - Lake Geneva, sunny, SW winds at 10 mph, air temp 80 degrees, water temp 78 degrees. Caught 6 largemouth, 4 were legal, 4 smallmouth, 2 were legal and a bunch of panfish. Fished the main lake points with a split shot rigged nightcrawler. The boat traffic was chaotic and the fish seemed to stop biting around 10 a.m.
7/13/12 - Lake Geneva, sunny, SW wind at 5 mph, 75 degrees, water temp 78 degrees. Caught 1 lake trout, 9 largemouth, and 3 smallmouth. Fished the early a.m. for lake trout and once the sun came up, fished for bass on the main lake points. Most of the success came out of 12 ft of water. A nightcrawler on a split shot produced the most fish.
7/11/12 - Lake Geneva, no wind, sunny, 60 degrees, Water temp 79 degrees. Fished for Lake Trout, caught 2 approximately 20 and 24 inches. Fished 85 ft down in 112 ft of water. Nickel/chrome spoons caught all the fish. Fished in front of Conference Point and Cedar Point.