Lake Geneva through safe ice 10/29/12
The cold weather has taken a grip on the lakes area in Southern Wisconsin. Even my fishing habit slows quite a bit this time of the year. I’m sure I’ll be out sporadically between now and safe ice but it likely won’t be on a consistent basis. Lake Geneva has not turned over yet. The turnover should happen this week with the cooler weather. At that point, fishing will slow down and then improve again later. All the fish that I’ve been catching are currently in 22-25 ft of water, after turnover the bite will move shallow in 8-10 ft of water.
Smallmouth bass have been hitting on two different patterns. They are on their spawning flats in 9-10 ft of water or on main lake structure in 22-25 ft of water. For either location, lindy rigging large fat head minnows has been the best presentation. Look for the fish by Holiday Camp or by the old Military Academy. With the cold weather, I’ve been trying to stay out of the wind, so the best locations have been those without wind that allows you to keep your bait on the bottom. I’ve been catching some of the biggest smallmouth bass of the year this past week.
Walleye pike fishing has been above average if you can endure the cold temperatures. The best location has been in front of Yerkes Observatory, Abbey Springs or by Linn Pier. You want to work a depth of 15-18 ft of water with your lures 8-10 ft down. The best lure has been Husky Jerks or large Rapalas.
Perch fishing has been fantastic if you can sort through the small fish. It still remains that you catch 100+ fish to keep 20. The best location has been 9-12 ft in front of Belvidere Park or Knollwood. You want to use small fat head minnows underneath a small Thill slip bobber. Position the bait about 1 ft off bottom.
Rock bass have also been in the shallows in 12 ft of water. They can still be caught on small fat head minnows or nightcrawlers fished on a split shot rig. For the most part, I’ve been out in too deep of water to have many hit. If you want to avoid them, stay in the 20 ft depth range.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties for 2013 please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
Daily Report
10/28/12 Lake Geneva, cloudy, 30 degrees, winds NE at 15 mph. Water temp 52 degrees. Caught 18 smallmouth, there were about 5-6 legals. The fish were smaller than yesterday. All fish were caught on lindy rigs in 22-25 ft of water. Fished the north shore because of the winds and cold temperatures.
10/27/12 Lake Geneva, sunny, 30 degrees, winds NE at 15 mph. Water temp 52 degrees. Caught 17 smallmouth, 15 were legal with the largest being 22 inches. Was Lindy rigging extra large fat head minnows in 22-25 ft of water off the Holiday Camp. Tried other places but the wind and cold made it difficult to fish some of the prime locations.