Lake Geneva Fishing Report 5/26/19 through 6/2/19
This has been one of the coldest springs I can recall. The smallmouth bass are just starting to spawn and most years they would be totally done by now. Overall fishing has been improving daily with the warmer weather.
Rock bass are starting to show up everywhere around the lake in 7-12 ft of water. The best approach is a split shot rigged fathead minnow drifted or motor trolled at a very slow pace. The best location has been by Belvidere Park or by the Military Academy.
Largemouth bass have been moving in the shallows. The best depth is 3-7 ft of water. They are located in and around the piers on the north shore. The best approach is fishing a Senko in green pumpkin or a split shot rigged nightcrawlers. They are preparing spawn and will be aggressively hitting for the next week. Some of my best fish last week were caught in Abbey Harbor by the outwash of the docked boats.
Smallmouth bass still remain scattered. They are located in and around the spawning flats. They have not begun to spawn that I’ve noticed. The fish I’ve caught have been by Belvidere Park or Elgin Club. Most of the fish I’m catching are on a split shot rigged minnow or on white hair jigs. The split shot rigged minnows are being drifted across the bottom, while the hair jigs are being fished 3-4 ft up off bottom trying to imitate a shiner.
Yellow Perch action has been very good by Knollwood or by Belvidere Park. The fish are in 7-9 ft of water. They can be caught on Thill bobbers fished with a small fathead minnow. You want to position the bait 1-2 ft off bottom. Sand bottom with scattered weeds have been the key locations for success.
Northern pike remain in the shallow weed flats in Fontana, Williams Bay or Geneva Bay. The best approach is trolling large perch colored spinner baits at about 1.5 mph. Look for the fish in 10-12 ft of water.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050