THE HEAT IS ON-SO IS THE BITE!

Delavan Lake surface temps have reached 83 degrees setting off a great schooling largemouth bass bite.  My clients over the weekend reaped the benefits of the bite landing over 15 largemouths 20" with 3 at 21" and 5 3/4 pounds.  We did well fishing crawlers and leeches, but tubes, swim baits and wacky rigged Senkos seal the deal.  Fishing near the main points on the lake along with deep weed beds paid off.  Fish areas such as Browns Channel, the Island or the corner near Lake Lawn Resort and Assembly Park.

The walleyes are holding on the outer weed line out to 22 feet of water.  Lindy rigging small suckers, leeches or crawlers have worked well with many in the 16-19" range.  West of the Yacht Club, the Island and Browns Channel have been great producers. 

Northern pike are still hitting suckers and chubs if you can find them.  Fishing in 24-32 feet of water has been the magic depth landing fish on Lindy rigs and clicker reel set-ups.  I fished mainly the north shore with our south-southwest winds last week.  

Big Bluegill are holding in 12-15 feet of water drop-shotting crawlers or using a Hali spoon fishing vertically.  I have also caught many fishing for walleye and bass incidentally. Fish the large flat weed beds near Willow Point, Yacht Club and Assembly Park.

Perch continue to bite along Assembly Park, Community Beach and the Island in 12-20 feet of water.

Crappies have been suspended 10-15 down in 35-45 feet of water.  I have caught a few drifting with small jigs in 10-12 feet over weeds on windy days.

Geneva Lake is not too far behind Delavan with surface temps at 79 degrees this morning.  The thermo cline seems to be between 25 and 30 feet. 

Northern pike have been hitting chubs and suckers, chubs getting the nod.  25-32 feet is a productive range Lindy rigging your offering.

Smallmouth have been caught in 15-30 feet of water.  Smallies have been hitting suckers and chubs while fishing pike, but dragging crawlers or drop-shotting has been producing.  Back-trolling Senkos or tubes has also produced.  Find a pod of fish-work them by casting an area thoroughly.

Blue gills and perch have been caught drifting weeds in 12-15 feet of water with a solid rock bass to go along with them.

The lake trout bite has slowed a bit with the heat, but many fish are suspended in between the thermo clines in 40-60 feet of water the first 2 hours of the day.  Trolling blue and nickel spoons have been the ticket.  Peanut flies 18-24” behind #0 dodgers have also been working.

Wind Lake in Racine County has been producing largemouth bass and northern pike in 12-18 feet of water.  Casting leeches up to the weeds has produced a mixed bag of pan fish and game fish.  This past week we landed a nice 5 pound channel cat while fishing for walleyes in the early morning fishing leeches.

Grass Island, Wood Island and the deep east shoreline concentrating on 12-22 feet of water has produced.

Chatter baits, spinner baits and swim jigs have taken northern pike and largemouth bass.  Wacky rigged Senkos or Curltail worms have taken nice bass in 6-8 feet of water.

The bite on the Rock River and Koshkonong has softened quite a bit.  Not much to report other than wait for the heat wave to move on through.  I will report in the next week or so.

Take care this week and stay hydrated and wear light colors if you choose to venture out fishing this week.  Make sure to take precautions to stay safe and good fishing!