from the summer of 2001 Dog Day Smallmouths By Steve Slutsky

As we get into the ' dog days '  of summer,  Lake Geneva can become extremely difficult to fish.  Between the high volume of  boating traffic on the lake and the warming water temperatures,  fishing for the novice or the occasional fishermen to Lake Geneva can be quite tough.    

The different fish species that exist in the lake,  continue to live out they're lives as they have been doing all year.  They have learned to adapt to the commotion during the day just as a person that works the night shift has to adapt to a different life style. 

On Lake Geneva in the summer months,  Bass,  both Largemouth and Smallmouth tend to feed exclusively at dusk and through the night and maybe a little past dawn.  Let me back up a bit.  During the day the Smallmouth will be holding deeper than most people would think with 25 to 35 feet as an average depth and tight to the drop-off.  These fish are holding in water temperatures that they are comfortable with and are generally inactive.  Though get a big fat nightcrawler in front of one and that may be too hard for them to resist.   Largemouths have similar daytime habits although they won't be quite as deep - 15 to 20 feet and also tight to bottom and in the weeds and like the Smallmouths during the daylight hours extremely inactive.      So,  those of you that have tried with little success during the daytime can see why you have been fighting a losing battle ! 

The only species that I guide for during the day, at this time of year are the Northern Pike.  They hang out at and below the thermocline from 30 to 60 feet down ( I'll talk about that another time ).    

At dusk the Smallmouth will move out of their daytime haunts and through the night will prowl the areas that you thought they were in during the day.  Some will scour the flats in search of crayfish.  Try drifting a nightcrawler and splitshot over sandgrass areas in 10 to 20 foot depths as close to the bottom as you can get.  Remember,  use an open bail with your index finger holding the line ( I use 4# Fireline).  When you feel a bite - let go of the line and give them at least 10 seconds before you close the bail.  Reel the slack in slowly until you feel the line tighten up and then set the hook !  Other Smallies will be off the bottom and gorging on the gazzilions of Mimic Shiners that move into the shallows to feed.  Here you can use just about anything that swims to catch them,  including ;  spinnerbaits, twistertails,  stickbaits and for those not prone to heart attacks,  surface lures ( remember,  we're talking about fishing in the dark here ) ! 

Largemouth again will have similar feeding habits except they will be in areas with thicker weed cover.      Now that said,  you will still see some largemouth under the docks in the middle of the day and you will see some Smallmouth breaking the surface while chasing minnows ( mostly younger fish that cannot compete at night with the adults ),  but if you want to experience real 'top notch' Bass fishing on Lake Geneva,  - YOU -  will have to learn to change your habits !     By the way,  those of us that are serious about fishing,  practice ' catch and release'.  Bring a camera with you and you'll have a memory for a lifetime.   

Good fishing to all.

 

This article originally appeared in the 'Excursions' magazine published by Southern Lake Newspapers ,in the week of August 2, 2001.

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