2009 Regional Lakes Forecasts

2009 Regional Lakes Forecasts

Walworth County

Delavan Lake - Recent fish surveys show that this 2,072 acre lake continues to support excellent populations of largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie and yellow perch. Most bass are between 12 and 18 inches and nine percent of the bass sampled were18-plus inches. Many walleye are longer than the 18-inch minimum size limit. Northern pike up to 39 inches are present and many anglers commonly catch 32-inches and larger northerns. There are plenty of bluegills and they are eight to nine-inch fish. Black crappie are common and average eight inches. Smallmouth bass are common but average 16 inches and some 19-inch fish have been sampled. This lake is a town-owned boat launch on the lake’s north side.

Geneva Lake - This is the largest lake in the southeast region at 5,262 acres and it offers a variety of game fish opportunities, especially for larger fish. Anglers have a good chance of catching a big largemouth of smallmouth bass here. Recent surveys have showed that 85 percent of the largemouth bass collected were 14 inches or larger and 10 percent were 18 inches or larger. Fish surveys also have collected black crappies up to 16 inches, yellow perch and rockbass up to 10 inches, and walleye up to 30 inches. Walleye and lake trout are stocked here with most of the lake trout between 24 and 28 inches with some 30 inches reported.
-Doug Welch, senior fisheries biologist.

Dane County

Some of the best fishing in the state lies within 20 minutes of downtown Madison. Dane county blends quality fish with abundant opportunity.

The Madison Chain - Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa lakes total almost 19,000 acres connected by the Yahara River. Lake samples in 2008 was directed at lake Kegonsa. Northern Pike in at 2,677 fish or .83 fish per acre. For comparison, a “good” Wisconsin northern pike would rate about one plus adult fish per acre. Similaly, walleye nets set in the lake caught 777 spawning fish and generated a total population of about 8,080 adult fish. At 3,209 acres, this translates roughly to 2.5 adult walleye per acre, or in the “good “ range on a statewide basis.
Crews also conducted summer panfish surveys on lake Mendota. These surveys revealed a quality bluegill resourse easily-over looked by anglers due to mendota’s large size. The average bluegill measured 8.1 inches with 60 percent of all fish measured eight inches or larger. We saw 10 percent of fish exceeding nnine inches or larger with some fish over 10 inches.
Bass and walleye numbers remain strong with good numbers showing up with many fish at trophy size precent.
Tim Larson, fish biologist Poynette.