Half Day Fishing on Delavan or Geneva Lake
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Five-hour private fishing trip with 40-year veteran Captain John ReddyModern 18' Alumacraft boat equipped with GPS and advanced fishfinder electronicsOpen water season runs March through November on Wisconsin lakes
Looking for a top-rated fishing experience in Wisconsin's Lakes Country? Captain John Reddy has been putting anglers on fish for over four decades across two of the state's most productive waters. This private half-day trip gives you exclusive access to his local knowledge, proven techniques, and the kind of hands-on instruction that turns good days into great ones. Whether you're looking to dial in your bass fishing or chase multi-species action, you'll spend five solid hours working the best spots on either Delavan or Geneva Lake.
You'll fish from Captain John's updated 18-foot Alumacraft, a boat built for Wisconsin's inland waters and rigged with everything needed for a successful day. Modern GPS keeps you on the productive spots, while advanced fishfinder electronics help locate fish and structure below. The live bait well means you'll always have fresh offerings when the fish demand the real thing. This is a completely private charter, so you get personalized attention and can focus on the techniques and species that interest you most. The season runs from open water through ice-up, typically March through November, giving you months of opportunity to get out there. Don't forget your Wisconsin fishing license – it's required and strictly enforced on these waters.
Captain John adapts his approach based on conditions, season, and what's biting. You'll learn casting techniques for working shoreline structure where bass and pike ambush prey, precision jigging for crappie suspended over deeper basins, and trolling methods that cover water efficiently when fish are scattered. The boat's electronics play a crucial role in locating schools of fish and identifying the bottom structure that holds them. Live bait from the onboard well gives you an edge when fish are finicky, while artificial lures let you cover more water and trigger reaction strikes. This hands-on instruction means you'll leave with skills and knowledge you can use on future trips, not just a cooler full of fish.
Largemouth Bass are the bread and butter of both lakes, with fish ranging from schooling juveniles to hefty five-pound-plus adults that patrol deeper weed edges and rocky points. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action as these fish feed aggressively before and after the spawn. They're exciting to catch because they fight hard and often jump, plus they're abundant enough that you'll get multiple shots throughout the day. Smallmouth Bass provide a different challenge, typically holding near rocky structure and drop-offs where they ambush crayfish and minnows. These bronze fighters are pound-for-pound some of the strongest fish in freshwater, making screaming runs and aerial displays that'll get your heart pumping.
Walleye fishing peaks during low-light periods and cooler months, with these marble-eyed predators schooling in predictable locations that Captain John has mapped over decades of fishing these waters. They're prized for their delicate white meat and the finesse required to feel their subtle bites. Northern Pike add an element of surprise to any trip, with these toothy predators capable of explosive strikes and bulldogging fights. They lurk in weedy bays and along vegetation lines, ready to crush anything that looks like an easy meal. Crappie fishing can be absolutely phenomenal during their spring spawn and again in fall, with schools of slab-sided fish holding tight to structure where you can catch multiple fish from the same spot.
This world-class fishing experience puts you on two of Wisconsin's most consistent lakes with a guide who's forgotten more about these waters than most anglers ever learn. Captain John's four decades of experience means you'll fish the right spots with the right techniques at the right times, maximizing your chances for a memorable day. The private charter format ensures personalized instruction and the flexibility to target whatever species interests you most. With the season running from ice-out through late fall, there's never been a better time to experience what makes Delavan and Geneva Lakes customer favorites among serious anglers. Book your half-day trip and discover why anglers keep coming back year after year to fish with Captain John Reddy.
Step aboard this well-maintained 18' Alumacraft and get ready to fish Wisconsin's premier lakes with confidence. Powered by a reliable Yamaha 90 HP outboard, this stable platform cuts through the water smoothly while giving you plenty of room to work your lines. The onboard GPS keeps you on track to the hottest fishing spots, while the advanced fishfinder reveals exactly what's swimming below. The live bait well keeps your minnows and leeches fresh and lively throughout your trip. This boat's design handles everything from casting along weed lines to trolling open water for walleye and bass. With room for gear, coolers, and comfortable seating, you'll spend more time focused on fishing and less time cramped up. Captain John has fine-tuned this setup over decades of guiding on Delavan and Geneva Lakes, so every piece of equipment serves a purpose in putting more fish in the boat.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusBoth black and white crappie call our lakes home, averaging 8-12 inches and weighing around a pound. These schooling fish love hanging around brush piles, fallen trees, and deeper weed edges in 6-15 feet of water. Spring is absolutely prime time when they move shallow to spawn, but they bite year-round if you find the schools. Guests love crappie fishing because they're consistent biters and make outstanding table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're perfect for families since kids can catch plenty once you locate a school. During cooler months, try vertical jigging small jigs or live minnows around structure. Here's a local secret: look for them suspended over deep water basins during summer using your electronics, then drop small jigs right to their level.
Micropterus SalmoidesLargemouths are the heavyweight champions of our lakes, typically running 12-24 inches and 1-4 pounds. These green-backed fighters love shallow, weedy areas around downed timber and drop-offs. They're most active during spring and fall when water temps are comfortable, but you can catch them all season long. What makes them special? That famous fight - they'll jump, shake, and pull drag like crazy. Plus, they're excellent table fare when handled properly. Spring through early summer is prime time, especially around the spawn when they're protecting beds in 3-8 feet of water. My go-to trick on these lakes: work a Texas-rigged plastic worm slowly along weedlines during low-light periods. Those big females can't resist it.
Esox LuciusNorthern pike are our lakes' apex predators, running 24-36 inches and 3-8 pounds of pure muscle and teeth. These ambush hunters patrol shallow bays, weed edges, and drop-offs, especially areas with good cover. Spring right after ice-out and fall are prime times, though they're catchable all season. What gets anglers fired up? The explosive strikes and bulldogging fights - plus they're always a surprise catch that can happen anytime. They prefer cooler water, so they move deeper during hot summer months. Their aggressive nature makes them willing to hit big lures and live bait. Always bring pliers and a net - those razor teeth demand respect. Here's my trick: cast large spoons or spinnerbaits along weedlines and retrieve them just fast enough to keep them off bottom. When pike are following but not hitting, pause your lure - that often triggers the strike.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouths are pound-for-pound the hardest fighting fish in these lakes, averaging 12-18 inches with bronze sides and red eyes. They live around rocky points, gravel bars, and boulder fields in 5-20 feet of water. Spring and fall are peak seasons when they're most active, though they bite all year. What makes them special? Pure fighting spirit - they'll jump repeatedly and never give up easily. They prefer clearer water than their largemouth cousins and are incredibly fun on light tackle. Early morning and evening produce the best action, especially during calm conditions. While they're good eating, many anglers release them to fight another day. My local tip: work small jigs or tube baits around rocky structure during windy conditions. The wave action triggers feeding and makes them less spooky than on calm days.
Sander VitreusWalleyes are the gold standard for eating fish around here, typically running 14-20 inches with those distinctive glowing eyes. These bottom-huggers prefer rocky areas, drop-offs, and weed edges in 8-25 feet of water. They're most active during low-light periods - dawn, dusk, and overcast days are money time. What draws anglers back? That buttery, flaky meat that's absolutely unbeatable on the plate. Spring and fall offer the hottest action, though they bite all season if you adjust your approach. They move deeper during bright, sunny days and come shallow to feed when light dims. My favorite technique here is slowly dragging a jig and minnow combo along bottom structure, especially rocky points and breaks. Keep your bait moving just fast enough to feel bottom contact - that subtle thump often signals a walleye pickup.
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