Fishing Guide to Lake Geneva and Walworth County
Quick answer: Geneva Lake is the area’s best all-around fishery: smallmouth bass, walleye, pike and deep-water lake trout and ciscoes in 5,401 acres of clear water. Delavan Lake is the pick for walleye and musky, and shallow Lake Como is the bass and pike lake.
Anyone 16 or older needs a Wisconsin fishing license. Rules change lake by lake, so look up your lake on the DNR site before you keep anything.
About 26 lakes sit within 21 miles of downtown Lake Geneva, and they fish very differently. A deep, spring-fed lake and a 9-foot weedy one call for different gear, different seasons and sometimes different size limits.
This guide covers where to go, what’s biting each season, who to hire and where to buy bait. For every lake’s size and access, see the 26 lakes guide.
Where should you fish?
Lake Geneva area fishing lakes compared
Size and depth from Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages. “Top species” are those the DNR rates abundant or common.
| Lake | Acres / depth | Top species | Best season | Public launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Lake | 5,401 / 135 ft | Smallmouth, walleye, pike, trout, cisco | Spring, fall, ice | Several |
| Delavan Lake | 1,906 / 52 ft | Walleye, musky, bass, pike, panfish | Spring, fall | 4 |
| Lake Como | 955 / 9 ft | Largemouth, pike, panfish | Early season, ice | 2 |
| Lauderdale Lakes | 841 / 57 ft | Walleye, bass, pike, panfish | Summer, fall | Green and Mill |
| Lake Beulah | 812 / 58 ft | Largemouth, pike, panfish | Summer | Fee launch |
| Lake Elizabeth | 725 / 32 ft | Largemouth, panfish, pike, walleye | Spring, ice | 2 |
| Whitewater Lake | 625 / 35 ft | Walleye, largemouth, pike, bluegill | Spring, fall | State sticker |
| Powers Lake | 451 / 33 ft | Largemouth, walleye, pike, panfish | Summer | Off County F |
| Browns Lake | 397 / 44 ft | Largemouth, pike, panfish, walleye | Summer | Fischer Park (fee) |
| Lake Mary | 327 / 33 ft | Panfish, largemouth, walleye | Ice | Lance Park |
| Lily Lake | 85 / 22 ft | Largemouth, panfish, pike | Summer | Tiny lot |
The best fishing lakes, ranked
1. Geneva Lake
SmallmouthLake troutVery clearDeep, spring-fed and rated very clear by the DNR. Smallmouth are the headline, with largemouth, walleye, pike, lake trout, ciscoes and panfish.
The clarity makes fish spooky. Light fluorocarbon, long casts and early-morning or evening trips work best. In summer, lake trout go deep and anglers use downriggers.
Tip: Boat traffic is heavy from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on summer weekends. Fish at first light and be off the water by 10.
2. Delavan Lake
WalleyeMuskyThe best multi-species lake in the area: walleye, musky, largemouth and smallmouth, pike and strong panfish. Fish the weed lines in summer and rock humps in fall.
Tip: Delavan has tighter limits than Geneva. Bass are 18 inches and 1 per day, pike are 32 inches and 1 per day, and musky are 40 inches (2026-27 rules).
3. Lake Como
LargemouthPikeShallow and weedy, so it warms first in spring and fishes early. The DNR rates largemouth and northern pike abundant. Weedless plastics and spinnerbaits are the move.
4. Lauderdale Lakes
WalleyeSpring-fedGreen, Middle and Mill lakes connect by channel. Walleye, largemouth, smallmouth, pike and panfish.
5. Whitewater Lake
WalleyeBluegillA solid walleye lake with largemouth, pike and good-sized bluegill. The state launch requires a vehicle admission sticker.
More lakes worth fishing
Lake Beulah
Deep and clear. Largemouth, pike and panfish, plus some smallmouth and walleye.
Powers Lake
Clear water with abundant largemouth and common walleye and pike.
Twin Lakes: Elizabeth, Mary and Lily
Elizabeth for bluegill, crappie and bass. Mary for bass, walleye and winter crappie from Lance Park. Lily is small, very clear and known for big largemouth, but trailer parking is tight.
Browns and Bohners lakes
Browns launches from Fischer County Park (fee). Bohners is a good kayak bass lake.
Small and shallow lakes
Pleasant, Potters, Turtle, Rice, Wandawega, North, Lorraine, Eagle Spring, Phantom, Blue Spring, Lower Spring and Honey lakes all hold panfish, largemouth and pike. Honey Lake is carry-in with electric motors only. Benedict has no public launch, and Booth’s launch is limited to East Troy residents.
What’s biting by season
Fall (September to November)
Trophy season. Pike move shallow in Williams Bay, walleye stack on Delavan’s rock humps, and bass feed hard before ice. Use big suckers, chubs and larger crankbaits.
Musky season on open water closes December 31.
Winter (December to February)
Ice fishing for ciscoes and lake trout on Geneva, panfish on Mary, Como and Lorraine, and pike and walleye on tip-ups. Panfish season is open all year.
Spring (March to May)
Shallow bays and channels warm first. Panfish are open year-round. Walleye, pike and bass harvest seasons opened May 2 in 2026 (the first Saturday in May). Lake Como fishes early for largemouth.
Use jerkbaits, slow plastics and live minnows.
Summer (June to August)
Fish go deep or tuck into weed edges. Downrig for lake trout on Geneva; work weed lines on Delavan for musky and pike. Dawn and dusk are best, and you’ll avoid the boat traffic.
Free Fishing Weekend is the first full weekend in June: no license needed.
Ice fishing around Lake Geneva
When and where
CiscoesPanfishTip-upsShallow lakes like Como and Lorraine freeze first. Geneva Lake is deep and freezes later and less predictably. Williams Bay is the most popular spot on Geneva once it locks up.
Tungsten jigs with waxies for panfish. Tip-ups with golden shiners or suckers for pike and walleye.
Tip: No ice is ever guaranteed safe. Call a local bait shop for current conditions before you walk out, and stay away from springs, inlets and pressure ridges.
Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle runs guided ice trips with a shack and ATV transport. Free Fishing Weekend in winter is the third full weekend in January. See the winter activities guide for more.
Fishing guides near Lake Geneva
A half-day with a guide is the fastest way to learn a new lake. Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead for summer weekends.
Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle Guide Service
Geneva and DelavanIce tripsOpen-water and ice trips. 4-hour trips run about $250. The shop also rents boats and sells live bait.
Dave Duwe’s Fishing Guide Service
Delavan specialistMore than 25 years guiding Delavan, Geneva and other Walworth County lakes. Now booking 2026 trips.
Guide IDE Fishing
Fishes Geneva, Delavan, Beulah, Como, Whitewater, Eagle Spring, Phantom and beyond. Good fit for beginners.
The Hook Up Guide Service
Geneva and Delavan, open water and ice. Other lakes on request.
In The Flow Fly Fishing
Fly fishingGuided fly fishing on southern Wisconsin rivers and streams. Trout waters need an inland trout stamp.
Bait shops and gear
Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle
Live bait, lures, ice gear, boat and motor rentals and guiding. The first stop for most Geneva Lake anglers.
More bait and tackle stops
Lakeside Bait & Tackle
Live bait, tackle and boat rentals for Delavan Lake.
Bloomfield Bait
24-hour self-serve bait, cash only. Handy for early trips to Powers and the Twin Lakes.
Heyer True Value Hardware
A small-town hardware store with a sporting goods aisle. Good for line and terminal tackle.
Fleet Farm and Dunham’s Sports
Full fishing departments for rods, reels and ice gear.
License and rules
Who needs a license: anyone 16 or older. Kids 15 and under fish free. Buy online through Go Wild, at a bait shop or at a DNR Service Center. Trout waters need a $10 inland trout stamp.
Rules vary by lake. Look up your lake in the DNR lake regulation lookup before you keep a fish. Here’s how 3 nearby lakes differ for 2026-27:
| Species | Geneva Lake | Delavan Lake | Lake Como |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass (largemouth and smallmouth) | 14 in., 5/day | 18 in., 1/day | 14 in., 5/day |
| Walleye | 18 in., 3/day | 18 in., 3/day | 18 in., 3/day |
| Northern pike | No minimum, 5/day | 32 in., 1/day | 26 in., 2/day |
| Musky | 50 in., 1/day | 40 in., 1/day | 40 in., 1/day |
| Panfish | Open all year, 25/day | Open all year, 25/day | Open all year, 25/day |
Walleye, pike and bass seasons run May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 on these lakes. Musky closes December 31 on open water. Full details are in the DNR’s 2026-2027 hook and line regulations.
Eating your catch: under the DNR’s statewide guideline, most adults can eat panfish without limit and walleye, pike, bass and catfish up to 4 meals a month. Kids under 15 and anyone pregnant or planning to be should eat less. See DNR safe-eating guidelines.
Clean, drain, dry. Remove plants and animals and drain all water from your boat, livewell and bait bucket before leaving any launch.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Geneva Lake | Most species, clearest water |
| Best walleye | Delavan Lake | Strong population, rock humps |
| Best bass and pike | Lake Como | Both rated abundant by the DNR |
| Best musky | Delavan Lake | Weed lines, 40-in. minimum |
| Best ice fishing | Williams Bay on Geneva | Ciscoes, trout and panfish |
| Best with kids | Lance Park, Lake Mary | Pier, beach and panfish |
| Best kayak fishing | Bohners Lake | Small, quiet, bass |
Mistakes visiting anglers make
Assuming one set of rules. Delavan’s bass limit is 18 inches and 1 fish; Geneva’s is 14 inches and 5.
Fishing Geneva at midday in July. Clear water plus boat wakes equals slow fishing. Go at dawn.
Forgetting the state park sticker. Whitewater Lake’s launch requires one.
Trusting early ice. Shallow lakes freeze weeks before Geneva. Ask a bait shop.
If you’re thinking about a place on the water
Anglers look at different things than swimmers. Shallow lakes like Como hold more bass and pike; deep lakes like Geneva and Beulah hold cold-water fish. Frontage on a channel or bay often means calmer water and earlier ice.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a fishing license to fish Lake Geneva?
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a Wisconsin fishing license. Kids 15 and under fish free. Buy one online through the DNR’s Go Wild system, at a bait shop or at a DNR Service Center.
What fish are in Geneva Lake?
Smallmouth bass (rated abundant by the DNR), largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, lake trout, ciscoes and panfish like bluegill, perch and crappie.
What is the best lake near Lake Geneva for walleye?
Delavan Lake, about 10 miles west. Whitewater Lake and the Lauderdale Lakes also hold walleye. On all 3 nearby lakes checked, the walleye minimum is 18 inches with a 3-fish daily limit for 2026-27.
Can you eat fish from Geneva Lake and Delavan Lake?
Yes, following DNR safe-eating guidelines. Most adults can eat panfish without limit and walleye, pike and bass up to 4 meals a month. Kids under 15 and anyone pregnant should eat less, and musky should be eaten rarely or not at all.
When does ice fishing start around Lake Geneva?
Usually late December or early January, lasting into late February or March. Shallow lakes like Como freeze first; Geneva Lake freezes later. No ice is ever guaranteed safe, so check with a local bait shop first.
What’s the best lake for kids and beginners?
Panfish lakes with easy shore access: Lance Park on Lake Mary in Twin Lakes, Lake Como and Delavan Lake. Bobbers and worms will catch bluegill all summer.
Can you rent a fishing boat at Lake Geneva?
Yes. Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle in Williams Bay rents boats and motors, Lakeside Bait & Tackle rents on Delavan Lake, and marinas on Geneva Lake rent pontoons.
When is Wisconsin’s free fishing weekend?
Twice a year: the third full weekend in January and the first full weekend in June. No license or trout stamp is needed, but all other rules apply.
Want a dock of your own?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty work every lake in this guide, from Geneva Lake and Delavan Lake frontage to cottages on Como, Powers and the Lauderdale chain.
Search lake properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.