Fishing on Lake Koshkonong

Wisconsin Sportsman

LAKE KOSHKONONG
Koshkonong is different from Delavan and Geneva in that it is associated with a river. The pike that hang out in the lake most of the year will migrate into the river during the summer. "In the spring and early summer, guys catch pike when fishing for walleyes with flathead minnows," Reddy said. "In the river, you can cast Rat-L-Traps in a sheepshead pattern or other minnow-style baits. The fish will be as shallow as 1-5 feet. There are a lot of snags such as downed trees, so lipless baits that run 3 feet down are best."

In the summer, when the fish are in the lake, the best spots are in Stinkers Bay, Haight Bay, Bringham Point and Blackhawk Island. You'll want to troll minnow-style baits some 15 feet behind the boat with planer boards. This way, your baits will run 3-4 feet deep. Husky Jerks and Shad Raps work well. For live bait, try a crawler harness, and don't be surprised if you get a few walleyes as well.

In the fall, the pike will move back into the river as they go after shiners. "If you can find the shiners, you will find the pike," Reddy said. "In fact, sometimes you will see the pike forcing the bait to bust the surface. A lot of guys catch pike when fishing for saugers. Just use a jig and a minnow and you will catch pike."