Delavan Lake near Delavan: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Delavan Lake is a Walworth County water, Wisconsin side. Elevation runs to 922 feet. Surface area runs to roughly 3.0 sq miles, so plan for one area rather than the whole. You have roughly 16 miles of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. Nothing else we list in Walworth County covers more water. Nearest town is Delavan, 2.7 miles off. It is 35 miles to Rockford, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Delavan Lake

  Published depth figures reach 50 feet at the lowest point. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name common carp, bluegill and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Treat Delavan Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 72°F in July and bottoms out near 18°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. Climate averages put the opening at about late March and the closing near mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Delavan Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public ownership means the bank is normally open to anglers. There is a marina half a mile away for anyone bringing a boat. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Comus Lake is 2.9 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Delavan Lake for certain.