Geneva Lake
One of Wisconsin's deepest inland lakes, ringed by Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, and Fontana. The water is very clear and cold at depth, which supports smallmouth bass, walleye, and a stocked trout fishery.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Abundant. Rocky points and drop-offs. Tubes, drop-shots, and jerkbaits in the clear water.
Lake Trout
Stocked. Deep, cold water in summer. Downriggers or vertical jigging.
Walleye
Night bite along weedlines and deep breaks.
Largemouth Bass
Shallow bays and piers.
Northern Pike
Weed edges in the bays. Tip-ups through the ice.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Lake Trout | ||||||||||||
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike |
Boat launches
4 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- City of Lake Geneva LaunchFee328 Wrigley Dr. Fee. Open 24 hoursDirections ↗
- Williams Bay LaunchFee89 E. Geneva St, Williams Bay. Fee. Open 24 hoursDirections ↗
- Fontana LaunchFeeLake Ave, Fontana. Fee. Open 24 hoursDirections ↗
- Town of Linn LaunchesFeeTwo launches on the south shore, off Linn Rd and Hillside Rd. FeeDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027 | 18 in | 3 / day |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027 | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike Open May 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2 to Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 50 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Trout See specific trout regulations | Varies | Varies |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Geneva Lake Bait & TackleNearby2885 State Road 67, Williams Bay(262) 245-6150Directions ↗
- Dunham's Sports3.7 mi421 South Wright Street, Delavan(262) 728-1992Directions ↗
- Dunham's Sports11.1 mi1120 Milwaukee Avenue, Burlington(262) 763-2476Directions ↗
Local tips
- Very clear water: use light fluorocarbon line and natural colors.
- The public shore path around the entire lake gives shore anglers access to lots of water.
- Bass season opens in May. Check the dates before targeting them.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Geneva Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.