A great deal of the discourse between Hanna the yellow Lab, me, myself and the other three voices inside my head that only show up when fishing gets tough has to deal with the unexplainable mystery surrounding Delavan’s legendary yellow perch. DNR biologist Doug Welch confirmed there are true giants in the 12- to 14-inch range here that regularly turn up in DNR surveys. The surveys indicate that the perch population is of low density with only a couple of year-classes represented. Every once in awhile you catch a whopper perch while fishing the deep weed edges for bluegills or jigging for walleyes, but you’ll seldom see more than one or two in a mixed-bag limit of panfish.

Could predators be the reason for this? Delavan has an incredible population of adult walleyes. Welch estimates there are 11,868 adult walleyes swimming in the lake, amounting to about 5.7 adult walleyes per acre. The biologist also says the northern pike population is “approaching the ideal” in this water, with an estimated 4,895 adult fish in the lake. Muskies swim in Delavan, too, with a low-density population and 40-inch minimum in place. The biggest muskie in last spring’s survey measured 43 inches by a technician well versed in how to read a tape.

The same survey revealed a “fair” population of smallmouth bass and a “good” population of largemouth bass, with the biggest specimen of this self-perpetuating population measuring over 24 inches.

Last winter may have been tough when compared with previous years on this heavily fished southeastern Wisconsin lake. But the fish population is certainly in excellent condition, according to DNR statistics. Welch deserves the lion’s share of credit for maintaining balance in this lake that he resurrected from dirty-mudhole status almost 20 years ago.

Keeping Delavan in balance requires constant and judicious monitoring, which is one reason why this lake has a full-time fisheries technician who began doing a yearlong creel survey last May. This person will be doing daytime and nighttime surveys five days a week all winter long, and is certainly a good resource for fish activity levels. Find this person, and you will gain knowledge.

Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle is another good source of information. The bait shop phone number is (262) 245-6150.

For lodging or other amenities, contact the Delavan Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-624-0052, or on the Web at DelavanWI.org.

See you out on the ice!