Guide Services

In 2008 was the first time I guided on a regular basis, and really enjoyed it. Almost all my guide business were people from my fishing schools, so it was extra fun to show them how techniques that were taught in the classes worked on the water. I regret not being able to take out everyone that wanted to book me, but I just didn’t have enough dates available.

This year I will take more bookings in May and extend a little more into July. I expect an even better year because I discovered several new patterns that are deadly in May on both Lake Geneva and Lake Delavan.

Guiding on a regular basis made me a better fisherman because I could see the changes in fish location and activity levels on a day to day basis. I wasn’t just going fishing under more favorable conditions.

Drop-shotting is by far the best presentation on Lake Geneva using 4 ¾ inch Yum Houdini worms, a 1/4th ounce drop-shot sinker and a size 1 Gamagatsu drop-shot hook. On Delavan, using 5-inch soft plastic Yum Dinger rigged wacky worm style on a 1/0 Gamagatsu shiner hook caught the most fish, but other presentations were also effective.

Last years clients and those that were on the waiting list will get first crack on dates. Then will come those in this spring’s classes. After that the general public, but all the days should be booked by then.

Prices will be the same as last year $325 for one person; $375 for two for a full day. The day usually starts at 6:30 am and lasts until at least 2:30 pm., unless other arrangements are made. 

This year I might try some half day trips. These would be from 3:30-4 pm to 7:30-8 pm. I’d only do this a few times a week so I don’t get too tired.

The cost on these would be $225 for one or $275 for two. We meet at Linn pier on Geneva and at the main park on route 50 for Delavan.

Last year I often spent several hours in the evening re-spooling lines; sometimes as many as three reels with expensive super lines. It would be a great help if you can bring a spinning reel spooled with 10-pound braided line. I would recommend SpiderWire Stealth. Fire Line and Power Pro are other good lines.

I will have plenty of fluorocarbon line to make leaders and I will be happy to show you how to tie them. I will have extra rods if needed.

The ideal rod for drop-shotting is a 6 ½ to 7 foot medium-light rod which is generally rated for 4 to 10 or 6 to 12-pound test. I’m working on getting a great deal on perfect 7-footers that will be available in the classes.

2010 In Review

In spite of one bad day and a couple of 10-15-bass trips, we had another great year on Geneva and Delavan. I experienced a number of changes from what was encountered in 2009. My two best areas on Lake Geneva in 2009 stunk in 2010.

One certain long stretch of water I fished was loaded with bottom scum, and the bass weren’t using it. Another big deep weed bed that we pounded big bass in 2009 never really came up this year. But it made me find new hot areas, which will be added to last years hot spots. A few new spots were found in Delavan which continued to produce extra-large thick bass.

A hot spell in later May really warmed the shallows in Geneva. While many anglers struggled in the depths the bass would normally be in at that time, we pounded them in 5 to 8-feet of water for several weeks, with quite a few 18-to 21-inch largemouth and smallmouth being caught. A number of anglers caught the biggest bass of their lives.

The hot bite on Geneva started 7-8 days earlier than it did the previously year due to the extra warm spring we had. As usually, drop-shotting produced almost all bass on Geneva, and wacky worming with 5-inch Yum Dingers worked best on Delavan. I’ve got some new riggings that I will feature in the 2011 fishing classes.

On a trip with Dan Zahnen and his dad we only got 3 bass (see Dan, I told you I’d say it!), which was by far the worst guiding day I ever had. We tried everything, but with a 5 to 7-degree drop in water temperature and strong east winds nothing worked. Luckily Dan and I had fished together before and caught 43 and 23 bass on Geneva, and had a 38 bass day on Delavan with several over 5-pounds. It bothers me to not produce bass, so if the weather is bad I don’t want to take anyone’s money, and would rather reschedule the date.

Last year I rescheduled Brad Janus and Brian Dems and on the new date we caught 49 bass. Joe Rygiel was rescheduled to a 34 bass trip, and on Andy Nawrocki new date we caught 27 bass. On the vast majority of trips we caught 25 to 55 bass (and I don’t count rock bass).

Some of the better trips were.....

• 55 bass with Jim Bishop and Randy Kieff (owner Kieff’s Reef on 176 & the Fox River-try the black& blue burger with a little extra blue cheese on the side),
• Jim Bishop 40 bass,
• James Key 33 bass,
• James Levi 40 bass,
• Tom Hedlin 42 bass,
• Dusty Carlson 33 bass,
• Harry Blessing 28 bass,
• Brian Cieply & Dan Burke 40 bass,
• Al Zamin 30 bass,
• Harry Walat & son 55 bass,
• Mike Volling 34 bass,
• Gabor twice-30 and 31 bass,
• Tim Puccinelli 32 bass and
• Bill Mendo 28 bass.
• Catching 25-30 bass with one person would be around 40 bass with three of us fishing.

Looking forward to a great 2011 season!

Spence
815-455-7770

A note from the webmaster:  I was lucky enough to spend a day on the water with Spence, first on Lake Delevan and then on Lake Geneva, this past season. The photos on this page are just a sampling of the many largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike that we caught on that one day adventure.

All I can say is that if you can book a trip with him - don't even hesitate. It was one of the most enjoyable days of fishing that I had all season and I also picked up a few new "tricks" that put more fish in the boat the rest of the year.

Thanks again Spence for the GREAT memories!

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