Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for March 21, 2025.
We've had a mild start to spring, with temps hovering around 45°F today. Sunrise was at 6:54 AM and sunset will be at 7:09 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet our lines. The wind's blowing from the southwest at about 10 mph, which should make for some decent fishing conditions.
Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Walleye action has been heating up lately, with anglers reporting good catches in the 15-20 inch range. They're hitting on jigs tipped with minnows or plastics in the 8-12 foot depths. The perch bite has been steady too, especially near Asylum Bay and off Stockbridge Harbor.
For you bass enthusiasts, smallmouth are starting to become more active as the water warms up. Try throwing crankbaits or soft plastics around rocky points and drop-offs. A few nice northerns have been caught as well, mainly on large spoons or live suckers.
As for hot spots, I'd recommend trying your luck around Garlic Island or the reefs off Pipe. The Winneconne Bridge area has also been producing some nice catches.
Lure-wise, can't go wrong with a Rapala Shad Rap or a Berkley Flicker Shad for walleye. For perch, small jigs tipped with minnows or waxies are your best bet. And don't forget about the good ol' crawler harness - always a solid choice this time of year.
Remember, there's no size limit on walleye, but the daily bag is 5. And if you're after sturgeon, the season's closed until the fall.
That's all for now, folks. Get out there and tight lines to ya!