Howdy, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for this fine Sunday, June 1st, 2025.

## Current Conditions

The mayfly hatch has been pretty heavy these past few days, including this morning, so be prepared for that if you're heading out. The good news? The walleye don't seem to mind one bit! The bite on Winnebago has been on fire recently and should continue improving as we move toward July.

## What's Biting

Walleye are the stars of the show right now, with most catches in the 12-to-23-inch range. The lake is also producing decent numbers of northern pike, largemouth bass, perch, and bluegill. Remember, if you're targeting lake sturgeon, the hook-and-line season doesn't open until September 6th, so you'll need to wait a bit longer for those monsters.

## Hot Spots

Head to the rock reefs along the western shore, which are walleye magnets during May and June. Long Point Reef is particularly productive right now - it's a huge offshore structure holding both walleyes and perch. As local wisdom goes: when the wind blows on Lake Winnebago, head for the reefs!

Black Wolf Point is another honey hole with its weedy bay containing largemouth bass and panfish. Walleyes can also be caught along the rocky shore and on the offshore reefs.

For a third option, try working the 5-to-10-foot break from Paukotuk Reef south to Stretch Point, which has been productive for trollers.

## Tackle & Techniques

For trolling walleye, tie on deep-running crankbaits like Flicker Shads, ThunderSticks, Wally Divers, Mann's Stretch 5's, or Shad Raps in sizes #5 and #7. Natural colors work best on Winnebago - blues, purples, chartreuse, orange, or patterns that mimic perch, pike, or shad.

If you prefer casting, use a 3/16-ounce jig head tipped with a quarter or third of a nightcrawler. Cast out, let it hit bottom, then use your rod to pull the jig back toward the boat. Wind up the slack and repeat: pull, wind, pull, wind. When you feel weight or a jerk, set the hook immediately!

Plastic enthusiasts should try split-tail minnow baits in the 3 to 3¾-inch range. A 3-inch smelt Berkley PowerBait minnow on a ¼-ounce jig with 6 or 8-pound test is a killer combo. Cast and retrieve fast enough to stay just off bottom, with occasional short pauses.

For those targeting perch, try pieces of nightcrawlers or hellgrammites worked slowly along the bottom near Long Point Reef for specimens up to 13 inches.

Remember, this coming weekend (June 7-8) is a Free Fishing Weekend, so bring along someone new to the sport!

Thanks for tuning in to this week's report, anglers! If you found this helpful, don't forget to subscribe for more local fishing intel. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you your May 31, 2025, Lake Winnebago fishing report.

The weather’s shaping up just right—temps have leveled out since that cold front last week. Expect a mild day with a gentle breeze, making for comfortable fishing conditions and enough chop to put the fish in a feeding mood. Sunrise hit at 5:31 AM and sunset will stretch to 8:18 PM, giving us a solid window for both early and late bites. No need to worry about tides on Winnebago, but water temps are holding strong in the low to mid-60s, which has fired up the bite all around the system.

The walleye action is still hot from the Memorial Day push. Most catches are coming off the east shore and southern reefs, especially in 15 to 20 feet of water where there’s a little current or wind. Anglers are finding fast limits running jigs tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers. Jigging Raps and blade baits are getting solid hits in deeper pockets once the sun climbs high. By the looks of it, the late afternoon bite will be best, especially between 3 and 5 PM, according to today’s forecast from Lake-Link. If you’re trolling, crawler harnesses in 8-12 feet are a reliable go-to.

Bass are stacking up shallow, especially largemouth along the docks and smallmouth on the southwest side and rocky shorelines. Reports all week have put smallmouth catches in the 3–5 pound range, particularly near High Cliff State Park and up toward Neenah. Early in the day, slow-roll a Senko or a creature bait, then pick up the pace with spinnerbaits as things warm up.

Panfish, especially crappies and bluegills, are charging into the shallows now. Waxworms or small pieces of ‘crawler on a slip bobber are easy money, and the bays near Fond du Lac are loaded up. The north end, including Asylum Bay, is holding a mix of smaller panfish and the occasional slab chasing the warming water.

Don’t forget about the pike—northern bays and river mouths are giving up a few trophy-sized fish on big spinners and swimbaits. The water clarity is about typical for this time of year, with four to five feet of visibility and some floating algae, but that’s not slowing the big fish down one bit.

For your hot spots today, give Kelly’s Point and Reef a go if you want Walleye—word is they’re stacked up there. High Cliff State Park is the top spot for smallmouth, and Fond du Lac’s river mouth is loaded with mixed bags.

That’s your Lake Winnebago fishing report for today. Thanks for tuning in, folks. Be sure to subscribe, and remember to check your license and bag limits. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Friday, May 30th, 2025. The sun crested the horizon at 5:31 this morning and you’ll have until sunset at 8:18 PM to get your lines wet. Weather today is looking just about perfect—mild temps and manageable winds after last week’s cold front, which has fired up the fish across the system. No tides to worry about on Winnebago, just water levels influenced by wind and recent rains.

Walleye action continues strong, especially along the east shore and those classic south-end reefs. The bite’s best from early morning through mid-afternoon, with peak activity right around 2 to 4 PM. Most folks are finding walleyes in 15-20 feet of water, running jigs tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers. Jigging Raps and blade baits have also been hot in deeper pockets as the sun climbs. Several groups have reported full limits before noon the last few mornings, especially when they find a little current or wind pushing bait[Lake-Link.com, Spreaker].

Bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, are pushing shallow now. The rocky shorelines and docks are holding good numbers—Senko-style worms, creature baits, and slow-rolled plastics are working well in the cool mornings. By late morning, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits around weed edges are catching the more aggressive fish. There’s plenty of chatter about smallmouth in the three- to five-pound class, mostly out of the south and southwest corners near Fond du Lac and High Cliff[Spreaker, Kradl].

Northern pike are showing up more too, especially near river mouths and the northern bays where the water’s a touch warmer. Throw larger spinners or swimbaits for your best shot at a trophy. And don’t sleep on the panfish bite, either—crappies and bluegills are moving up into the shallows. Small jigs tipped with waxworms or pieces of crawler under a slip bobber are catching them steady[Kradl].

For today’s hot spots, make sure to hit:
- Asylum Bay for a mixed bag of walleye and pike
- Fond du Lac river mouth area for steady bites of just about everything
- High Cliff State Park shoreline for some of the lake’s best smallmouth action

If you’re after the best results, stick with jigs tipped with minnows or crawlers for walleye, soft plastics for bass, and keep a few spinnerbaits handy for pike. Waxworms and small jigs under a slip bobber are tough to beat for panfish.

Remember to focus on wind-blown shorelines in the afternoon—warming water draws in bait, and that’s where the big fish like to feed. Make sure your license is up to date and always respect the size and bag limits on your catch.

Thanks for tuning in to this Lake Winnebago update. Be sure to subscribe for more local fishing reports. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Hey there, anglers! This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Wednesday, May 28th, 2025.

We're looking at a beautiful late-May day on the big lake today. Expect temperatures starting in the low 50s this morning, climbing into the low 70s by afternoon with partly cloudy skies. There's a light easterly breeze of 5-8 mph - just enough to create a nice drift but not enough to churn up the water too much. Sunrise was at 5:19 am, and we'll have sunset at 8:29 pm, giving you plenty of daylight for fishing. No need to worry about tides here on our inland lake, but water temps have warmed nicely into the low 60s throughout most of the lake.

The Memorial Day weekend fishing bonanza has continued into this week with some excellent action across multiple species. Walleye fishing remains red-hot, especially in that 15 to 24-inch range. They're really crushing it along the rock reefs on the western shore and around the river mouths. Most successful anglers are trolling with deep-running crankbaits like Reef Runners and Shad Raps in perch, purple, and chartreuse patterns. If you prefer casting, jigs tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are producing well.

Bass fishing has been absolutely on fire! Both largemouth and smallmouth are in aggressive pre-spawn patterns, hitting topwater baits early and late in the day. During midday, try working the weedlines with Texas-rigged soft plastics or spinnerbaits.

Panfish action has been steady with some nice-sized crappies and bluegills being caught in shallow bays and along weed edges. Small jigs tipped with waxworms or tiny twister tails are your best bet.

Northern pike continue to provide exciting action, particularly in the 24 to 32-inch range. Try working the weed edges with large spinnerbaits or trolling with larger crankbaits.

For hot spots, I'd recommend checking out Asylum Bay if you're targeting bass and panfish. The area around Garlic Island has been particularly productive for walleye this week. If you're launching from Fond du Lac, the reefs just north of the harbor entrance are holding good numbers of walleye and pike.

Remember to bring plenty of water and sunscreen as the late May sun can be deceptively strong. The DNR reminds everyone to check your licenses and boat safety equipment before heading out. That's all for today - tight lines and good fishing to everyone on Lake Winnebago!

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Monday, May 26th, 2025. Happy Memorial Day to all you anglers out there!

Weather today is shaping up beautifully with temperatures starting around 55 degrees this morning and climbing to the mid-70s by afternoon. We're looking at partly cloudy skies with a light westerly breeze at 6-10 mph – just enough to create a nice ripple on the water without making boat control difficult. Sunrise was at 5:28 am, with sunset expected at 8:19 pm, giving you plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. No tides to worry about here on our inland lake, and water temps have settled nicely into the upper 50s to low 60s in most areas.

The walleye bite has been exceptional these past few days and should remain strong through the holiday. Folks are consistently landing walleyes in the 15-23 inch range, particularly along the rocky reefs on the western shore and throughout Asylum Bay. Most successful anglers are trolling deep-running crankbaits like Deep ThunderSticks, Reef Runners, and Shad Raps. Colors featuring blue, purple, and chartreuse have been the ticket, though natural perch patterns are producing well too.

Smallmouth bass action has really heated up, with numerous catches reported around the rocky areas and drop-offs. These bronzebacks are aggressive right now, hitting on jerkbaits, tube jigs, and spinner baits. The morning and evening bites have been particularly strong.

Panfish are moving into the shallows, with bluegills and perch providing steady action. Small jigs tipped with waxies or pieces of nightcrawler are working well in areas with emerging weed beds.

For hot spots today, I'd recommend trying the reef structures near Stockbridge and the rocky areas around High Cliff State Park. The Winneconne bridge area has also been producing some nice walleyes for those willing to make the short trip up the Wolf River.

The Memorial Day weekend crowd has been out in full force, but there's still plenty of room to find your own piece of water. Remember that with the holiday traffic, it's best to get out early or stay out late to avoid the midday congestion.

Northern pike have been a bonus catch for many anglers, with some hefty specimens in the 30-36 inch range hitting larger crankbaits and spoons along weed edges.

All in all, it's prime time on Lake Winnebago. The spring bite is in full swing, and with this weather pattern holding steady, fishing should remain excellent throughout the week. So grab your tackle, hit the water, and make some memories. This is Artificial Lure, signing off until tomorrow. Tight lines, folks!

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Sunday, May 25th Lake Winnebago fishing report. We’ve got a solid stretch of late-spring action in the Fox Valley, and everything points toward a fantastic day on the water.

Sunrise hit at about 5:31 am, and you’ll have daylight until roughly 8:18 pm. Weather’s shaping up nicely for Memorial Day weekend: look for mild temps climbing into the mid-60s to low 70s, light winds, and only patchy clouds. There’s no tide on Winnebago, but fish are moving with the warming water and stable barometer.

The walleye bite keeps rolling strong. Most action is coming in 15 to 20 feet of water, especially along the eastern shoreline where anglers reported limits by mid-morning several times this week. Early and late in the day are prime, with jigs tipped with minnows doing best, though a number of folks are trolling deep-running crankbaits like Shad Raps, Deep ThunderSticks, and Reef Runners—focus on blue, purple, perch, and chartreuse patterns for the most hits. Work those rock reefs and main-lake humps where active ‘eyes are holding.

Bass fishing is hot right now. Both smallmouth and largemouth are up shallow around structure, with smallmouth pushing 3 to 5 pounds showing up near rocks and points. Soft plastics and spinnerbaits are producing steady action, especially around the river mouths and protected bays.

Panfish are fired up too. Perch and bluegill are biting in the shallows near weed beds, especially with small jigs tipped with waxies, crawlers, or minnows. You’ll find some nice perch moving up along the west side flats and bluegill getting aggressive in the south-end shallows.

Northern pike are showing up where the water’s a bit warmer, especially in the upper stretches and river inlets. Bigger swimbaits and flashy spinnerbaits will tempt the toothy ones.

If you’re looking for hot spots, start your morning working the reefs just north of Oshkosh for walleyes, then slide over to Garlic Island or the Pipe area—both are producing good mixed bags of perch, walleye, and smallmouth. Later in the day, slip into the shallow bays near Fond du Lac if you’re chasing largemouth or panfish.

Best baits right now are jigs with minnows for walleye, soft plastics and spinnerbaits for bass, and small jigs with live bait for perch and bluegill. Crankbaits in natural shad or perch colors are also a solid bet.

That’s the scoop for Lake Winnebago today—grab your gear, target those moving fish, and enjoy the bounty our big lake has to offer. Tight lines and good luck out there!

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Saturday, May 24, 2025.

The sun rose bright and early at around 5:31 this morning, and you’ll have until about 8:18 tonight before it sets—plenty of daylight to chase your favorite species. Weather today is looking favorable, especially now that we’re past that cold front earlier in the week. Temps are mild and the wind is decent, which should keep fish active all day.

Walleye fishing has really picked up over the past few days. Most folks are finding solid numbers along the east shore and near the reefs on the south end, especially in 15 to 20 feet of water. Jigs tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are working best. Jigging Raps and blade baits have also been getting bit in the deeper pockets when the sun gets higher. Several anglers reported catching their limits before noon the past couple of mornings[4][5]. The evening bite remains reliable, especially where there’s a little current or wind pushing bait.

Bass are active and plentiful right now. Both largemouth and smallmouth are pushing shallow, hanging around rocky shorelines and docks. Soft plastics, like Senkos and creature baits, are crushing it worked slow in the mornings. As things warm up, switch to spinnerbaits or chatterbaits around weed edges for more action. Reports of smallmouth in the 3- to 5-pound range came in this week, especially from the south and southwest corners of the lake[4][5].

The perch and panfish bite continues to improve as water temps climb into the upper 50s. Look for perch off the north shore in 8 to 12 feet with small jigs tipped with redworms or waxies. Crappies are schooling around brush and submerged timber, and bluegills are moving up as well—so bring some light tackle and have a little fun.

Best bait right now is still live minnows and crawlers for walleye, but don’t overlook plastics or a simple slip-bobber setup for perch and panfish. For bass, soft plastics and spinnerbaits are your best friends.

If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots, try the reefs off Oshkosh for walleye and the docks along the Fond du Lac shoreline for bass. The area near Garlic Island is also popping for perch and panfish action.

No tides to worry about here, just make sure to watch the wind—it can kick up quick and make things sporty. Good luck out there and, as always, keep your lines tight!

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Friday, May 23rd, 2025.

Weather today is shaping up nicely with temperatures starting in the low 50s this morning and climbing to around 70 by afternoon. We've got a light easterly breeze at 5-8 mph, which should create just enough ripple on the water without making boat control too difficult. Sunrise was at 5:29 am, with sunset expected at 8:17 pm, giving you plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. No tides to worry about on our inland lake here, and water temps have climbed into the upper 50s in most areas.

The walleye bite remains strong this week, following that mid-May hot streak we saw. Folks are still having good luck with 15-23 inch fish, especially working the rocky reefs along the western shore and around Asylum Bay. Most successful anglers are trolling deep-running crankbaits - your Deep ThunderSticks, Reef Runners and Shad Raps are all producing well. Colors with blue, purple and chartreuse have been the ticket, though natural perch patterns are working too.

The smallmouth action has really heated up since last week, with some hefty bronzebacks in the 3-5 pound range being caught near rocky structure. Try tube jigs or drop shots with minnow imitations, especially around High Cliff State Park and the limestone outcroppings.

Perch and panfish are biting nicely in the shallows, particularly around weed beds and river mouths. Small jigs tipped with waxies or small minnows will do the trick. The lake fly hatch has been pretty intense the last few days, especially around Oshkosh, so be prepared for that nuisance if you're heading out early morning.

Hot spots this week include the Asylum Bay area for mixed bag action, the rocky points near Stockbridge for those bigger smallmouth, and Sheepshead Reef for consistent walleye. The Fox River mouth has been yielding good catches of white bass too, with anglers using small spinners and jigs.

For those targeting northern pike, try the weed edges north of Oshkosh with larger swimbaits or flashy spinnerbaits. We've seen a few nice northerns in the 30-inch class coming in this past week.

Remember your safety gear, and if you're bringing the kids, the panfish action in the bays will keep them entertained with nearly constant action. Tight lines, folks, and I'll see you on the water!

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Wednesday, May 21st, 2025.

Folks, we're looking at a typical late May day here on the big lake. Sunrise came at about 5:25 am, and we'll see sunset around 8:20 pm, giving you plenty of daylight for fishing. Weather-wise, expect temperatures climbing into the low 70s by afternoon with a light breeze from the southwest - perfect conditions to be out on the water.

Now, I gotta warn ya - the lake fly hatch has been pretty intense these last few days according to locals in Oshkosh. You might want to bring some bug spray if you're heading out, especially near shore areas in the morning. It's a nuisance but the fish don't seem to mind.

Speaking of fish, walleye action continues to be strong across Lake Winnebago. Most anglers are having success with deep-running crankbaits like ThunderSticks, Reef Runners, and Shad Raps in blue, purple, chartreuse or natural perch patterns. Make sure to keep those baits running close to bottom where the active fish are holding. The rock reefs along the western shore are producing nice catches in the 12 to 23-inch range, particularly during early morning and evening hours.

Largemouth bass fishing has really picked up as we've moved deeper into the spawn period. Water temperatures are now in the mid-60s, and bass are active in the shallows. Wacky-rigged Senkos and swim jigs worked over emerging vegetation have been particularly effective. Black and blue jigs paired with Strike King Rage Bugs are getting solid results according to recent reports.

For panfish enthusiasts, bluegills and perch are biting well in the shallows near weed beds. Small jigs tipped with waxies or small minnows will do the trick. Crappie action has been spotty but worth trying if you find schools.

Hot spots this week? I'd recommend checking out Asylum Bay if you're after largemouth bass - they've been active there according to reports from the 13th. For walleye, the rock reefs near Stockbridge and High Cliff State Park are consistently producing. River mouths, especially where the Fox and Wolf rivers enter the lake, are also worth a try as they're attracting fish with slightly warmer water temperatures.

Remember, there's no tidal action to worry about here on our inland lake, but paying attention to wind direction can make a big difference in your success. The fish are hungry and active right now, so get out there while the bite is hot!

Good luck, stay safe on the water, and as always - tight lines, everyone!

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Monday, May 19th, 2025.

Folks, we're looking at a beautiful late spring day here in east-central Wisconsin. The sun rose at about 5:35 AM and will set around 8:10 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get those lines wet. No tidal concerns on our inland lake, of course, but the weather is shaping up nicely with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-60s by afternoon with light winds.

The walleye bite has really heated up over the past week. According to what I'm seeing, anglers are having great success targeting the 12 to 23-inch fish, particularly along the western shore rock reefs during early morning and evening hours. If you're trolling, deep-running crankbaits are your friend right now - ThunderSticks, Reef Runners, Wally Divers, and Shad Raps in blues, purples, chartreuse, and orange are all producing. Natural patterns like perch or shad are working well too. Keep those baits running close to the bottom where the active walleye are holding.

Largemouth bass activity is picking up nicely in the warmer shallows, especially in bays and around river mouths. The most effective techniques right now are swim jigs, buzzbaits, shallow diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigs. Several reports show that slow-rolling spinnerbaits near riprap banks is a productive pattern.

Panfish action is solid too, with bluegill and perch biting well in the shallows near weed beds. Small jigs tipped with waxies or minnows are your best bet for these tasty targets.

For those targeting northern pike, bigger swimbaits and flashy spinnerbaits are pulling in some nice ones, especially up in the northern sections of the lake and around river inlets where water temperatures are slightly higher.

Hot spots to check out today: The rock reefs off High Cliff State Park have been consistently productive for walleye, while the Asylum Bay and Neenah area has been giving up some nice largemouth. For panfish, try the shallow bays on the south end.

Smallmouth bass anglers should focus on reef structures, where football jigs worked slowly across the tops are producing fish. These bronzebacks are still in pre-spawn to spawn patterns, with water temperatures now in the upper 50s.

Remember, the fishing pressure has been fairly high, so be patient and courteous out there. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines, folks, and I'll see you on the water!