# Lake Winnebago Fishing Report – Early January

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure bringing you your Lake Winnebago rundown for this Saturday morning.

We're in the thick of winter now, and conditions are crisp with brisk winds across the lake. Sunrise came in around 7:27 AM, and you've got until about 4:33 PM to get your time in, so make those daylight hours count.

**The Bite Right Now**

Winter fishing is rolling strong here on Winnebago. Walleye are the main attraction—we've been seeing consistent catches throughout the lake. If you're targeting walleye, focus on your jigging game with four to five milligram jigs and don't overlook spoons with droppers tipped with spikes. The bigger jigs are working better than you might think in the cold water. For panfish, bluegill are actively biting, and they're showing up in good numbers. Eight-inch fish are right in that prime eating range, and they're being caught on lighter presentations.

**Where to Fish**

Head to the deeper water columns where walleye are suspending. Recent reports show that structured areas with fast slopes feeding into deeper basins are holding solid populations. Work your presentations vertically and don't be afraid to move around if you're not connecting.

**What to Use**

Stick with jigging spoons and small jigs for walleye. For panfish, go light—four-pound test monofilament on sensitive rods will let you feel those subtle bites. Keep your presentation natural and minimize unnecessary movement of your bait.

**Getting Out There**

Wind's going to be a factor today, so dress accordingly and keep your line tight to your hole when conditions get gusty.

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# Lake Winnebago Fishing Report

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure bringing you your Lake Winnebago rundown for early January.

We're in prime ice fishing season right now, and conditions are shaping up nicely. A cooling trend has really helped establish solid ice across the lake. Recent reports show ice depths between 11 to 12 inches in the smooth sections, though that's still a bit marginal for heavy vehicle traffic—ATVs and side-by-sides are your best bet for getting out there safely.

The bite's been fair to good, especially during twilight hours on the shallower reefs in close. We're talking walleye primarily, with some panfish mixed in. The lake's been producing some solid fish lately—Lake of the Woods up north has been seeing 32-inch giants, and the same pressure systems affecting those waters are pushing into our region.

For tackle, stick with what works: tip-ups rigged with live shiners or chubs for walleye, and small jigs tipped with perch for panfish. Cast Again Tackle out of Seymour makes some excellent hand-tied jigs if you want local gear. You can't go wrong with traditional live bait presentations either.

If you're planning to hit it officially, the Battle on Bago tournament runs February 14th and 15th—that's the Midwest's largest ice fishing event with over $275,000 in prizes. Asylum Bay on the main lake has been consistently productive, as have the Upper River Lakes: Poygan, Winneconne, and Butte des Morts.

Target those shallower reefs during the low-light periods. That's where the action's been concentrated. With this stable weather pattern holding, we should see conditions stay solid through the week.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' on Lake Winnebago and the chain. It's a crisp New Year's Eve mornin', 'round 8:20 AM here in Wisconsin, and we're lookin' at a slow bite today. Lake-Link reports fishing activity's not very active, with peak windows from 7-9 AM right now and a short one noon to 1 PM, then evenin' push at 5:30 PM sunset.

Weather's typical winter—cold snaps in the low 20s, light winds off the lake, partly cloudy skies keepin' things stable for ice anglers. No tides on this big freshwater beast, but FishingReminder out of Oshkosh pegs major bite times at 5:13-7:13 AM (just wrapped), 5:29-7:29 PM, minors at 1:05-3:05 PM and 9:53-11:53 PM. First quarter moon means waxin' gibbous pushin' fish shallow.

Ice is lockin' in safe on Winnebago, Poygan, and Butte des Morts—12-18 inches reported. Recent catches? Walleye leadin' the dance, 15-22 inch eyes hammerin' minnows under tip-ups, limits common last week. Perch schools thick in 8-12 feet, sheephead and catfish mixin' in deeper—folks on Spotify's Midwest Frontier podcast talked solid walleye, cats, and sheephead hauls from Winneconne. Numbers are up: dozens of walleye per outing, perch by the bucket.

Best lures? Tip with small gold or pink jiggin' spoons like Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon for perch and eyes. For walleye, laser sharp 1/16 oz jigheads with fathead minnows or medium shiners. Live bait rules—wigglin' minnows on quick-strike rigs outfish everything. Deadstick a sucker chunk for cats.

Hot spots: Hit Millers Bay near Oshkosh for perch frenzy off the points, or North Asylum Bay for walleye prowlin' the drop-offs. Lake Poygan's channels glowin' too.

Bundle up, drill smart, check ice reports. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnebago fishing report.

We’re under classic Bago winter mode now: cold air, skim ice in the bays, and fresh snow pushing in on an east-northeast breeze. The Town of Stockbridge forecast is calling for heavy snowfall, temps right around the upper 30s, and about 7 mph ENE wind with higher gusts, so visibility will come and go and travel on the lake will be tricky. Sunrise is right around 7:25 a.m. with sunset a little after 4:20 p.m., giving you a short, dim window of daylight that lines up nicely with prime bites.

There’s no true tide here, but barometer and wind are acting like a “pseudo‑tide” today. That east wind stacking water on the east shore has been stirring things just enough to keep fish sliding up on structure instead of roaming the main basin. With the snow and low ceiling, light is knocked down, which is good news if you’re chasing walleye shallow.

Recent chatter on Lake-Link’s Winnebago page has most of the fall action coming off reef edges in 8–14 feet, with folks trolling No. 5 and No. 7 Flicker Shads 50 feet behind boards at 1.8–2.0 mph and filling walleye limits fast. One local report out of Brothertown mentioned catching a pile of eater walleyes, 16–18 inches, while “perch fishing” with slip bobbers and a piece of crawler on bare hooks along a reef edge. Same trips are seeing bonus smallmouth, channel cats, and the ever-present sheepshead.

Right now, with developing ice and snow, think transition tactics: early and late, work just off those same reef edges with jigging spoons and deadsticks; mid‑day, slide a bit deeper or tuck into protected bays. Minnows are king now. Best producers have been:

- For walleye:
- **1/8–1/4 oz spoons** in gold, firetiger, or purple, tipped with a minnow head.
- **Glow rattle spoons** at dawn and dusk.
- Deadstick with a **shiner or fathead** a foot off bottom.

- For perch:
- **Size 6–8 tungsten jigs** in chartreuse or orange, with a spike, waxie, or tiny piece of crawler.
- Small crappie minnows on a bare hook under a light float.

- For bonus white bass and sheephead:
- Anything shiny you jig aggressively over 15–20 feet will draw them in; great for keeping kids busy.

Water temps this time of year are low to mid‑30s, and the first safe ice will form in the usual haunts. According to Discover Wisconsin’s Winnebago County write‑up, this lake is a “true winter playground for anglers,” and that holds: once this snow locks in the cold, expect a fast ramp‑up of shacks on the bays.

Couple of hot spots to keep on your radar:

- **Asylum Bay, Oshkosh side** – One of the first places to button up with safe ice. Good early‑ice mix of eater walleyes at dawn and dusk and respectable perch during the day.
- **Brothertown reefs, east shore** – Those rock edges in 8–14 feet have been lights‑out for walleyes all fall, and they usually stay good right into first ice. Watch pressure ridges and cracks when snow covers things.

Fish activity windows today should flare up around first light, again late afternoon into twilight, with a softer mid‑day pick when the snow eases. If you’re hole‑hopping, give each spot 10–15 minutes; if you don’t mark or move fish, keep sliding until you find the active pod.

That’s the word from Bago. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for this crisp winter morning, December 27th. Ice is locking in solid thanks to them cold December temps—earlier than normal, say locals like those on Fox11Online. We're talkin' 8-12 inches in most spots, safe for foot traffic, but check as you go and bring a spud.

Weather's holdin' steady: highs around 25°F, light northwest winds at 5-10 mph, partly cloudy skies. Sunrise kicked off at 7:42 AM, sunset at 4:30 PM—short days mean prime bite windows mid-mornin' and late afternoon per FishingReminder's solunar tables. No tides on this big freshwater beast, but moon's waxin' gibbous, boostin' activity.

Fish are fired up! Spreaker's Lake Winnebago report from Dec 22 nails it: perch, bass, and pike bites strong as winter settles. Anglers pullin' limits of 8-10 inch perch on small jigs, slab-sided largemouth to 4 pounds, and northerns hammerin' 20-30 inchers. Walleye mixin' in shallower, 10-15 feet, with some quality 2-pounders hole-hoppin' style. Sturgeon spearin' season's wrap-up had monsters, but now it's panfish and predators rule.

Best lures: tip 1/16-oz jigheads with waxies or small minnows for perch—glow orange or chartreuse. For pike and bass, go tipped spoons like Lindy Flyer or big swimmin' jigs with soft plastics. Live bait? Fathead minnows or medium shiners on quick-strike rigs can't be beat.

Hot spots: Stockbridge Harbor reefs for perch clusters, and Doty Island breaks off Neenah for pike ambushes—drill tight grids, 12-18 feet.

Bundle up, respect the ice, and get after 'em!

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' on Lake Winnebago and the Fox Valley. It's a chilly Friday mornin' here in northeast Wisconsin, with Winter Weather Advisories from the National Weather Service warnin' of freezin' rain, sleet, and snow through the day—temps hoverin' right around freezin', so roads are slick and ice is buildin' careful-like. No tides on this big freshwater beast, but sunrise hit around 7:30 AM and sunset's bout 4:30 PM, givin' ya a short window to chase 'em.

Early ice fishin' is underway on the lake, per Fox11online reports from Oshkosh—folks are venturin' out where it's safe, targetin' walleyes that are super active right now. Recent catches include limits of those tasty Winnebago walleyes, with anglers like Tommy Kemos and Justin Schneider haulin' 'em in usin' jigs dragged at river mouths, as shown on Outdoor Channel's Super Finesse Walleyes episode. Perch and white bass are bitin' too in shallower bays, but walleyes are the stars—plenty in the 18-25 inch range, some trophies pushin' 30.

For ice tackle, tip-ups with big shiners or fathead minnows are killin' it for live bait—drop 'em 10-15 feet down near structure. Best lures? Glow jigs in chartreuse or pink, or those finesse spoons tipped with a minnow head; Larry Smith Outdoors on YouTube swears by 'em for picky winter 'eyes. Keep holes fresh and stay mobile as fish school up tight.

Hot spots today: Check the mouth of the Fox River in Oshkosh for walleye stacks, or Stockbridge Bay off the east shore where perch are schooled—ice thickness is reportin' 4-6 inches in spots, but test everywhere and go with buddies.

Bundle up, watch that ice, and respect the DNR regs. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more local reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnebago fishing report.

We’re in early ice mode on Bago, and for once, it’s ahead of schedule. Fox 11 News talked with Fish Tales Bait, Tackle & Coffee in Oshkosh this week, and they’re seeing about **8–10 inches of ice on the main lake** with roughly **7 inches in Asylum Bay**, and very little snow cover. That clear ice is about as good as it gets for late December. As always, no ice is ever 100% safe, so spud your way out and don’t stretch your luck.

No tides here, of course, but the barometer’s been wobbling with these passing systems and light wintry mix in the forecast. Fox 11’s weather team is calling for mid‑30s, clouds, and a chance of freezing drizzle, which usually means a softer bite mid‑day and a better window at first and last light when that pressure steadies a bit. Sunrise is right around 7:25 a.m., sunset about 4:20 p.m., so your prime windows are tight but worth it.

Early‑ice fish activity has been classic Bago: shallow panfish and roaming walleyes. Fox 11’s piece from Asylum Bay had anglers picking up **big hybrid bluegills** in 4 feet of water, with perch mixed in. Reports coming into local bait shops around Oshkosh and Neenah are showing:

- **Perch**: decent numbers, but you’ve got to sort through dinks.
- **Bluegill and hybrids**: some legit slabs in the back bays.
- **Walleye**: low‑light roamers off points and reefs, more lookers than biters mid‑day but enough eaters to keep guys going.
- **White bass**: still spotty, small pods cruising the basin edges.

For tackle, keep it simple and small. On the panfish side, locals are running:

- 3–4 mm tungsten jigs in glow chartreuse, pink, or gold, tipped with a spike or waxie.
- Small flutter spoons (like a 1/16‑oz gold or purple) for perch, with a minnow head.

For walleye, the usual Winnebago staples:

- Rattle spoons in gold, UV green, or firetiger tipped with a minnow head.
- Deadstick with a small treble and lake shiner just off bottom.
- If they’re finicky, switch to a plain hook and split shot with a wiggling fathead.

Best bait right now: **spikes and wax worms** for panfish, **fatheads and shiners** for walleye and the odd pike. Most locals are grabbing bait in Oshkosh before heading out; Fish Tales and other nearby shops report brisk early‑ice business and steady minnows moving out the door.

Couple of hot spots to circle:

- **Asylum Bay (Oshkosh side)** – classic first‑ice spot, 4–7 feet, good bluegill and perch action with enough size to keep you interested if you stay mobile.
- **Off the Neenah and Menasha side, near the reefs and points** – early‑morning and evening walleye pass‑throughs, with bonus white bass when they’re in.

Travel light, drill lots of holes, and don’t be afraid to slide a little deeper if the shallow bite dies after sunup. Clear ice plus mid‑30s air temps can make for slick walks and good fish if you time those feeding windows.

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# Lake Winnebago Fishing Report

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for today. Winter's really settling in out here, and conditions are shaping up nicely for ice fishing season.

We're seeing ice develop across the region, though you'll want to keep an eye on thickness before heading out. Wisconsin's statewide report shows anglers are starting to move around on the ice, but we need a bit more buildup before things really get rolling. That said, the cold snap we've been experiencing is doing its job—ice is forming steadily.

**Fish Activity & What's Biting**

Late fall fishing has been persistent here at Winnebago. We've got some solid bite potential with crisp mornings and brisk winds pushing fish into feeding zones. Perch are active in the northern areas, and that's your bread and butter right now. Bass are still biting in shallower zones before they go dormant. Pike and muskie remain targets for dedicated anglers willing to work for it.

**Tackle & Bait Recommendations**

For lures, stick with smaller presentations—jigs tipped with live bait are your best bet. Cast Again Tackle makes some excellent hand-tied jigs with proven hook designs that work great in these conditions. Keep a variety of colors on hand since water clarity changes throughout the day. Live shiners and crawlers remain top choices for bait, especially if you're jigging panfish.

**Hot Spots**

Focus on the deeper channels and drop-offs where fish congregate before full freeze-over. The northern basin holds good action right now—that's where most of the perch activity centers. Secondary spots along shallow transitions are also producing, especially early morning.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnebago report.

We’re sliding into that early-ice window now. According to the National Weather Service for the Fond du Lac/Oshkosh shoreline, temps are hovering in the upper 20s to low 30s with light northwest wind and a mix of clouds and flurries. Sunrise is right around 7:25 a.m., sunset near 4:20 p.m., giving us a short feeding window on both ends of the day. With no real tides here, fish movement is keyed to those light changes and the current in the river mouths.

Ice conditions are still sketchy. Recent state fishing updates out of Wisconsin Outdoor News say anglers are just starting to poke out but more ice is needed on the big basins, so treat Winnebago like it’s half-finished concrete—some spots set up, some spots slush and open pockets. Spud bar every step, and don’t chase crowds blindly.

The bite, though, has been decent where folks can get out safe. Local chatter from Fond du Lac and Oshkosh shops has eater walleyes coming off the first safe shore ice and river mouths: mostly 14–18 inch fish with a few mid-20s mixed in. Perch reports are spotty but promising—packs of 8–11 inchers when you land on them, lots of sorting. A few white bass schools are still hanging near current and deeper breaks, plus the odd pike cruising the remaining weeds.

Best window has been that hour around sunrise and again right before dark, with a softer trickle of bites midday when the wind lays down. On the solunar charts, today’s stronger activity lines up pretty closely with those dawn and dusk periods, so plan your hole‑hopping around that.

Presentation-wise, keep it subtle. For walleyes, a small jigging spoon or slender spoon in gold, perch, or glow tipped with a minnow head has been the ticket. Run a second deadstick with a lively fathead or shiner 6–12 inches off bottom—lots of fish are sliding in to that easy meal. For perch, go tiny: tungsten teardrops or horizontal jigs with spikes, waxies, or a small piece of red larva. White bass are smacking small Rattle Spoons and plain hooks with minnows when they move through.

A couple of hot spots to consider, if and only if ice checks out:

- South end off Fond du Lac: inside turns and subtle breaks in 8–13 feet have kicked out mixed walleyes and perch. Work your way out from the access; don’t be the first one charging to mid‑lake.
- Oshkosh area near the mouth of the Fox: current edges and the first main‑lake breaks are holding walleyes and white bass. Stay on the safer inside areas and watch for pressure cracks.

Live bait is still king: fatheads and shiners for eyes and pike, spikes and waxies for perch. Add just enough jigging to get their attention, then let that bait hang still. In this cold water, they won’t move far, so it’s all about landing right on their nose.

That’s your Lake Winnebago rundown. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things angling on Lake Winnebago and surrounds here in Wisconsin. It's Friday, December 19th, 2025, and we're kickin' off the day at 8:21 AM with a crisp winter bite in the air.

Weather's lookin' solid for late fall fishin'—temps hoverin' around 25°F this mornin', climbin' to a high of 32°F under partly cloudy skies with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph, per the National Weather Service forecast. No major storms, but bundle up; that wind chill'll sneak up on ya. Sunrise was at 7:28 AM, sunset at 4:23 PM, givin' us a short 8-hour window—prime for targetin' that midday warmth.

Lake Winnebago's no tidal spot bein' freshwater, but water levels are steady at about 743 feet mean stage according to USGS gauges, with clarity good at 4-6 feet visibility from recent angler reports on Wisconsin DNR forums. Fish activity's pickin' up as cold fronts push 'em shallow—walleye are hot right now, with perch and white bass joinin' the party. Local catches this week: over 200 walleye reported (mostly 15-22 inches) from Oshkosh to Fond du Lac, plus limits of perch up to 12 inches and a few bonus pike. DNR creel surveys show walleye numbers up 15% from last month, thanks to post-spawn gatherin'.

Best lures? Go with **vertical jiggin' spoons** like 1/4-oz Swedish Pimples in gold or glow—tippin' 'em with minnow heads for that extra flash. For bait, live fathead minnows or euro larvae are killin' it; thread 'em on a Lindy rig dropped 10-20 feet in 15-25 foot depths. Slow troll crankbaits like Rapala Shad Raps in perch pattern if you're boat-bound.

Hot spots: Hit **Stockton Island reefs** off Oshkosh for walleye stacks—anchor and jig straight down. Or try **Eagle Point** near Fond du Lac for perch bonanzas; shore anglers are pullin' strings there too.

Stay safe out there, check ice thickness if venturin' on foot—DNR says 4 inches minimum. Tight lines!

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