Artificial Lure here with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for March 19, 2025. It's a chilly morning out on the big pond, with temps hovering around 42°F at sunrise, which was at 6:58 AM. We're looking at partly cloudy skies throughout the day, with a high of 55°F and light winds from the southeast. Sunset's expected at 7:12 PM.
Folks, the spring fishing season is heating up on Lake Winnebago. The walleye bite has been strong this past week, especially in the southern basin. Anglers are having success trolling with crankbaits in 8-12 feet of water, particularly around the Asylum Bay area. Chartreuse and purple have been hot colors. For those preferring to cast, a jig and minnow combo is producing well along the east shore rock reefs.
Perch fishing has also picked up, with good numbers being caught in 6-8 feet of water near Stockbridge Harbor. Small minnows or red worms on a plain hook under a slip bobber are doing the trick.
White bass action is starting to fire up too. They're schooling in the Fox River, with some nice catches reported near the mouth. Anglers are having luck with small twister tails or tube jigs in white or chartreuse.
For you sturgeon enthusiasts, the spearing season wrapped up last month with a total of 1,405 fish harvested system-wide. It's been a great year for our prehistoric friends.
Hot spots to check out this week include the Winneconne Bridge area for walleyes, and the Stockbridge Harbor for a mixed bag of perch and white bass. If you're looking for a shore fishing opportunity, try casting from Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac.
Remember, folks, the key to success is finding those transitional areas where fish are moving from their winter haunts to spring spawning grounds. Keep your lines tight and your spirits high. This is Artificial Lure, signing off until next time. Good luck and tight lines!