Size
131,987ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
Species in Lake Winnebago
Bluegill
Walleye
Northern pike
Largemouth bass
Perch
Rock bass
White bass
Muskellunge
Sauger
Sturgeon
Smallmouth bass
Crappie
Pumpkinseed
Burbot
Channel catfish
Yellow Bass
Overview
This water boasts a large population of walleye, mostly in the 12-to 23-inch range. Northern pike, largemouth bass, perch and bluegill are present in good numbers. Winnebago is known throughout the country for its lake sturgeon spearing season. 137,708 acres
Lake Winnebago Map
Fishing Regulations
Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Species Regulations
- Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Catfish: Open All Year: See specific species regulations in this group.
- Channel Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25 in total, but only 24 if one flathead catfish is included.
- Cisco And Whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Flathead Catfish: May 2, 2026 to September 30, 2026: The minimum length is 30, but flathead catfish from 36” to 42” may not be kept.The daily bag limit is 1.
- Lake Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass: Open All Year: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Muskellunge And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1.
- Northern Pike: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2.
- Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
- Rock, Yellow, And White Bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Rough Fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Round Goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office.
- Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office.
- Sauger And Hybrids: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 1.
- Shovelnose Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Trout: See specific regulations: See Trout Regulations
- Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag is 3, only one of which may be a sauger or hybrid.
- White Perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office.
Features
Lake Winnebago, the largest inland lake in Wisconsin, allows navigation through the Fox River inlet to lakes Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan. The Lake Winnebago system leads to the inlet of the Wolf River.
Lake Winnebago’s self-sustaining lake sturgeon population is rated as one of the finest in North America. The traditional winter spearing season in 2004 produced a sturgeon weighing in at 188 lbs!
Ice fishing Lake Winnebago for walleye, perch, white bass and sturgeon is popular with anglers throughout the nation. Check with local fishing guides and marinas regarding pressure cracks or areas of weak ice around currents.
Careful navigation close to shore and near islands is urged. Shallow unmarked reefs and sand bars can be hazardous. Rapidly changing weather should also be observed.
Special fishing regulations apply to Lake Winnebago and connecting waters. Consult the Wisconsin fishing regulations for details.
Forage
Trout perch, emerald shiner, young-of-the-year freshwater drum (sheepshead) and carp are the most abundant forage. Lake fly larvae (red worms) provide an important food source for sturgeon. The bottom-dwelling red worms hatch into lake flies in mid-May. Gizzard shad can be significant although they tend to cyclically die-off and reemerge. Crayfish are also present.
Seasonal Movements
Studies indicate that the older, larger walleye move upstream to spawn in the marshes along the Wolf River, while young walleye tend to spawn in the Fox River and along the west shore of Lake Winnebago. The spawning run usually lasts 7 to 10 days and generally occurs between April 8 and 18. Most fish are caught after spawning as they return downstream.
The white bass run usually lasts from early-to-mid May. The largest concentrations of fish are found in the Fox and Wolf Rivers, up to New London.
Weather
71°Feels like 71°
--
62°
--62°--
--
4 mph
South
0 in
Rain
30.03 inHg
Stable
MondayMo
-- / 62°
TuesdayTu
77° / 66°
WednesdayWe
78° / 64°
ThursdayTh
78° / 61°
FridayFr
77° / 64°
SaturdaySa
78° / 67°
Moon Phase
August 25, 2026
93% Illumination
waxing gibbous, getting brighter
TuesdayTu08/25
WednesdayWe08/26
ThursdayTh08/27
FridayFr08/28
SaturdaySa08/29
SundaySu08/30
MondayMo08/31
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Top Fish Species
Bluegill
3-9 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2025
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Understanding Abundance
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Species Lengths
