Waterbody

View in the App
Size
65ac
Boat Launch
No
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in
Bluegill
Bluegill
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Walleye
Walleye
White bass
White bass

Overview

The upriver lakes of the vast Winnebago system. The annual spring runs of walleye and white bass are particularly famous and attract thousands of anglers each year. Fishery boasts nearly 20 species of gamefish and panfish. Featured species include, walleye, white bass, channel catfish. 27,466 acres

Features

Lakes Poygan, Winneconne, and Butte des Morts are the “upriver lakes” of the vast Winnebago system. These “upriver lakes” cover 27,466 acres. The annual spring runs of walleye and white bass are infamous nationwide and draw thousands of anglers. These large, shallow lakes can become quite rough in windy conditions. Constant monitoring of weather conditions is advisable for anglers especially those with small boats. Navigation in off-channel areas of Lake Butte des Morts can be hazardous for larger boats due to shallow water areas and unmarked rock piles. Pay close attention to marker buoys which point out navigational routes.

Forage

Juvenile carp, redhorse, white sucker, golden shiner, emerald shiner, spottail shiner, log perch, trout perch and juvenile panfish are key species in an abundant forage base. Gizzard shad are significant although they tend to cyclically die-off and reemerge. Crayfish are also present. Aquatic insect hatches also have a great impact on the forage base.

Seasonal Movements

Lake Butte des Morts receives the entire run of Lake Winnebago walleye as they migrate up the Fox or Wolf Rivers. There is a tendency for spawning walleye to return to the same area, or at least their natal river, year after year. Lake Poygan walleye begin their upstream movement approximately one to two weeks before walleye move up from Lake Winnebago. In an average year, the walleye migration will be completed during the month of April. The Winneconne walleye movement up the Wolf River occurs after the Poygan movement because Winneconne lacks tributary streams flowing into it. Winneconne harbors a tremendous influx of walleye as they move up from Lake Winnebago. A significant number of white bass move through Lake Winneconne during the months of April and May. From June through August, white bass are loosely schooled in the open-water basins of the lake. Tighter schools are formed in the fall. The white bass migration through Poygan lasts the entire month of May.
Waterbody poster background

logo

Get Your Line in the Right Water

Quickly find the best places to fish and plan your day right.

Start 7-Day Free Trial
Buy onX Fish Midwest

Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
3-10 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
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
2016
Apr
Channel catfish
fish
8-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Crappie
fish
5-20 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized crappie based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201619
View in the App
Largemouth bass
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Muskellunge
fish
43-44 in
Length Range
44 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Northern pike
fish
12-37 in
Length Range
20 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Perch
fish
5-12 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Pumpkinseed
fish
4-8 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
Walleye
fish
8-25 in
Length Range
20 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App
White bass
fish
10-16 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2016
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2016
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
2016
Apr
View in the App

Nearby Lakes

Spring Brook

Size: NA

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

Lake Butte des Morts

Size: 8603 acres

Fish Species: 18

Boat Launch: Yes

waterbodys

Lake Winneconne

Size: 4530 acres

Fish Species: 16

Boat Launch: Yes

Waukau Creek

Size: NA

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: Yes

Sawyer Creek

Size: NA

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

Arrowhead River

Size: NA

Fish Species: 5

Boat Launch: No

Daggets Creek

Size: NA

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No