Lake Winneconne

Lake Winneconne

Size
4530ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Lake Winneconne
Bass
Bass
Bluegill
Bluegill
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Crappie
Crappie
Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Tiger muskellunge
Tiger muskellunge
Walleye
Walleye
White bass
White bass
Yellow Bass
Yellow Bass

Lake Winneconne 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

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 Waterbody Regulations

  • Open all year for all species except muskellunge, northern pike, flathead catfish and lake sturgeon.
  • Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
  • Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.
  • Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the WINNEBAGO CHAIN including CINCOE LAKE, LAKE BUTTE DES MORTS, LAKE POYGAN, LAKE WINNEBAGO, PARTRIDGE CROP LAKE, PARTRIDGE LAKE

Special Species Regulations

  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
  • Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
  • Sauger and hybrids: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 1.
  • 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.
  • Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
  • Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2.
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1.
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: Open All Year: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
  • Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
  • Flathead catfish: May 4, 2024 to September 30, 2024: The minimum length is 30, but flathead catfish from 36” to 42” may not be kept.The daily bag limit is 1.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Catfish: Open All Year: See specific species regulations in this group.
  • White perch: 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.

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.
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Fish Species

Bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
No Survey Data
Bluegill
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
39
0Statewide Range764.78

Lake Winneconne Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
May
2022
May
Channel catfish
fish
19-23 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2022
Surveyed
Trapnet
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
2019
May
2022
May
Crappie
fish
12-13 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
2
0Statewide Range80.53

Lake Winneconne Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
May
2022
May
Flathead catfish
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
No Survey Data
Largemouth bass
fish
10-17 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
8
0Statewide Range133.83

Lake Winneconne Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
May
2022
May
Muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
No Survey Data
Northern pike
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
2
0Statewide Range15.56

Lake Winneconne Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
Apr
2022
May
Perch
fish
5-10 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2022
Surveyed
Trapnet
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
2019
May
2022
May
Pumpkinseed
fish
4-8 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
10
0Statewide Range85.42

Lake Winneconne Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2018
Apr
2019
Apr
2022
May
Rock bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
2018
Apr
2019
Apr
Smallmouth bass
fish
11-16 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
3
0Statewide Range29.72

Lake Winneconne Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
Apr
2022
May
Tiger muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
8-20 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2022
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2022
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
11
0Statewide Range105.87

Lake Winneconne Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
May
2022
May
White bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
2018
Apr
2019
May
Yellow Bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
2018
Apr