As of November 21, 2024, here’s a local’s perspective on the fishing scene at Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin.

First off, let's talk about the time of day. Sunrise is around 6:45 AM, and sunset will be about 4:20 PM, giving you a good window to get out on the water. Since Lake Winnebago is a freshwater lake, there are no tidal reports to consider.

The weather has been quite unpredictable lately, especially with the sturgeon spearing season wrapping up. Yesterday saw cooler temperatures, which was a welcome change for spearers, but the overall harvest has been slow due to uncooperative weather conditions.

Fish activity has been variable, but there are still some good catches to be had. Yesterday, on Lake Winnebago, only 6 lake sturgeon were harvested, consisting of 2 juvenile females, 2 adult females, and 2 males. The majority of these were registered at the Southwest Winnebago and Pipe registration stations, indicating that the southern portion of the lake is still the best area to focus on.

For other species like walleye and perch, which are more active during this time, you might want to use jigs tipped with minnows or small jigs with plastic tails. Crayfish and small crankbaits can also be effective, especially in the crisp fall conditions.

If you're targeting sturgeon, the best approach is still spearing, but for other species, here are some hot spots: The southern part of Lake Winnebago, particularly around the Southwest Winnebago and Pipe areas, has been seeing consistent activity. For walleye and perch, try the deeper holes and weed edges, especially around the Fond du Lac and Oshkosh areas.

In summary, while the sturgeon spearing season is ending, there's still plenty of fishing to be done on Lake Winnebago. Keep an eye on the weather, and don't hesitate to try different lures and baits to see what works best for you. Good luck out there