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8,857-acre flowage near Oshkosh. The lake tops out around 8 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Lake Butte des Morts maps at 9,402 acres behind 46.3 miles of shoreline — 7 islands included. An index of 3.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. End to end it runs roughly 8.7 mi, about 4.4 mi across. It sits in Winnebago County. If the bite dies, Lake Winneconne is 7 mi to the northwest.
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Spring walleye concentrate at Gravel shoal, a prime-rated gravel shoal around 2 ft. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Gravel shoal (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, white bass & hybrids slide up into 2 to 8 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 8 ft, winter 2 to 8 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Daggets Creek inflow (1 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 8 ft, winter 2 to 8 ft. Start at Old creek channel. It's a creek channel holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (3 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (3 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Deep basin (8 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 2 to 8 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 8 ft through summer, 2 to 8 ft in winter. The spot to know is Weed flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Deep basin (8 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (8 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Weed flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Break off the point (6 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Old creek channel: a creek channel around 3 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Daggets Creek inflow (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Deep basin (8 ft) |
Lake Butte des Morts also holds freshwater drum (2 to 8 ft in summer), common carp (2 to 8 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 26 structure features on Lake Butte des Morts; the deepest is Deep basin at about 8 ft.
Access data: Wisconsin DNR — Boat Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | Muskellunge (large fingerling) | 3,900 | ~6.7" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wisconsin waters are set by the Wisconsin DNR — and special regulations can apply to Lake Butte des Morts specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wisconsin fishing regulations →
Lake Butte des Morts is about 8 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target walleye, white bass & hybrids, crappie, yellow perch, largemouth bass, channel catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Lake Butte des Morts.
Gravel shoal is the top-rated area: a gravel shoal in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Wisconsin DNR fish-stocking summary records, Lake Butte des Morts was most recently stocked 2024 with 3,900 muskellunge (large fingerling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Lake Butte des Morts is regulated by the Wisconsin DNR. Check the official Wisconsin regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Winneconne 7 mi · Hogers Bayou 7 mi · Lake Poygan 11 mi · Lake Winnebago 12 mi · Rush Lake 13 mi · Little Lake Butte Des Morts 13 mi · Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) 18 mi · Auroraville Millpond 18 mi · Ripon Pond (Gothic) 18 mi · Partridge Lake 19 mi · Traders Bayou 21 mi · Puchyan Millpond 21 mi
See how Lake Butte des Morts stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin · best channel catfish lakes in Wisconsin
More water nearby: Winnebago County fishing maps (7 charts). Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA hydrographic surveys. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.