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Fishing Lake Winnebago: what the data says
137,700-acre lake near Oshkosh. Wisconsin's largest inland lake; shallow, fertile, and famous for walleye. The lake tops out around 21 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Walleye fishing at Lake Winnebago
Spring walleye on Lake Winnebago hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 21 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 21 ft. The spot to know is Gravel shoal, a gravel shoal in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Northern Pike fishing at Lake Winnebago
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Winnebago
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 6 to 21 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 21 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Crappie fishing at Lake Winnebago
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. They move out to 6 to 21 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 21 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Old creek channel: a creek channel around 11 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at Lake Winnebago
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 21 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Lake Winnebago
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 6 to 21 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 21 ft. The spot to know is Old creek channel, a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday |
Lake Winnebago also holds yellow perch (6 to 21 ft in summer), white bass & hybrids (6 to 21 ft in summer), freshwater drum (6 to 21 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), white bass (6 to 21 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 18 ft
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 18 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 17 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 12 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 11 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 11 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 7 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 5 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 5 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 5 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 5 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 5 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 5 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Winnebago?
Lake Winnebago is about 21 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Lake Winnebago?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, yellow perch, freshwater drum, common carp on Lake Winnebago.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Winnebago?
Gravel shoal is the top-rated area: a gravel shoal in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Winnebago?
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.
Nearby waters
Lake Butte des Morts · Lake Poygan · Big Green Lake · Wolf River · Fox River (Lower) · Lake Puckaway
See how Lake Winnebago stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Wisconsin · best walleye lakes in Wisconsin · best northern pike lakes in Wisconsin · best crappie lakes in Wisconsin
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.