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Fishing Report for Lake Winnebago: Walleye, White Bass, and More Biting Strong in Mild September Conditions
Published 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Sunday morning fishing report for Lake Winnebago and the surrounding Fox Valley as of September 14, 2025.
We’ve got another beautiful, mild almost-autumn morning underway: Stockbridge weather is mainly clear with air temps hovering around 64°F at dawn and just a touch of southeast wind at 2 mph. Barometric pressure is steady at 1018 mb with 55% humidity, making for a perfect day to get out on the big lake or test a nearby river.
Sunrise came at about 6:35 AM, and you’ll have sunlight until sunset near 7:10 PM. There’s no tidal influence on Winnebago, of course, but light winds—forecast from the southeast at 5–10 knots—mean smooth water, with waves staying at 2 feet or less all day, according to the National Weather Service. Visibility will be excellent once the early fog burns off.
Fish activity is definitely on the upswing with the cooling nights. Anglers have had decent success chasing a range of species, especially in the early morning and just before dusk. Per recent reports:
- **Walleye** action has picked up on the reefs and along the rock bars near Black Wolf and off the west shore. Stable late-summer water temps have the fish holding around 14–20 feet. Folks are doing well on three-way rigs tipped with nightcrawlers or trolling with Shad Rap crankbaits. Don’t be afraid to swap in a jig and crawler if you’re marking fish that won’t commit.
- **White bass** are busting balls of shiners near the mouth of the Fox River and along current breaks—look for gull activity to help you locate schools. Inline spinners and small, white twister tails have been hot, with some anglers reporting 15+ fish mornings.
- **Perch** are in tighter schools now, especially around gravel and weed patches on the east side near Quinney and Stockbridge. Try a slip bobber and half a crawler just off bottom for some chunky keepers.
- **Catfish**, both channel and flatheads, are still biting, especially by the mouths of inflows or in deeper holes. Weighted crawlers or cut gobies on the bottom have been the go-to.
- **Northern Pike** are sliding into deeper, cooler water but you can still ambush them near the river mouths and bay weed beds—cast bright spoons or jerkbaits.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also staging along rocky shorelines and around structure—work plastics or jigs slowly in the shade, especially where water runs a little deeper near docks and reefs.
For lures and bait, you can’t go wrong right now with:
- **Best Lure:** Crankbaits in perch or natural shad patterns for walleye and bass. Inline spinners or white twister tails for white bass. Spoons and jerkbaits for northern pike. Cast Again Tackle’s locally made bass jigs have been getting solid results, especially with a chunk trailer.
- **Best Live Bait:** Nightcrawlers remain the universal ticket—on jigs, slip bobbers, or rigged for trolling. Fathead minnows and shiners are excellent for white bass and perch.
For those new to the area or looking to try somewhere different, a couple of today’s hot spots are:
- The **rock reefs off Black Wolf point**—always a classic for walleye as water cools.
- The mouth of the **Fond du Lac River**, especially for white bass and the occasional big perch.
- The **west shore mud flats** off Oshkosh for late-summer walleye.
- The **weed edges in Garlic Island bay** for mixed-bag action, including northern and bass.
Boat traffic should stay light most of the day, especially after the breakfast crowd clears out. Remember to watch out for early morning fog patches, especially if running before daylight.
A big thank you to all the anglers who shared their catches and stories at the ramps this morning. Whether you’re dropping anchor or drifting the flats, it’s shaping up to be a great day on Lake Winnebago.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s fishing rep
We’ve got another beautiful, mild almost-autumn morning underway: Stockbridge weather is mainly clear with air temps hovering around 64°F at dawn and just a touch of southeast wind at 2 mph. Barometric pressure is steady at 1018 mb with 55% humidity, making for a perfect day to get out on the big lake or test a nearby river.
Sunrise came at about 6:35 AM, and you’ll have sunlight until sunset near 7:10 PM. There’s no tidal influence on Winnebago, of course, but light winds—forecast from the southeast at 5–10 knots—mean smooth water, with waves staying at 2 feet or less all day, according to the National Weather Service. Visibility will be excellent once the early fog burns off.
Fish activity is definitely on the upswing with the cooling nights. Anglers have had decent success chasing a range of species, especially in the early morning and just before dusk. Per recent reports:
- **Walleye** action has picked up on the reefs and along the rock bars near Black Wolf and off the west shore. Stable late-summer water temps have the fish holding around 14–20 feet. Folks are doing well on three-way rigs tipped with nightcrawlers or trolling with Shad Rap crankbaits. Don’t be afraid to swap in a jig and crawler if you’re marking fish that won’t commit.
- **White bass** are busting balls of shiners near the mouth of the Fox River and along current breaks—look for gull activity to help you locate schools. Inline spinners and small, white twister tails have been hot, with some anglers reporting 15+ fish mornings.
- **Perch** are in tighter schools now, especially around gravel and weed patches on the east side near Quinney and Stockbridge. Try a slip bobber and half a crawler just off bottom for some chunky keepers.
- **Catfish**, both channel and flatheads, are still biting, especially by the mouths of inflows or in deeper holes. Weighted crawlers or cut gobies on the bottom have been the go-to.
- **Northern Pike** are sliding into deeper, cooler water but you can still ambush them near the river mouths and bay weed beds—cast bright spoons or jerkbaits.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also staging along rocky shorelines and around structure—work plastics or jigs slowly in the shade, especially where water runs a little deeper near docks and reefs.
For lures and bait, you can’t go wrong right now with:
- **Best Lure:** Crankbaits in perch or natural shad patterns for walleye and bass. Inline spinners or white twister tails for white bass. Spoons and jerkbaits for northern pike. Cast Again Tackle’s locally made bass jigs have been getting solid results, especially with a chunk trailer.
- **Best Live Bait:** Nightcrawlers remain the universal ticket—on jigs, slip bobbers, or rigged for trolling. Fathead minnows and shiners are excellent for white bass and perch.
For those new to the area or looking to try somewhere different, a couple of today’s hot spots are:
- The **rock reefs off Black Wolf point**—always a classic for walleye as water cools.
- The mouth of the **Fond du Lac River**, especially for white bass and the occasional big perch.
- The **west shore mud flats** off Oshkosh for late-summer walleye.
- The **weed edges in Garlic Island bay** for mixed-bag action, including northern and bass.
Boat traffic should stay light most of the day, especially after the breakfast crowd clears out. Remember to watch out for early morning fog patches, especially if running before daylight.
A big thank you to all the anglers who shared their catches and stories at the ramps this morning. Whether you’re dropping anchor or drifting the flats, it’s shaping up to be a great day on Lake Winnebago.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s fishing rep