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Early-Ice Walleyes, Perch, and White Bass on Lake Winnebago
Published 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnebago fishing report.
No tides to worry about on Winnebago, just water level, and that’s been steady according to the U.S. Geological Survey gauges on the Upriver Lakes. Light north breeze this morning, teens to low 20s at daybreak, climbing into the upper 20s with a mix of sun and passing clouds per the National Weather Service Green Bay office. Winds stay manageable, 5–10 out of the northwest, so it’ll feel chilly on the ice but not brutal.
Sunrise is right around 7:20 a.m. and sunset about 4:18 p.m. for the Oshkosh area, according to the FishingReminder solunar tables for Winnebago. They’re also calling the early window from about 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and again mid‑afternoon as the better bite periods, with a first‑quarter moon helping keep fish moving.
Ice report: local TV outlet WLUK Fox 11 says cold early‑December temps have kicked off ice season ahead of schedule on the Fox Valley system, with anglers already on Little Lake Butte des Morts and protected bays around Winnebago. They’re talking 3–4 inches in sheltered spots, less on the main lake, so this is still early‑ice—creeper season, spud bar in hand, and no trucks yet.
Recent catches: bait shops and locals are reporting eater‑size walleyes and white bass coming out of the west‑shore bays and up by the mouth of the Fox, plus some decent perch in Little Lake Butte des Morts and the Neenah and Oshkosh canals. Numbers aren’t crazy, but guys putting in time are icing a half‑dozen walleyes, a pile of whites, and enough perch for a fry. A few pike are showing up on tip‑ups along the reeds.
Best baits and lures right now are classic early‑ice stuff:
- For **walleyes**: 1/8‑ to 1/4‑ounce rattle spoons in gold, glow red, or perch pattern tipped with a fathead head. Also small Jigging Raps or T‑style swimming baits in natural shiner colors. Deadsticks with plain hook, split shot, and a lively shiner a foot off bottom are quietly doing work.
- For **perch**: tiny tungsten or teardrop jigs in chartreuse or glow white tipped with spikes or a small crappie minnow. Keep ’em just off bottom and don’t be afraid to hole‑hop.
- For **white bass**: small spoons or horizontal jigs with a minnow head, work ’em higher in the column on your flasher when you mark roaming schools.
- For **pike**: tip‑ups rigged with 20–30 lb fluoro and medium shiners or small suckers along weed edges and creek mouths.
Fish activity has been best at first light and again toward dusk, with a bit of a lull late morning. During the slow times, downsizing your presentation and going to plain hooks and lighter line has been turning sniffers into biters.
A couple of local hot spots to consider:
- **Mouth of the Fox at Oshkosh and the nearby bays** – early‑ice walleyes and white bass roaming the breaks and current edges; just watch the flow and ice thickness.
- **Neenah and Menasha channels and the north‑end bays** – good early‑season ice, perch and mixed bag action, and a shot at bonus pike. Little Lake Butte des Morts is also a solid early‑ice bet if Winnebago’s main basin still makes you nervous.
As always, no ice is ever 100% safe. Check thickness as you go, follow the footpaths and ATV tracks, and talk to the bait shops before you wander off the beaten path.
That’s your Lake Winnebago fishing report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s update.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
No tides to worry about on Winnebago, just water level, and that’s been steady according to the U.S. Geological Survey gauges on the Upriver Lakes. Light north breeze this morning, teens to low 20s at daybreak, climbing into the upper 20s with a mix of sun and passing clouds per the National Weather Service Green Bay office. Winds stay manageable, 5–10 out of the northwest, so it’ll feel chilly on the ice but not brutal.
Sunrise is right around 7:20 a.m. and sunset about 4:18 p.m. for the Oshkosh area, according to the FishingReminder solunar tables for Winnebago. They’re also calling the early window from about 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and again mid‑afternoon as the better bite periods, with a first‑quarter moon helping keep fish moving.
Ice report: local TV outlet WLUK Fox 11 says cold early‑December temps have kicked off ice season ahead of schedule on the Fox Valley system, with anglers already on Little Lake Butte des Morts and protected bays around Winnebago. They’re talking 3–4 inches in sheltered spots, less on the main lake, so this is still early‑ice—creeper season, spud bar in hand, and no trucks yet.
Recent catches: bait shops and locals are reporting eater‑size walleyes and white bass coming out of the west‑shore bays and up by the mouth of the Fox, plus some decent perch in Little Lake Butte des Morts and the Neenah and Oshkosh canals. Numbers aren’t crazy, but guys putting in time are icing a half‑dozen walleyes, a pile of whites, and enough perch for a fry. A few pike are showing up on tip‑ups along the reeds.
Best baits and lures right now are classic early‑ice stuff:
- For **walleyes**: 1/8‑ to 1/4‑ounce rattle spoons in gold, glow red, or perch pattern tipped with a fathead head. Also small Jigging Raps or T‑style swimming baits in natural shiner colors. Deadsticks with plain hook, split shot, and a lively shiner a foot off bottom are quietly doing work.
- For **perch**: tiny tungsten or teardrop jigs in chartreuse or glow white tipped with spikes or a small crappie minnow. Keep ’em just off bottom and don’t be afraid to hole‑hop.
- For **white bass**: small spoons or horizontal jigs with a minnow head, work ’em higher in the column on your flasher when you mark roaming schools.
- For **pike**: tip‑ups rigged with 20–30 lb fluoro and medium shiners or small suckers along weed edges and creek mouths.
Fish activity has been best at first light and again toward dusk, with a bit of a lull late morning. During the slow times, downsizing your presentation and going to plain hooks and lighter line has been turning sniffers into biters.
A couple of local hot spots to consider:
- **Mouth of the Fox at Oshkosh and the nearby bays** – early‑ice walleyes and white bass roaming the breaks and current edges; just watch the flow and ice thickness.
- **Neenah and Menasha channels and the north‑end bays** – good early‑season ice, perch and mixed bag action, and a shot at bonus pike. Little Lake Butte des Morts is also a solid early‑ice bet if Winnebago’s main basin still makes you nervous.
As always, no ice is ever 100% safe. Check thickness as you go, follow the footpaths and ATV tracks, and talk to the bait shops before you wander off the beaten path.
That’s your Lake Winnebago fishing report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s update.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI