30 August 2025
Calm Conditions on Lake Winnebago Produce White Bass, Walleye, and Panfish Action
Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin Fishing Report - Daily
About
Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnebago fishing report for Saturday, August 30th, 2025.
This morning, Lake Winnebago starts off with a blanket of **overcast skies and mild temperatures around 73°F**, with barely a whisper of southeast winds topping at 2 mph. You’ll want to pack an extra layer because it feels more like mid-September than late August. According to the Town of Stockbridge and recent reports, we’re looking at a tranquil day with occasional gusts but otherwise flat water—a recipe for easy boat handling and enjoyable shore fishing.
**Sunrise hit at 6:16 AM and sunset will wrap the day at 7:37 PM**. No tidal movement to track, but keep an eye on barometric pressure dips around midday, which have been coinciding with peak bites throughout the basin.
The fish are restless after a streak of muggy nights. As aired on the Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin Daily Fishing Report podcast, **White Bass are sizzling**, especially near the mouth of the Upper Fox and at the Willow Point flats. Anglers working the mid-depths with **chrome blade baits, Rat-L-Traps, and white twister tails** have been cashing in with full buckets. This past week, pods of white bass averaging 12-14 inches have shown up in the morning and late afternoon.
**Walleye are finally waking up after a slow stretch.** The local night-owls have had success using **purple or chartreuse jigs tipped with crawlers or leeches** over the reefs off Oshkosh and along the west shore mud flats. Fish in the 14-19 inch range are biting, with a few 20-inchers reported from boats trolling Flicker Shads east of Fond du Lac. Walleyes have been moving up in the water column—try 7 to 12 feet early, then deeper as the sun rises.
**Panfish—especially crappie and bluegill—are prowling the weed edges.** In eight to twelve feet of water, you're best off drifting small jigs tipped with wax worms or using slip bobbers with live minnows. The fishing is steady, not hot, but stay patient and you'll find some decent dinner plates by mid-morning. The Iowa DNR’s regional report notes the Winnebago River (which feeds the lake) has blacks crappie biting fair, mostly on live bait.
For those seeking something big, the DNR and Lakeland Times remind that **Lake Winnebago remains home to historic sturgeon**—though the spearing season is off until next winter, and you’ll need to enter the lottery for tickets.
Talking **hot spots**, the river mouth at Oshkosh and Garlic Island are producing the most action, while the southern bays near Pipe are reliable for steady panfish. Don’t sleep on “The Muck” up by Black Wolf—the bottom-feeding bite for drum and catfish has been exceptional at dusk using shrimp or cut bait.
Top baits today:
- **White Bass:** Chrome blade baits, Rat-L-Traps, live shiners
- **Walleye:** Purple/chartreuse jigs, Flicker Shads, leeches, nightcrawlers
- **Panfish:** Wax worms, slip bobber rigs with live minnows, small feather jigs
- **Catfish or Drum:** Cut bait, shrimp, stinkbait
Remember, Lake Winnebago is diverse and ever-changing. Tune in to the local daily podcast for up-to-the-minute conditions and expert interviews—especially useful if you’re new to the system.
Lastly, big thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Winnebago fishing report. Subscribe for more daily insights and never miss a bite. 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 morning, Lake Winnebago starts off with a blanket of **overcast skies and mild temperatures around 73°F**, with barely a whisper of southeast winds topping at 2 mph. You’ll want to pack an extra layer because it feels more like mid-September than late August. According to the Town of Stockbridge and recent reports, we’re looking at a tranquil day with occasional gusts but otherwise flat water—a recipe for easy boat handling and enjoyable shore fishing.
**Sunrise hit at 6:16 AM and sunset will wrap the day at 7:37 PM**. No tidal movement to track, but keep an eye on barometric pressure dips around midday, which have been coinciding with peak bites throughout the basin.
The fish are restless after a streak of muggy nights. As aired on the Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin Daily Fishing Report podcast, **White Bass are sizzling**, especially near the mouth of the Upper Fox and at the Willow Point flats. Anglers working the mid-depths with **chrome blade baits, Rat-L-Traps, and white twister tails** have been cashing in with full buckets. This past week, pods of white bass averaging 12-14 inches have shown up in the morning and late afternoon.
**Walleye are finally waking up after a slow stretch.** The local night-owls have had success using **purple or chartreuse jigs tipped with crawlers or leeches** over the reefs off Oshkosh and along the west shore mud flats. Fish in the 14-19 inch range are biting, with a few 20-inchers reported from boats trolling Flicker Shads east of Fond du Lac. Walleyes have been moving up in the water column—try 7 to 12 feet early, then deeper as the sun rises.
**Panfish—especially crappie and bluegill—are prowling the weed edges.** In eight to twelve feet of water, you're best off drifting small jigs tipped with wax worms or using slip bobbers with live minnows. The fishing is steady, not hot, but stay patient and you'll find some decent dinner plates by mid-morning. The Iowa DNR’s regional report notes the Winnebago River (which feeds the lake) has blacks crappie biting fair, mostly on live bait.
For those seeking something big, the DNR and Lakeland Times remind that **Lake Winnebago remains home to historic sturgeon**—though the spearing season is off until next winter, and you’ll need to enter the lottery for tickets.
Talking **hot spots**, the river mouth at Oshkosh and Garlic Island are producing the most action, while the southern bays near Pipe are reliable for steady panfish. Don’t sleep on “The Muck” up by Black Wolf—the bottom-feeding bite for drum and catfish has been exceptional at dusk using shrimp or cut bait.
Top baits today:
- **White Bass:** Chrome blade baits, Rat-L-Traps, live shiners
- **Walleye:** Purple/chartreuse jigs, Flicker Shads, leeches, nightcrawlers
- **Panfish:** Wax worms, slip bobber rigs with live minnows, small feather jigs
- **Catfish or Drum:** Cut bait, shrimp, stinkbait
Remember, Lake Winnebago is diverse and ever-changing. Tune in to the local daily podcast for up-to-the-minute conditions and expert interviews—especially useful if you’re new to the system.
Lastly, big thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Winnebago fishing report. Subscribe for more daily insights and never miss a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn