Lake Winnebago
Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet County, Wisconsin
About Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago is a serious fishing destination in Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet County, known for both its musky and walleye populations, covering 131,939 acres with a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake has public boat landing access, making it easy to launch for a day on the water. The fishery includes Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Panfish, Smallmouth Bass, Sturgeon, and Walleye. Note that invasive species (Asiatic Clam (Corbicula), Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Faucet Snail, Flowering Rush, Hybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-Milfoil, Phragmites (non-native), Purple Loosestrife, Rusty Crayfish, Spiny Waterflea, Zebra Mussel) have been documented here — clean your boat before leaving.
Type: lake · Hydrology: DRAINAGE
Lake Location
44.01680° N, 88.40960° W
WBIC 131100 · Wisconsin DNRFish Species
Full table →Fishing Tips
- ·Musky fishing is best in early morning and evening. Work weedlines and structural transitions with large bucktails or soft swimbaits.
- ·Wisconsin musky season typically opens the first Saturday in May. The fall bite (September–October) is peak for trophy fish.
- ·Walleye feed most actively at dawn and dusk. Jig along deep structural breaks or troll crankbaits along weedlines at 6–8 ft depth.
- ·Night fishing under a full moon can produce excellent walleye results from late June through August.
- ·Northern pike are ambush predators — target weed edges, fallen timber, and points with large spoons or swimbaits.
- ·Spring pike fishing (ice-out through June) can be outstanding as they move into shallow, warming bays to spawn.
- ·Largemouth bass relate to shallow structure. Work topwater lures at dawn in summer, then switch to soft plastics rigged weedless around lily pads and fallen wood.
- ·Bluegill and crappie stack up in 8–15 ft of water near weedlines. Small jigs tipped with a waxworm are hard to beat.
- ·Panfish are often excellent for kids and beginners — look for them around any dock or submerged brush piles.
Local's Guide
Fishing
Species-specific tips above. Wisconsin fishing license required for ages 16+. See current season regulations below.
View fishing regulations ↓Swimming
Check conditions before swimming. No lifeguard on duty. Watch for aquatic vegetation near shorelines.
Content coming soon
Nearby Dining
Looking for supper clubs and bait shops near Lake Winnebago? Local dining recommendations coming soon.
Content coming soon
Insider Tips
Local knowledge about Lake Winnebago — best times to visit, quiet spots, and what the regulars know. Contributed tips coming soon.
Content coming soon
Lake Conditions
Water Clarity
—
No data
Trophic Status
—
No data
Invasive Weeds
Present
Asiatic Clam (Corbicula), Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Faucet Snail, Flowering Rush, Hybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-Milfoil, Phragmites (non-native), Purple Loosestrife, Rusty Crayfish, Spiny Waterflea, Zebra Mussel
Seasonal Notes
Coming soon
Ice-out dates, peak fishing windows
Condition data sourced from Wisconsin DNR surveys. Real-time weed and clarity reports coming soon.
Invasive Species Present
Asiatic Clam (Corbicula) and Chinese Mystery Snail and Curly-Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Water-Milfoil and Faucet Snail and Flowering Rush and Hybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-Milfoil and Phragmites (non-native) and Purple Loosestrife and Rusty Crayfish and Spiny Waterflea and Zebra Mussel have been documented in Lake Winnebago. Clean, drain, and dry all watercraft and equipment before leaving.
Report sightings to the Wisconsin DNR invasive species hotline.Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Lake Winnebago?
Lake Winnebago is home to Catfish (Abundant), Largemouth Bass (Common), Musky, Northern Pike, Panfish (Abundant), Smallmouth Bass (Common), Sturgeon (Abundant), and Walleye (Abundant). Wisconsin fishing regulations apply — check current seasons and size limits before heading out.
Is there a public boat launch on Lake Winnebago?
Yes — Lake Winnebago has 20 boat landings providing watercraft access. Check for posted local ordinances at the landing before launching.
How big is Lake Winnebago?
Lake Winnebago has 131,939 acres in surface area, a maximum depth of 21 feet.
Are there invasive species in Lake Winnebago?
Yes — Asiatic Clam (Corbicula) and Chinese Mystery Snail and Curly-Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Water-Milfoil and Faucet Snail and Flowering Rush and Hybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-Milfoil and Phragmites (non-native) and Purple Loosestrife and Rusty Crayfish and Spiny Waterflea and Zebra Mussel have been documented in Lake Winnebago. Please clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and all equipment before leaving any Wisconsin water body to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Where is Lake Winnebago located?
Lake Winnebago is located in Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet County, Wisconsin. GPS coordinates: 44.0168° N, 88.4096° W.
Are there vacation rentals on Lake Winnebago?
Stay Northern is building the most complete rental directory for Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet County lakes. Check our Lake Winnebago vacation rentals listing — if none are available yet, check back soon or browse nearby Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet County lake rentals.
Fishing Regulations
Current season regulations for Lake Winnebago
| Species | Season | Min. Length | Daily Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Catfish | Open All Year | See specific species regulations in this group. | — |
| Channel Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25 in total, but only 24 if one flathead catfish is included. | — |
| Cisco And Whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Flathead Catfish | May 2, 2026 to September 30, 2026 | The minimum length is 30, but flathead catfish from 36" to 42" may not be kept.The daily bag limit is 1. | — |
| Lake Sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass | Open All Year | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Muskellunge And Hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. | — |
| Northern Pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2. | — |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. | — |
| Rock, Yellow, And White Bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rough Fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Round Goby | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Ruffe | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Sauger And Hybrids | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 1. | — |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Trout | See specific regulations | https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/ . | — |
| Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag is 3, only one of which may be a sauger or hybrid. | — |
| White Perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office. | — |
Regulations sourced from Wisconsin DNR fisheries data. Always verify current regulations before fishing.
Lake Details
- WBIC
- 131100
- County
- Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Calumet County
- Surface Area
- 131,939 acres
- Max Depth
- 21 ft
- Lake Type
- lake
- Coordinates
- 44.0168, -88.4096
Boat Rentals Nearby
Pontoon
Listing soonFishing Boat + Motor
Listing soonKayak / Canoe
Listing soonKnow a local boat rental operator near Lake Winnebago? Let us know.
Boat Landings (20)
Boat Landing 1
Boat Landing 2
Boat Landing 3
Boat Landing 4
Boat Landing 5
Boat Landing 6
Boat Landing 7
Boat Landing 8
Boat Landing 9
Boat Landing 10
Boat Landing 11
Boat Landing 12
Boat Landing 13
Boat Landing 14
Boat Landing 15
Boat Landing 16
Boat Landing 17
Boat Landing 18
Boat Landing 19
Boat Landing 20
Lake data sourced from the Wisconsin DNR. Last updated 3/24/2026.