Oshkosh is a small, but popular town located on the west side of Lake Winnebago where the Fox River connects Lake Winnebago to Lake Butte des Morts. You have lots of options for fishing on this side of the lake with all the bays, points, offshore waters, the Fox River and into the other lakes that are connected here. Walleye fishing is very popular on Lake Winnebago, but this side of the lake provides better opportunities for multi-species than the other parts of the lake. On the west end of the lake, anglers find better numbers of largemouth bass and northern pike to go along with everything else that swims in the lake. Take a look below to learn more about the area waters.
Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago is the nation’s second largest inland freshwater lake. It is 28 miles long, 11 miles wide and covers 137,700 acres. It is so big that it takes up space in 3 different counties including Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Calumet. The lake covers 85 miles of shoreline and you can find plenty of lighthouses, launch ramps, harbors, parks and restaurants around the water. The lake is very popular for a variety of outdoor activities. There is plenty of room on the lake for everyone.
The fishing on Lake Winnebago is excellent. It is a large lake, but it is not as overwhelming as some would think. It is known as a great numbers lake for walleye and there are many other species of fish that you can catch here too. Because the lake is so large, we decided to break it into smaller parts to help anglers learn the lake better.
Fox River – Oshkosh
The Fox River in Oshkosh is a popular river for fishing since it connects Lake WInnebago to Lake Butte des Morts. Anglers fish the river throughout the open water fishing season for a variety of species. The walleye & white bass spawn will draw lots of anglers to the river in the spring. In the fall, a lot of fish push back into the rivers also once water temperatures start to cool off. Throughout the summer and fall though, anglers do catch a lot of fish in the river such as catfish, sturgeon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, white bass, northern pike and even muskie.
Lake Butte des Morts
Lake Butte des Morts is a 8,581 acre lake located in Winnebago County. It has a maximum depth of 9 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from several public boat landings. Fish include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, sturgeon, catfish and panfish. According to the DNR, northern pike, sturgeon, catfish and panfish are abundant in the lake while largemouth bass are considered common. Muskie, smallmouth bass and walleye are listed as present.
Lake Winneconne
Lake Winneconne is a 4,553 acre lake located in Winnebago County. It has a maximum depth of 9 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from several public boat landings. Fish include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, sturgeon, catfish and panfish. According to the DNR, northern pike, sturgeon, catfish and panfish are abundant in the lake while largemouth bass and walleye are considered common. Smallmouth bass and muskie are listed as present.
Lake Poygan
Lake Poygan is a 14,024 acre lake located in Waushara, Winnebago Counties. It has a maximum depth of 11 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from many public boat landings. Fish include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, sturgeon, catfish and panfish. According to the DNR, catfish, sturgeon and panfish are abundant in the lake while largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye are considered common. Smallmouth bass and muskie are listed as present.
