Good morning folks, Artificial Lure here with the Lake Winnebago region fishing report for November 5th, 2025. We’re rolling into that true late-fall bite across the Bago system, and despite the cooler air and falling leaves, there’s still solid action to be had for those willing to bundle up and stick it out.

Let’s talk weather first—overnight lows put a definite crisp on your fingertips, and we’re seeing high temps topping out in the upper 40s to low 50s. According to the National Weather Service, today brings partly sunny skies with east winds shifting to northeast at 15 to 20 knots, gusting up to 25 knots here and there. Waves on nearby Lake Michigan are hefty, but Winnebago itself is more sheltered; expect minor chop, nothing unmanageable for most local boats. There’s no hazardous weather in the immediate outlook from the Green Bay office, so you can fish with peace of mind. Sunrise hit at 6:40 AM, and sunset is coming quick at 4:38 PM—plan for brief but active windows early and late in the day.

Lake Winnebago’s water temps are dropping into the upper 40s to just about 50, prime for November, and we’re well into turnover—weed edges collapsing, clarity improving, and fish shifting to those traditional late-season holds. The walleye bite has transitioned deep and tight: locals are reporting most action from 15–25 feet, with the sharpest drops on the outside weed edges or gravel points producing the best. The fathead minnow and small sucker bite on 1/4 to 3/8 oz jigs is king right now, especially under slip-bobbers at those breaks. Cloud cover narrows your bite window, so get out early morning or just before dusk for your best shot.

Perch remain a strong bet, especially focused around soft-bottom transitions near deep water—think off the old reefs or in the mud just outside the river mouths. Crappies have gone deeper as well, suspending mid-basin or just above brushpiles in 14-20 feet, where a small jig tipped with plastics or waxworms is putting healthy limits in the boat.

As for predator hunters, northern pike are still moving in the remaining green weeds of the back bays, and musky anglers trolling big cranks or working rubber along the famed Winnebago drop-offs continued to stick a few nice fish last week. Now’s prime time for giant fall muskies before things freeze up, so don’t stow your heavy rods yet.

Bass fishing is really trailing off, but for diehards, smallmouth are hugging rock and gravel transitions around Oshkosh and north toward Menasha; finesse presentations like tubes or drop-shot worms, or just a classic nightcrawler, will tempt any still on feed.

Hot spots worth a mention this week: the County Y Reef remains a fall walleye staple, especially in low light, and the mouth of the Fox River is producing a mixed bag of walleyes, perch, and the odd bonus white bass. Further west, Garlic Island and the Butte des Morts outlet are seeing steady pike and occasional late-swing crappies. Don’t overlook the areas around the new Lake Winneconne breakwall either—according to WLUK, habitat restoration is drawing in bait and predator fish.

On the bait and lure front: for walleye, jig/minnow combos or a split-shot rig with a small sucker is money. Perch prefer rosy reds or fatheads on a small hook. For crappie, think 1/16 oz chartreuse or pink plastics on a light wire jig. Pike are smashing spinnerbaits and silver spoons. Musky guys—troll Jake or Grandma lures in firetiger or sucker patterns, or drag live suckers along the drops.

The full moon this week, per Fishingreminder, means brighter nights and more nighttime predation—so night owls, bring a headlamp and try after dark for big walleyes on stickbaits near shore.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s report, and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a beat of all the regional fishing action this season!

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