Artificial Lure here with your Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin fishing report for Sunday, October 26th, 2025.

The morning kicked off crisp with temperatures hanging in the mid-40s at sunrise, which was at 7:23 AM, and we’ll see sunset tonight at 5:54 PM. The forecast calls for light northwest winds, overcast skies most of the day, and highs near 53. That’s typical late October fare—throw on an extra layer, but don’t let it keep you off the water. No tidal swings here in the heartland, just that steady drawdown as the nights get colder and we edge further into fall.

Fishwise, Lake Winnebago and its tributaries are holding their own. The bite has been decent considering the season, with some pockets of fantastic action if you know where to look. The Wisconsin Outdoor News fishing report from October 24th notes that area anglers are still catching a solid mix of species, particularly during the morning and near dusk. In the last few days, walleye have been slower—shore action is expected to pick up as water temps keep dropping, according to the latest KIOW Saturday report. Still, persistent trollers have been picking up keeper eyes on crankbaits along the rocky points from Oshkosh south to Fond du Lac.

White bass and perch are providing the most consistent action, especially off reefs and near river mouths. Expect perch in the 8- to 10-inch range. Small jigs tipped with minnows, red worms, or plastics have been best. Recent reports from the Wolf River, right up from Winnebago, say keepers are biting in the sloughs and near any structure—fallen timber is hot. White bass are running fair to good, and a few folks have found a mess of late crappie hiding out in 8-12 feet, especially off the west shore and in bays with remaining green weeds.

As for lures—this week’s winners have been natural-colored jigs for perch, pink or chartreuse mini-mites, and classic slip bobber rigs with crappie minnows. Walleye chasers are swearing by firetiger or shad-pattern crankbaits and jig-and-crawler combos bounced slow along drop-offs. If you’re a catfish diehard, cut bait and chicken livers are still drawing in a few late-season channel cats, especially near the river mouths.

Highlight from the sturgeon front: local news just recapped a massive harvest to kick off this year’s spearing season. The fourth-largest sturgeon ever was pulled from Winnebago this past week, and it’s got the whole town buzzing—so if you’re out there, keep an eye peeled for those river giants, even if you’re practicing catch and release.

Now for hotspots. Try the reefs off Garlic Island and the mouth of the Fox River—both have produced solid mixed bags. Elsewhere, the south shore near Pipe has given up perch and late white bass, especially when the wind is laying down. Don’t overlook the seams and current edges near the mouth of the Wolf River, particularly for mixed species. If you’re chasing crappie and bluegill, poke around the old timber and docks along the west shore—they’re key holding areas as water temps slide into the upper 40s.

A quick safety note: cooler winds and dropping temps mean hypothermia risk rises fast for anyone on the water, so keep your PFD on and watch those weather changes.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Lake Winnebago report! If this helped you find a few fish or a little inspiration, make sure to subscribe so you never miss a bite.

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