Artificial Lure here, reporting from Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin on November 6, 2025. Daybreak came at 6:39 AM and sunset will hit at 4:41 PM, so make the most of these short November hours. The weather’s looking steady—morning mid-40s climbing into the mid-50s by afternoon, with mostly cloudy skies and a brisk south wind at 15 to 25 knots kicking up some chop on the lake according to the National Weather Service. A small craft advisory’s in effect, so take it easy if you’re motoring out deep.

Lake Winnebago’s still got its fall mojo. Water temps are dipping into the low 50s, and active fish are sliding deeper, but don’t let that scare you off. Local anglers report solid catches of **walleye**, **white bass**, and some impressive **smallmouth bass**—with muskies still prowling up the Fox River and northern pike cruising weed edges. Walleye numbers are decent near Oshkosh, especially in 8-14 feet along gravel bars.

Bass fishing’s great: smallmouth are stacking up offshore structure around reefs and humps—veterans swear by dragging a 3½-inch tube or working a Ned rig right through the rocks. For largemouth, hit the shallow backwaters off the western shore and in Lake Butte des Morts; power fishing a white or chartreuse swim jig through sparse pads and timber brings consistent bites.

White bass are schooling mid-lake and off river mouths. Cast blade baits or three-inch white twister tails for non-stop action. Locals in the Town of Algoma are punching live bait rigs—fathead minnows and nightcrawlers—along the Fox River for a mixed bag, mostly eater-size walleyes and sauger.

November’s a transition month, and with spawning over, fish are feeding up ahead of winter. Major activity spikes around 12:00-2:00 PM and again 6:00-7:00 AM, based on the solunar tables—so plan to fish hard during those windows.

Bait and lure recommendations:
- For walleye: Fire-tiger jig tipped with half a nightcrawler or plastic paddletails; trolling Flicker Shads or Smithwick Rogues in purple or perch.
- Smallmouth bass: Goby-pattern tubes, green pumpkin Ned rigs.
- Largemouth: Chartreuse swim jigs or wacky-rigged stickbaits near visible cover.
- White bass: Silver blade baits and white curly-tailed grubs.

Two hot spots worth a shot:
- The reefs between Oshkosh and Fond du Lac: Target gravel and rock piles in 10–18 feet for walleye and smallmouth.
- Lake Butte des Morts—especially the west shoreline public landing in Algoma. This area’s producing mixed bags: bass, walleye, and the odd catfish. Early and late in the day are best.

No tides on Winnebago, but wind-driven currents mean you’ll want to fish the windward shorelines for active feeders.

If you’re lucky enough to land a musky this time of year, send in your photos—there’s been chatter about some real brutes coming out of the Fox River and into Winnebago’s north end.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI