Warm temperatures and steady winds over the past week produced plenty of fishing opportunities on Lake Winnebago, Lake Poygan and Lake Buttes des Mortes. Heavy boat traffic was seen at area launches, and solid walleye action was found system wide. Water temps were generally in the upper 50’s most of the week to low 60’s, with water clarity at stained to mildly stained on Lake Winnebago. A lake fly hatch has occurred over several areas of the main lake.
Most fishermen are catching ample number of walleyes on the system, and limits are easy to come by currently. Finding a fish over 20” is a different story, as these fish are very scarce. Many of the walleyes are associated with rock or hard bottom areas of the lakes.
Here are updates on some select areas:
Oakwood/Sunset Point (Lake Butte des Mortes): A solid walleye population is moving through the Sunset Point area. Anglers have been successful with slip bobbers. Leeches and night crawlers are equally productive.
Lakeside Park (Fond du Lac): The crappie bite has waned slightly, but larger fish have moved into the channels to spawn. Small minnows on a mini-mite, about 12 inches under a bobber was our success method. In addition, plenty of largemouth bass are cruising through the area (Top water baits working well).
Fisherman’s Road Area (Pipe): I found some walleyes hanging on the tips of the underwater points and in the 5-8 foot ranges north of the launch. The size was slightly larger than the west shore fish, but numbers were much less than the west shore.
Point Comfort: Walleyes have been moving into the shallows to feed in the evenings (Jigs and a crawler).
Kalbus Reef, Long Point, and Black Wolf area: Loads of walleyes — Most which are in the 11-14 inch range. These fish are active, and most anglers are focused on slip bobbers at the reef’s edge or hand trolling cranks. Off Shore planner board trolling was productive, especially on blue and purple colored flicker shads and Salmo hornets. Spawning white bass are also present.
Stony Point and Roe’s Point: With the east wind this area was hot. Most walleyes were on the small side, but loved the night crawler hanging off a slip bobber rig. Crappies/bluegill are common in this area.
Wendts: We tried this area over the weekend for walleyes and came up dry. There are large mouth present, but were not legal sized.
Menomonie Park (Oshkosh): Solid numbers of white bass, walleye, catfish, and sheep head inhabit this area. A report of walleyes being taken in front of the American Legion with Viking Colored Salmos was submitted.
Asylum Bay (North Oshkosh): A mix of walleyes and smallmouth bass were reported over the weekend. This area had a little less pressure than the Oshkosh area. Monster sheep head were creating excitement for anglers.
Neenah/Menasha area: I had some third party reports that the action was solid in this area for mid-sized walleyes.
Lake Poygan: There have been reports of larger walleyes hanging in and around the cane beds over the weekend. Check the cane when the wind is stronger.
Wolf River: Continued reports of white bass hanging in the river. Many of these fish remain the males at the end of the spawning cycle. Pumping flies or throwing Mepps spinners will produce many fish.
41 Bridge (Fox River): White bass are still thick in this area. Best method is to be pumping flies to attract the mighty whitey.
The Mud (Central Basin of Lake Winnebago): We marked a few fish on the locator in the “mud” this weekend. They were not active when given a crank bait presentation.
Feeder Creeks: The creeks are holding bluegill, perch and crappies. Pike and bass are also hanging around. Some of the channels in Oshkosh are also holding large numbers of crappies.
The Lake fly hatch should diminish fishing quickly. The fish will gorge themselves with the abundant flies, and as a result will not have a reason to chase baits. Finding areas where the hatch has not occurred will increase your percentages to catch any species of fish. We may just need to ride the fly hatch out to get the fish active again. A typical fly hatch lasts approximately 7-10 days.
Tournament News: We won the Guido’s and Koecker’s tournament out of Fond du Lac. The weight was an embarrassing 7.75 pounds (3 fish). We caught plenty of eyes, but finding fish over 15” was a challenge (and was for everyone else). Our winning method was Salmo hornets run over rock bars in the 6 foot ranges. WWA was held in Winneconne on Sunday. Winning weight was about 13 pounds on 6 fish limit (14” minimum). Terry’s Bar tournament was won with about 21 pounds of walleyes. I did not get any recaps from this tournament.
Next weekend: Don K and I are in the Beer Run Tournament in Pipe. Chester’s Bar is also holding a tournament in North Fond du Lac, but the field is already full (19 boats). The main event will be Houge’s Tournament in Oshkosh. In addition, a bass tournament is scheduled out of Menomonie Park on Saturday (50 boats).
Thanks for the excellent reports this week. [email protected] is my email for reports.
The holiday weekend could increase boat traffic. The current forecast is for a cold front at the end of the week, so it may deter some recreational pleasure cruising. Travel safe! Expect slower conditions next weekend due to the cold front and fly hatch. Maybe the White Bass will conclude their spawning activities this week (they have been spawning for like 6 months now, right….LOL). Unless I missed the perch spawn, that is long overdue. Normally about 50 degree water temps kicks that into high gear. See ya next week!
