By: Mark Schram
Dateline: Fond du Lac, WI — June 16, 2025

Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest inland lake and one of the Midwest’s most productive walleye fisheries, is no stranger to tradition. But in June—when water temperatures stabilize and baitfish are plentiful—there’s a new tool redefining how anglers connect with trophy walleyes: Garmin LiveScope.

While long-lining crankbaits and dragging crawler harnesses remain staples in early summer, savvy anglers are increasingly turning to forward-facing sonar (FFS) to hunt individual walleyes in real-time, transforming a game of patience into one of precision.

The New Game: See, Cast, Catch

“LiveScope has completely changed how I fish Winnebago,” said a local guide based in Oshkosh. “Instead of trolling aimlessly, I’m now targeting fish I can see. It’s a visual pursuit.”

The technology shows a real-time view of what’s happening 30–50 feet in front of the boat. In June, walleyes often roam open water or suspend just off reef edges, chasing pods of shiners and young perch. These are prime targets for the “LiveScopers.”

Anglers position the transducer forward from the bow or mounted on a pole, scanning water columns for suspended arcs that signal active fish. Once spotted, precision casting becomes the name of the game.

Best Baits & Approaches

In June, LiveScope-friendly tactics include:

  • Hovering Jigs or Damiki Rig-style Plastics: Drop a jig vertically on a suspended fish, and watch it react in real time. The ability to adjust retrieve speed or lure size based on the fish’s behavior is a major edge.

  •  Paddle Tails: A 3–4” swimbait slowly retrieved through a fish’s cone of vision often draws aggressive strikes.

  • Spoons & Blade Baits: When fish are glued to the bottom, these presentations can get their attention with flash and vibration.

“Sometimes we’ll see a walleye follow the bait 20 feet without biting, But when they do commit, it’s electric. It’s sight fishing without the sight.”

Targeting Structure & Suspended Schools

In June, Winnebago’s walleyes are in transition. Post-spawn fish scatter from shallow reefs toward mid-lake humps, mud basins, and off-shore rock piles. With LiveScope, these fish are no longer ghosts.

Wind-driven points and current seams, particularly near the mouth of the Fox River or the east shore reefs, often concentrate bait—and walleyes. LiveScope enables anglers to quickly patrol these areas, ignoring dead water and focusing solely on high-percentage zones.

Tournament Tactics Go Tech-Heavy

At this year’s Mercury National Walleye Tournament, held June 8–9 out of Fond du Lac, several top-10 teams credited LiveScope for their success.

“We found suspended fish off the west shore, just cruising,” said one competitor. “We never would’ve even stopped without the screen lighting up.”

Still, not all anglers are sold. Critics worry that the technology gives too much advantage, potentially pressuring vulnerable fish populations. But with Lake Winnebago’s healthy walleye numbers and a 3-fish daily limit, most say the tool—like a GPS or side scan before it—is here to stay.

A Look Ahead

As June rolls into July, the LiveScope bite often intensifies with stratifying water layers and isolated schools. For anglers willing to combine technology with old-school instincts, Lake Winnebago remains a rewarding—and now, more visible—walleye destination.

“The lake hasn’t changed, We’ve just gotten better at reading it.”