Lake Winnebago continues to receive only minor attention by area anglers. Ice conditions are breaking down, especially in and around the access points and the shore lines. In some areas the ice is nearly shot for this season, while other portions of the ice sheet features over 30 inches of ice. There is absolutely no consistency to the ice. Reports have the upper lakes season as nearly over, with fishermen who are trying to walk out onto the ice breaking through on Lake Poygan. There are still solid numbers of walleyes being caught on slender spoons out of Oshkosh – if you can get to the fish.
The Lower Fox and Wolf Rivers have stretches of open water where a boat can now navigate. Area launches are nearly ice free without exception. There is still a lot of ice coming down the river, and this can be potentially dangerous to boats in the river. The anglers which have tried their luck in Oshkosh report no fish catching activity to date.
The Upper Fox River in De Pere is the current area hot spot. Conditions are changing daily, especially the volume of water flow. The water temps remain in the upper 30 degree range, and occasionally 40 degree water temps will be observed. Solid numbers of walleyes are present. The majority of these fish are males, whom are waiting for the females to show up. Water clarity in De Pere is poor, with just a couple of inches of visibility. If you are seeking good numbers of fish, try vertical jigging the 15-20 foot depths with a small minnow. Green has been the dominant color followed by orange, yellow and gold. Thumper jigs add some vibration to the presentation, which is crucial in the dirty water. Common fish size is in the 15-20 inch size, with bags between 5-25 fish per boat.
If large females are your targeted choice, check the break lines or deeper holes adjacent to the shallow water. A large presentation is required to get the females attention. Adding multiple minnows or gulp products is a solid presentation. The 27” walleye I caught this week came on a 3/8 ounce Fuzzy Grub with a glitter tale, tipped with a 4” gulp shad and a live minnow. The big girls have not shown up in large numbers as of yet. Water temperatures need to rise about 5 degrees to attract these fish into the area.
Good Luck this week, whether you are fishing by boat or snowmobile. Feel free to contact me with your questions, or fishing results. I can be reached at [email protected].
