As of November 14, 2024, the fishing scene on Lake Winnebago is quite active, despite the transitioning seasons. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:
### Weather and Ice Conditions
The weather has been fluctuating, but yesterday felt more like winter, which is a welcome change for sturgeon spearers. Currently, the ice on Lake Winnebago is ranging from 13 to 16 inches thick, making it stable for ice fishing and sturgeon spearing[1][2].
### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at around 6:45 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 4:30 PM, giving you a good window for both morning and evening fishing.
### Fish Activity
The sturgeon spearing season, which opened on February 10, is now in its final days. Yesterday saw a slow harvest, with only 6 fish harvested from Lake Winnebago, including 2 juvenile females, 2 adult females, and 2 males. The largest fish of the day was a 62.5-pound, 62.5-inch male sturgeon[2].
For other species, walleyes are being caught, particularly on the east shoreline. Trolling with small crankbaits like Flicker Shad #5's and Salmo Hornets in metallic clown, purple, and pink colors has been effective. The slip bobber/leech bite is also heating up, especially in the evening hours, using small jigs in green or orange tipped with a leech[1].
Perch and whitebass are also being caught, with big smallmouth bass active on the rock piles, feeding heavily on crayfish. In areas like Black Wolf, a mix of big perch and crappies are being caught using Clam Bomb Jigs, slender spoons, and tungsten jigs in dull orange or gold[1].
### Best Lures and Bait
For walleyes, use small crankbaits and slip bobbers with leeches. For perch and crappies, Clam Bomb Jigs and slender spoons are working well. Tungsten jigs in dull orange or gold are also effective. For sturgeon, the traditional spearing method is in use during this season[1][2].
### Hot Spots
The east shoreline of Lake Winnebago is a hot spot for walleyes. The southern portion of the lake, particularly around the Southwest Winnebago registration station, has been busy for sturgeon spearers. Black Wolf is another good spot for catching perch and crappies[1][2].
Overall, Lake Winnebago is offering some great fishing opportunities, especially with the stable ice conditions and the variety of fish species active at this time.