Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) fishing conditions · Wisconsin

Today, 6 am–11 pmMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 71 for muskellunge, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

712 am
71
71
715 am
76
76
808 am
76
76
7611 am
80
80
762 pm
76
76
765 pm
80
76
768 pm
76
76
6811 pm
76Tue
80
802 am
76
76
765 am
76
76
768 am
80
76
7611 am
76
80

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 10 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Cloudy
Air: 54°F
Barometer: Rising
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Wisconsin non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

80Worth the tripToday, 6 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

40" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin inland: 40" minimum, 1 muskellunge a day. Open water only, from the first Saturday in May through Dec 31.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin non-tidal

Season here: Jun–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalNow until 11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin inland: 15" minimum, 3 walleye and sauger a day in total, from the first Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March. Ceded Territory lakes and many others set their own limits.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

White bass

Morone chrysops

68MarginalNow until 11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. White bass bite in 55–80° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin inland: no daily limit and no size limit on white, yellow and rock bass, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalNow until 11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin inland: 25 panfish a day in total (bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish, crappie and yellow perch), no minimum, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin non-tidal

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalNow until 11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin inland: 25 panfish a day in total (bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish, crappie and yellow perch), no minimum, open all year. The Winnebago System uses the same limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin non-tidal

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until 11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin inland waters: rough fish, common carp included, have no daily bag limit and no size limit. Rough fish taken by spear or bow may not be returned to the water.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Wisconsin non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.38 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:22 am
Sunset today5:53 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
Major solunarToday 11:50 am–1:50 pm
Minor solunarToday 5:20 pm–6:20 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Wisconsin DNR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Wisconsin DNR · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Wisconsin’s largest inland lake — a 130,000-acre walleye and white-bass factory famous for its winter sturgeon-spearing season. Open-water anglers troll and jig for walleye, chase white bass and crappie, and target trophy muskellunge. Menominee Park and High Cliff State Park offer public ramps.

Winnebago System: 3 walleye and sauger a day (only 1 sauger), open all year with no minimum length; bass 14" and 5 a day; muskie 50". Lake sturgeon are closed to hook and line and are taken only in the winter spearing season.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesWisconsin non-tidal
WhereWinnebago County · 44.0280, -88.5170

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Green Bay (Bay Beach, Green Bay)44 mi · WisconsinBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

80Worth the trip

Sturgeon Bay (Door County)79 mi · WisconsinBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

80Worth the trip

Ludington State Park100 mi · MichiganBest now until tomorrow 3 pm

68Marginal

Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)101 mi · WisconsinBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

78Worth the trip

Pere Marquette River111 mi · MichiganBest today 4 am to tonight 2 am

74Worth the trip

Manistee River129 mi · MichiganBest today 9 am–10 pm

86Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh)?

Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, White Bass, Muskellunge, Crappie, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) have?

Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Winnebago System: 3 walleye and sauger a day (only 1 sauger), open all year with no minimum length; bass 14" and 5 a day; muskie 50". Lake sturgeon are closed to hook and line and are taken only in the winter spearing season.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh)?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) tidal water?

No. Lake Winnebago (Menominee Park, Oshkosh) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.