Lake · Winnebago, Wisconsin
Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh
Location Snapshot
Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh represents Wisconsin’s largest inland lake and its broad open-water fishery. Walleye, lake sturgeon, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass are key cataloged targets.
Current Lake Rating
Point-in-time lake rating — separate from the trip recommendation below.
Fair
This condition rating is estimated because current on-water monitoring is not available.
Estimated Conditions
Estimated from available current readings, weather, seasonal patterns, destination characteristics, and historical conditions. Some important on-water measurements may be unavailable.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Consider
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Recommendation confidence: Low
Why
- Current water-level and water-temperature observations are not available.
- StrikeTracks is showing a provisional Estimated Conditions rating from accepted secondary evidence.
- Available atmospheric evidence is favorable for provisional Estimated fishing suitability; the public rating is capped by the accepted Estimated evidence path and confidence policy.
Current Readings
- Water level
- 746.86 ft
- Change over 24 hours
- +0.01 ft
- Trend
- Stable
- Last updated
- 19 min ago
Source: USGS · LAKE WINNEBAGO AT OSHKOSH, WI · 04082500 · Elevation, lake/res, NAVD88
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
53°F
Feels like
50°F
Wind
8 mph SE
Wind gust
12 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 8:15 PM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this lake.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 9 PM
Clear
Temp 53°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Wed 1 AM
Clear
Temp 50°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Wed 5 AM
Clear
Temp 48°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Wed 9 AM
Clear
Temp 51°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Wed 1 PM
Clear
Temp 65°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Wed 5 PM
Clear
Temp 65°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Fog
High 63°F / Low 43°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 13 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Mostly clear
High 67°F / Low 46°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 17 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Fog
High 66°F / Low 46°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 15 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Overcast
High 69°F / Low 50°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 23 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Lake Elevation History
Elevation is reported relative to the datum used by this USGS monitoring site. Elevations from different lakes or datums should not be directly compared.
Loading historical elevation…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Lake Winnebago.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Walleye are primary and wild in Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh. Lake sturgeon and yellow perch are common and wild. Smallmouth bass are present and wild.
Target species
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Lake Sturgeon
Acipenser fulvescens
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Popper-style surface flyGeneral warmwater surface family. Not an insect Hatch event.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral warmwater streamer family. Not a baitfish Hatch event.
- Crayfish-style flyGeneral subsurface family. Crayfish forage is not a Hatch insect.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Winnebago, Wisconsin
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Winnebago
Management Category
Inland walleye and sturgeon lake
Regulation Scope
Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh.
Regulation Summary
Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh: WDNR Winnebago pool rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
walleye, lake-sturgeon, yellow-perch, smallmouth-bass
Public Access
Public