Limits of healthy fish expected on Big Winnie
Lake Winnebago has more than 130,000 acres for anglers to visit in pursuit of walleye, plus the tens of thousands of acres of adjacent water in the Winnebago system. There will be no shortage of water or walleye. The late spring is generally one of the best times of the year to pursue walleye in this system and the large post-spawn females will have their feedbags on, ready to gulp RCL anglers’ offerings.
“I like this time of the year on the Winnebago system,” said local guide Bruce Peterson of Peterson’s Guide Service. “You can catch walleye using a variety of techniques, from working the cane beds to trolling the flats and reefs on Lake Winnebago. There should be plenty of keeper walleye and also quite a few 5-pound-plus fish caught this year.”
There is a 15-inch length limit for walleye in this system and a five-fish limit. There is also a no-cull rule in effect. The no-cull rule will once again place tremendous pressure on anglers to make the right call when deciding which fish to put in their livewells.
There are many popular and productive techniques for hooking Winnebago walleye. Trolling with boards and spinner rigs or stick baits is very popular among anglers fishing the main-lake reefs and flats. Jig fishermen will have plenty of action on Big Winnie. When the wind is blowing, look for the windblown reefs, humps and flats in the 4- to 8-foot depths to attract feeding walleye. Tossing a lightweight jig tipped with a minnow, crawler or possibly a leech will take plenty of `eyes.
According to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports, Lake Winnebago has plenty of walleye and walleye food. However, the abundance of walleye food will not negatively impact anglers at this time of the year. The primary food fish for walleye in this system are gizzard shad and grounders. These baitfish reach optimum size for walleye to chase them sometime in July, so when the RCL anglers offer the walleye a tasty treat, the fish can be expected to cooperate.
There are many hot spots for RCL anglers fishing on Lake Winnebago. Abraham Reef is located in the southwestern area of the lake between Oshkosh and Fond Du Lac. This reef is located in 5 to 15 feet of water. Asylum Point is located just north of Oshkosh in 4 to 16 feet of water. Blackbird Island is located south of Neenah and offers plenty of action once the walleye move onto the reefs. The depths in this area range from 3 feet on top of the reefs to 18 feet at the bottom. Black Wolf Point is located near Van Dyne. This area offers depths in the 5- to 10-foot range and has a creek feeding the area, attracting baitfish and walleye. These are just a few of the dozens of popular and productive structures on the lake. If these areas have plenty of anglers using them, there is enough similar cover and other alternatives in the system for an angler to discover and find a real honeyhole where he can fill his limit in short order.
Links:
2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit to visit Wisconsin
Pro Division
Tournament details and payouts