Warm weather could ignite bite at Lake Winnebago
OSHKOSH, Wis. – Massive Lake Winnebago and the adjoining lakes open to fishing for the third stop on the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit have not been providing the large numbers of limits expected by many pros during their practice. However, with warm weather expected throughout the tournament, the walleye action is expected to turn on at any time.
“The walleye are in post spawn,” said RCL pro Joe Mitchell of Cambridge, Minn. “There is not much more to say about that. With the cold weather this area has been having up until recently, it has delayed the walleye from turning on. You never know, with this warm weather coming on, the fishing might turn on any day. Hopefully it turns on for me real soon.”
Catching fish is not as hard as finding them, according to Ranger pro Jack Neuman of Naperville, Ill.
“I have caught some decent fish on this system, but it has sure been hard to pin down their location,” said Neuman. “I have found fish in the upper lakes, and I have found fish out on Winnebago. At this time, I would say it is still hit-and-miss fishing for me, but I think the warm weather will turn the fish on any time. Once you find them, you can catch them.”
Although the Winnebago system is very large, the walleye fishing can turn on very rapidly. If this happens in the next day or two, anglers can expect to bring in big bags of walleye with some of the best weights ranging from 14 to 18 pounds.
Look for anglers to search for big fish with jigs in the cane beds.
“You can find some very nice fish in the cane beds on this system,” said Crestliner Boats National Promotions Manager John Janousek of Brainerd, Minn. “If anglers find the fish in the cane beds, those fish will generally be in the 20-inch or better range. You generally don’t catch as many walleye fishing the cane, but you will get larger fish.”
Weigh-in starts today at 3 p.m. at the Pioneer Resort and Marina, (800) 683-1980, located at 1000 Pioneer Drive in Oshkosh, Wis.
Today’s stats
Sunrise: 5:14 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 62
Expected high temperature: 78
Water temperature: low to mid 60s
Water clarity: varies from stained to muddy
Wind: calm
Percent relative humidity: 94
Day’s outlook: Scattered thunderstorms are expected with southwest winds ranging from 5 to 10 mph. The chance of rain is 60 percent.