Walleye pros find a new Lake Winnebago

Clearer water has altered fishing tactics on Wisconsin's biggest inland lake

OSHKOSH, Wis. – From an angler’s perspective, the Walmart FLW Walleye Tour is coming to Lake Winnebago for the first time.

The tour was here in 2002, but today’s Winnebago isn’t the Winnebago of seven years ago. Yes, it still has 137,708 surface acres, 88 miles of shoreline, an average depth of 15 feet and a maximum depth of 21 feet, but Wisconsin’s largest inland lake fishes differently than in the past.

Zebra mussels, invasive mollusks known for their water-clearing capabilities, have made it possible to see down 10 feet in the main lake and all the way to the bottom in the shallower upper lake. Before you could see down 6 to 12 inches in the main lake and 3 to 4 feet in the upper lake.

Because the water is clearer, today’s Winnebago fishes differently than in the past.

“Trolling has become better because of the better clarity,” said Tom Kemos of Oconomowoc, Wis., one of 106 pros who will compete here July 15-18 in the fourth and final Walleye Tour qualifier of the season. “But the fish can’t handle the pressure like they used to, especially now that the water is so clear.”

Water levels are up, and there’s good flow in the river, Kemos said. A cooler-than-normal spring and summer so far have made the water cooler than what’s normal for mid-July. This could serve to scatter the tournament field in all directions because walleyes could be anywhere in the system, which includes Poygan, Butte de Morts and Winneconne lakes, the Wolf River, and the upper and lower Fox River.

But Kemos says he knows where the tournament will be won.

“On the big lake,” he said. “Typically the bite would be dead there, but the shad numbers are low due to hard winters. That and the clearer water have made those fish much easier to catch.

“This is probably one of the most dynamic fisheries we compete at. There are so many different opportunities. You’ll see guys catching good bags using every technique that walleye fishermen have in their arsenal. The guy who wins this will have the most spots and be prepared for changing weather conditions. At least two different techniques will be needed, if not four to six techniques.”

To make the top-10 cut after day three will require at least 15 pounds per day, Kemos said. Pat Byle of Colgate, Wis., was quoted as saying it will take 60 pounds or more to win.

When Brian Keller of Winneconne, Wis., began prefishing one week ago today, he said the water was 74 degrees. Normally it would be in the low 80s, he said.

“It was that warm two weeks ago,” Keller said, “but then it fell off after a cold snap.”

Keller said he’s heard there are a lot of fish in the main lake and that he expects to see a lot of pros trolling the mud flats.

Mark Keenan of Appleton, Wis., is another pro who says the ability to adapt to changing weather might be the most important factor in this tournament.

“It changes so much that any more than five days of prefishing is too much,” said Keenan, who’s making his first appearance of the season at Winnebago. “We rarely get the same thing three or four days in a row. The guy who wins will be versatile and adapt to the weather for that day. You might have to hit the shoreline one day and the midday mud the next.”

Keenan said the weedline is established to 8 feet deep.

“If the wind blows into the shore for a few days, those shoreline weeds can be good,” he said. “The traditional shallow-water bite is dependent on the wind maintaining one direction for several days. For the rivers to be good, we have to have rain and high water.”

All of the above pros agree that 21- to 24-inch fish are abundant. This is a no-cull tournament in which each pro and his co-angler can keep a combined seven fish and weigh five. The minimum length limit is 14 inches.

This tournament will decide the winner of the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year contest. The top 50 pros and 50 co-anglers in the standings will advance to the FLW Walleye Tour Championship in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 30-Oct. 3.

Currently, Ted Takasaki of East Gull Lake, Minn., is leading the AOY race in the Pro Division with 437 points. He’s followed by Pat Byle of Colgate, Wis., 427; Chris Gilman of Chisago City, Minn., 408; Brian Bjorkman of Fargo, N.D., 390; and Scott Steil of Richmond, Minn., 388.

Leading the points race in the Co-angler Division is Darrell Martin of Forest Lake, Minn. with 407 points. He’s followed by Ron Rasmussen of Pipestone, Minn., 406; Marty Barski of Crystal Lake, Ill., 383; Dave Holte of Rapid City, S.D, 381; and Justin Steinke of Birnamwood, Wis., 376.

Pioneer Resort Marina, located at 1000 Pioneer Drive in Oshkosh, will host takeoffs and weigh-ins all four days of this tournament. Takeoffs are at 7 a.m. Weigh-ins are at 3 p.m., except for Saturday’s final, which begins at 4 p.m.

Prior to the final weigh-in, there will be a free Family Fishing Clinic, where anglers will answer questions and provide tips as well as hand out free rod and reels to kids 14 and under, while supplies last. The community is invited to attend daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public.

Today’s weather

Temperature at takeoff: 70 degrees

Sky: cloudy

Wind: SW at 9 mph

Barometric pressure: 29.82 inches and steady

Forecast: cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon; high of 86 degrees; winds SW at 15-25 mph