Lake Winnebago Ice Fishing Guide: Sturgeon, Walleye, Perch

Short answer: Lake Winnebago is a big, shallow lake (131,939 acres, 21 feet at its deepest, per the DNR lake page) where the DNR lists walleye, yellow perch and other panfish, and white bass among the fish open to hook and line. The Wisconsin DNR limit is 25 panfish in total, including yellow perch, and 3 walleye and sauger in total, with no minimum length. Lake sturgeon are closed to hook and line all year and are taken only by spear, in a season of up to 16 days in February. The 2027 spearing season is set to open Feb. 13 and close Feb. 28, unless a harvest cap is reached sooner. Under NR 20.11, shanties on inland waters south of Highway 64 must come off the ice daily and when not in use after the first Sunday following March 1. By our own calendar count that Sunday is March 7, 2027. The DNR does not print that date, so treat it as derived and confirm with the DNR.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

The DNR does not monitor ice conditions or thickness. It names local bait shops, fishing clubs and resorts as the best sources for current reports. Ask more than one.

Quick facts

These are the 2026-2027 hook and line rules. Read the current DNR guide before you go.

Sturgeon spearing season and the ice

The Winnebago System is one of only two places where lake sturgeon can be harvested with a spear. The season opens the second Saturday in February and runs 16 days, or until a harvest cap is reached. For 2027 the DNR lists Feb. 13 at 7 a.m. to Feb. 28. Spearing hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Shanty traffic. A DNR season update dated Feb. 9, 2025 counted 3,340 shanties on Lake Winnebago that weekend. Most sat off the west central part of the lake near Oshkosh. A shanty is not proof of safe ice, because the DNR says ice strength varies in different areas of the same body of water.
• Big holes. Spearing holes may total up to 48 square feet and cannot be cut until 48 hours before the season opens. Any other hole is limited to 12 inches across. Keep your distance from open spearing holes.
• No hook and line in a spearing shanty. It is unlawful to have a fishing pole or hook and line gear in a shanty with a hole larger than 12 inches.
• Water clarity and ice conditions. The DNR says the harvest is usually dictated in part by water clarity and ice conditions.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Walleye

The DNR calls the Winnebago System walleye fishery robust. Young walleye catch in the 2025 bottom trawl survey was 16.0 fish per trawl, the 4th highest on record. The 40-year average is 5.3. Yearling catch was also elevated, which the DNR reads as good recruitment from the 2024 year class. The limit is 3 walleye and sauger in total, with no minimum length, and only 1 of the three may be a sauger or hybrid.

We found no DNR winter tactics for Winnebago, so we give none.

Perch and panfish

Yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish and crappie share one limit: 25 in total. That means 25 of any mix, not 25 of each.

A Visit Oshkosh post (Jan. 2, 2025) says panfish spend time around weeds, and that living weeds in winter are commonly found in the shallow bays on the west side of Lake Winnebago. It is one angler's account, not DNR data, so treat it as a starting point and ask at a bait shop.

White bass and other fish

White bass, yellow bass and rock bass are open all year with no limit and no minimum length. Northern pike are open until March 7, 2027, with a limit of 2 and a 26 inch minimum. Channel catfish are open all year with a limit of 25 in total, or 24 if a flathead catfish is also possessed.

Access

We found no sourced list of ice access points, so we give none. The DNR says local bait shops, fishing clubs and resorts often have the most up-to-date information on ice thickness and on areas that are especially dangerous. It also says not to travel in unfamiliar areas.

The DNR notes it closes a few sturgeon registration stations after opening weekend.

Shanty rules

From NR 20.11 and the DNR sturgeon regulations:

1. Your name and address, or your DNR customer ID number, must be on the outside of the shanty. NR 20.11 calls for block lettering a minimum of one inch square in contrasting colors, and the sturgeon regulations say a minimum of 1-inch lettering. NR 20.11 exempts shanties that are occupied or otherwise in use from the lettering requirement.
2. The door must open easily from the outside while someone is inside.
3. On inland waters south of Highway 64, NR 20.11 requires shanties to be removed from the ice daily and when not in use after the first Sunday following March 1. The sturgeon regulations word it as completely removed by that Sunday. In 2027 that Sunday falls on March 7 by our calendar count (March 1, 2027 is a Monday). The DNR does not state the date, so this is derived.
4. The DNR can order shanties off the ice earlier if it has reason to believe the ice is unsafe.
5. Fishing holes may not exceed 12 inches across, except for sturgeon spearing in season.

Cracks, ridges, and ice heaves

DNR news releases from Dec. 6, 2024 and Jan. 10, 2025 name Lake Winnebago when they warn about pressure ridges and ice heaves. The DNR says these can be dangerous because of thin ice and open water, and that they are often created, move or grow with changes in temperatures and high winds. Stay alert for them.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Our Lake Winnebago freeze guide (when-does-lake-winnebago-freeze) covers what is and is not documented about ice-in dates.

Ice thickness reference

The Wisconsin DNR ice safety page gives no thickness chart. It says you cannot judge ice strength by one factor, such as appearance, age, thickness, temperature or snow cover. The figures below are the Minnesota DNR guideline for new, clear ice, a reference only and not a Wisconsin rule.

• Under 4 inches: stay off.
• 4 inches: on foot.
• 5 to 7 inches: snowmobile or small ATV.
• 7 to 8 inches: side-by-side ATV.
• 9 to 10 inches: small car or SUV.

Minnesota DNR says to double those numbers for white ice, and that ice can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Safety on Winnebago

1. Carry a spud bar to check the ice while walking to new areas.
2. Look for clear ice, which the DNR says is generally stronger than ice with snow or bubbles.
3. Avoid inlets, outlets and narrows, where current can thin the ice.
4. Carry ice picks, a life jacket and a rope. Dress in layers.
5. Do not go alone. Tell someone where you will be and when you will return.
6. Do not travel in unfamiliar areas, at night, or in reduced visibility.
7. Roll your window down and make sure your door opens. In Dec. 2025 the DNR said several ATVs, UTVs and snowmobiles went through the ice or into open water the prior season, with six deaths, and that UTVs often weigh close to 3,000 pounds.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

FAQ

Can I hook and line fish for sturgeon on Lake Winnebago?

No. Hook and line fishing for lake sturgeon is closed all year on the Winnebago System. Sturgeon are taken only by spearing during the open season.

When is the 2027 sturgeon spearing season?

The DNR lists Feb. 13 at 7 a.m. through Feb. 28, 2027. It closes early if a harvest cap is met. The DNR posts closures on its sturgeon spearing page.

How many walleye and perch can I keep?

Walleye and sauger: 3 in total, only 1 of which may be a sauger or hybrid, no minimum length. Panfish, including yellow perch: 25 in total. Check the current DNR guide, since rules change each year.

When do I have to take my shanty off?

NR 20.11 says that after the first Sunday following March 1, shanties on inland waters south of Highway 64 must be removed daily and when not in use. By our calendar count that Sunday is March 7, 2027 (derived; the DNR does not print the date). The DNR can set an earlier date if it has reason to believe the ice is unsafe.

Can I use minnows I trap on Winnebago?

No. The DNR says minnows may not be harvested for personal use from Winnebago System waters.