Artificial Lure reporting from the Lake Winnebago shoreline—Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Today’s early hours bring classic late-fall weather to east-central Wisconsin. We are waking up to overcast skies, the temperature near 41°F, and a calm, variable breeze. It’s a crisp one, folks—layers and hand warmers are a must. According to the National Weather Service, sunrise was at 6:51 AM and sunset will be at 4:26 PM, so your best chances to work the bite are those low-light windows around dawn and dusk.

No tides to worry about—Lake Winnebago is a freshwater system—but wind and pressure play their part. Yesterday and into today, the winds are light from the west-northwest, holding at about 2–5 mph, settling any major chop but leaving enough ripple for walleye and perch to stay active and shallow.

Per recent reports from the Lake Winnebago Wisconsin Fishing Report Today podcast, the late-fall bite is firm for walleye, perch, and white bass. Walleye action is hot along scattered reefs and near the mouth of the Fox River, hitting hard from first light until mid-morning. Fish in the 15 to 21-inch range are most common, with a few limits reported by anglers who braved the chilly mornings and kept their presentations tight to structure.

Perch are running in the 8 to 12-inch class, stacking along deeper weed edges and striking during daylight lulls, especially if you tip a jig with a minnow head. White bass schools can be found chasing bait in open water near Fisherman’s Road and toward the southwest reef complex. A few northern pike are still active, especially between the river mouth and the edge of emergent weed beds.

For what’s working right now, most local anglers are leaning on 1/8-ounce jigging raps in natural shad or fire tiger patterns for walleye. Vertical jigging with chartreuse or orange plastics has been particularly productive. Tip-ups rigged with medium golden shiners are the ticket for any holdover pike in shallow bays. For perch, a small tungsten jig tipped with red spikes or waxies will do the trick, especially as water temps drop and the bite gets finicky. Keep your movements subtle and presentations close to bottom.

After last week’s cold snap, Smokey’s on the Bay Shop notes that fishing can be tough, but sticking to the bite windows and matching the hatch makes the difference. Electronics are a big help in finding those deeper schools—don’t be afraid to move if you’re not hitting within 15–20 minutes.

Now, for a couple of hot spots:
- The reefs off Garlic Island have been especially productive for walleye and perch at dawn and dusk.
- The mouth of the Fox River, particularly on the west side, continues to yield solid mixed bags, especially after a calm night.

Angler caution: While we’re inching towards early ice season, it’s nowhere near safe yet. Area reports and Fox 11 News emphasize that variable temps and wind exposure mean there’s still lots of open water, so don’t be tempted by any shoreline ice patches. Always bring proper safety gear—life vest and ice picks if you must walk on any first ice for gear retrieval.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Winnebago fishing report! Be sure to subscribe for daily updates, tips, and all your angling news straight from the locals. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI