Lake Winnebago’s summer bite keeps buzzing along this August morning. Air temps started off near **68°F at sunrise (5:52 AM)**, headed for the upper 70s as clouds break midmorning. Winds are gentle from the southwest around 8 mph, and sunset will be 8:08 PM. Water clarity remains decent, especially on the west shore, though a bit of algae haze is creeping into the southern bays. No tides here—just wind-driven current pockets, so keep an eye on flags and approach reefs accordingly.
**Walleye action** is steady, especially for early risers. Anglers report picking up mostly smaller ‘eyes drifting with jigs and crawlers off Fisherman's Road in 10-11 feet, but persistent trolling with perch-colored crankbaits over main basin flats has nabbed a handful of better fish. The bigger walleye are still cruising deeper edges and hanging near suspended bait balls by midafternoon. For numbers, small pods are moving along the reefs; count on five to ten fish per boat before noon if you’re dialed in. Best lures today? Try classic Cotton Cordell Wally Divers and Bandit #2 crankbaits—those flicker shad patterns in chartreuse and blue have fared well lately. If you’re targeting a true Winnebago trophy, upsizing to deep-diving cranks—white, blood nose, and silver are producing during low-light hours, especially in 15-20 feet over 30-55 feet of water.
**Perch bite** is picking up steam in transition zones. Two keepers were landed yesterday deadsticking minnows in 14 feet. The best local bait has been medium fatheads or hellgrammites, dangled on small jigs tight to the bottom. For most, a dozen perch isn’t out of reach by noon if you find the weed-and-rock mix just inside Parker Reef or along Garlic Island’s east drop.
**Bass** have been eager, especially the largemouths. Find them actively feeding in shallower weed beds and along shoreline rushes—spinners, poppers, and weedless plastics are top choices. Smallmouths are holding near the rocky points off Asylum Bay and responding best to tube jigs, Ned rigs, or drop-shotting minnow imitators.
**Bluegill and crappie** remain a shore angler’s delight, with plenty being caught near the boat docks and shaded brush piles using a piece of crawler under a bobber. Expect limits for patient anglers willing to sort by size; the north end marshes are producing the most steady action.
**Catfish** are biting for night owls on cut bait after sunset, especially along the mouth of the Fox River and below the railroad trestle—try stinkbait or chunks of shad fished right in the current seams.
**Hot spots for today**:
- Fisherman’s Road east side for walleye and perch.
- Garlic Island drops for perch and bluegill.
- Asylum Bay rocks for smallmouth.
For rigging advice, Captain Greg’s method of using weighted crawler harnesses is a winner for getting down to those deeper pockets—add a few split shots to get your spinner into the strike zone.
That’s the Lake Winnebago fishing scene this Saturday—keep your tackle light, your crawlers lively, and your drifts slow for best results. Thanks for tuning in to today’s report. Don’t forget to hit subscribe for daily updates and more local knowledge.
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