| The Winnebago System is comprised of lakes Winnebago, Butte
des Morts, Winneconne, Poygan, and the Fox and Wolf Rivers. Lake Winnebago itself is the
largest inland body of water in the state of Wisconsin. Lake Winnebago is 137,708 acres
with a maximum depth of 21 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. It is approximately 30
miles long and 10 miles wide. The Lake Winnebago System is one of the nations top Walleye
fisheries. Lakes Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan are known as the Upriver Lakes and
are attached by the Fox and Wolf rivers.
Lake Butte des Morts is located west of the
city of Oshkosh and southeast of the village of Winneconne. Butte des Morts is 8,857 acres
with a maximum depth of 19 feet.
Lake Winneconne is the smallest of the upriver
lakes and covers 4,507 acres. The main basin has a maximum depth of 9 feet. Lake
Winneconne is located immediately north of the village of Winneconne and east of and
connected to Lake Poygan.
Lake Poygan is the largest of the upriver lakes
and covers 14,102 acres. Poygan has a maximum depth of 12 feet and average depths range
from 5 to 7 feet. Lake Poygan is located northeast of the village of Winneconne and south
of Fremont.
The Upper Fox River runs from the Eureka Dam,
downstream to Lake Butte des Morts to Lake Winnebago through the city of Oshkosh.
The Wolf River flows from the town
of New London downstream to Lake Poygan and again from Lake Winneconne to Lake Butte des
Morts.
Walleye are by far the most sought after gamefish
on the system. The Lake Winnebago System is a self sustaining walleye
rich system. Other fish species that roam the Winnebago System are Sauger, Northern Pike,
Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, Sunfish, Channel
Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead), Burbot, Dogfish, and Lake
Sturgeon.
The Lake Winnebago System
also has one of the largest populations of Lake Sturgeon in the world. Each February there
is a special spearing season for Sturgeon through the ice.
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