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In Wisconsin, Lake Winnebago is a lake used for time on and around the water. It covers roughly 131,939 surface acres (about 206 square miles). Fish documented in the area include Common Carp, Yellow Perch, Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass. The deepest point reaches about 21 feet, and the surface sits near 748 feet above sea level. For this location, LakeRadar tracks an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Nearby alternatives include Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Winneconne, and Lake Poygan. A nearby water gauge supplies level and temperature readings where available. Use the conditions and forecast on this page to decide when to go boating, fishing, or paddling at Lake Winnebago.
Updated
Latest source update is older than expected. Use caution and check the official source.
The last automated check (Oct 9, 8:19 AM CDT) found no active alerts for this lake, but that check is older than LakeRadar's alert freshness window, so the current alert status could not be confirmed.
Confirm before heading out: official alerts for this area or weather.gov/alerts. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
Overall Excellent (91/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Boating (99/100).
How the score is calculated →Best good fishing window, averaging 88/100 across these hours. Wind 12 mph from the east-southeast. Dusk hours (18:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 55° | 56° | 59° | 61° | 64° | 65° | 65° | 66° | 64° | 64° | 60° | 58° | 58° | 58° | 59° | 61° | 61° | 61° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° | 62° |
| Wind (kts) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| Direction | E | E | E | SE | E | E | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| Gusts (kts) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 12% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 9 AM CDT | 55°F | 2 mph ENE (68°) | 5 mph | 0% | 28% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM CDT | 56°F | 3 mph E (90°) | 6 mph | 0% | 20% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM CDT | 59°F | 5 mph E (90°) | 8 mph | 0% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM CDT | 61°F | 5 mph ESE (113°) | 9 mph | 0% | 22% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM CDT | 64°F | 7 mph E (90°) | 12 mph | 0% | 24% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM CDT | 65°F | 8 mph E (90°) | 13 mph | 0% | 27% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM CDT | 65°F | 10 mph ESE (113°) | 15 mph | 1% | 30% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM CDT | 66°F | 13 mph ESE (113°) | 17 mph | 1% | 30% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM CDT | 64°F | 12 mph ESE (113°) | 17 mph | 2% | 34% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM CDT | 64°F | 12 mph ESE (113°) | 17 mph | 4% | 39% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 PM CDT | 60°F | 12 mph ESE (113°) | 18 mph | 6% | 50% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM CDT | 58°F | 13 mph ESE (113°) | 18 mph | 7% | 55% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM CDT | 58°F | 14 mph ESE (113°) | 18 mph | 5% | 57% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM CDT | 58°F | 14 mph ESE (113°) | 18 mph | 6% | 57% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM CDT | 59°F | 15 mph ESE (113°) | 18 mph | 9% | 57% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM CDT | 61°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 20 mph | 8% | 49% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM CDT | 61°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 20 mph | 6% | 45% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM CDT | 61°F | 15 mph SE (135°) | 20 mph | 12% | 38% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 3 AM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph SSE (158°) | 21 mph | 4% | 27% | Partly Cloudy |
| Sat, 4 AM CDT | 62°F | 16 mph SSE (158°) | 21 mph | 4% | 17% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 5 AM CDT | 62°F | 16 mph SSE (158°) | 21 mph | 4% | 18% | Mostly Clear |
| Sat, 6 AM CDT | 62°F | 16 mph S (180°) | 21 mph | 4% | 18% | Sunny |
| Sat, 7 AM CDT | 62°F | 16 mph S (180°) | 21 mph | 0% | 18% | Sunny |
| Sat, 8 AM CDT | 62°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 22 mph | 0% | 16% | Sunny |
| Sat, 9 AM CDT | 64°F | 15 mph S (180°) | 22 mph | 0% | 8% | Sunny |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Today October 9, 2026 | Today October 9, 2026 | Tonight October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 66° | 66° | 58° | 75° | 60° | 73° | 59° | 73° | 55° | 62° | 49° | 61° | 52° | 64° |
| Wind | ENE 2 to 13 mph | E 2 to 13 mph | SE 12 to 16 mph | S 17 mph | S 14 to 20 mph | S 7 to 14 mph | SSW 8 to 12 mph | SW 13 mph | NNW 12 to 22 mph | N 12 to 22 mph | NE 13 mph | E 10 to 14 mph | ESE 14 to 26 mph | S 17 to 25 mph |
| Gusts | 17 mph | 17 mph | 21 mph | 27 mph | 25 mph | 17 mph | 16 mph | 18 mph | 24 mph | 23 mph | 16 mph | 20 mph | 29 mph | 29 mph |
| Precip % | 2% | 2% | 12% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 11% | 42% | 23% | 14% | 18% | 60% | 60% |
| Forecast |
Excellent for fishing (91/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the east-northeast. Morning hours (09:00 local). Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend, water temperature. Confidence is moderate (74%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (99/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the east-northeast. Gusts to 5 mph. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Fair for sailing (71/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 3 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Working against it: Wind 2 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (97/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 2 mph from the east-northeast. Gusts to 5 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Water temperature is not available from a verified source for this lake. No swimming score is shown without it.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of WI Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Offering scenic water views and diverse outdoor activities, Lake Winnebago is a premier destination in WI for boaters, anglers, and nature enthusiasts. Its waters support healthy gamefish populations alongside seasonal paddlecraft exploration. Review local launch regulations and safety guidelines before putting in for the day.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Current motorized watercraft registration mandatory. Practice Clean, Drain & Dry protocols: drain all livewells and inspect props before launching. Life jackets required for all passengers.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Common Carp, Yellow Perch, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
Northern cold winter conditions with freezing air temperatures and potential surface ice formation. Ramps and water systems may be winterized. Confirm open status before visiting.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Lake Winnebago is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 9, 9:40 AM CDT