Lake Butte des Morts
A very shallow Winnebago System lake on the Fox River near Oshkosh. Panfish, pike, catfish and sturgeon are abundant.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Panfish
Bluegill, crappie and perch in weeds and brush. Great through the ice.
Northern Pike
Abundant. Marsh edges and river mouths.
Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and river mouths in the evening.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Walleye
Points, flats and river mouths at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits in summer.
Lake Sturgeon
Abundant. Hook-and-line harvest is closed.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panfish | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike | ||||||||||||
| Catfish | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 3 public landings in totalPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all locationsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Open all year; only one of the 3 may be a sauger or hybrid | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 3 / day |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Open all year | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | 26 in | 2 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2-Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 50 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Catfish Open all year; flathead catfish min 30 in, 36-42 in may not be kept, 1 / day, May 2-Sep 30, 2026 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day (channel; 24 if 1 flathead included) |
| Lake Sturgeon No fishing allowed | Closed | 0 |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Fish Tales2 mi4050 County Rd A, Oshkosh(920) 385-1154Directions ↗
- River Haus Bait, Tackle & Gifts17.7 mi440 N Brooke St, Fond du Lac(920) 322-9412Directions ↗
- Dutch's Trading Post18.2 mi258 N Main St, Fond du Lac(920) 922-0311Directions ↗
Local tips
- It's shallow (9 ft max), with marsh edges. Watch your depth.
- The Fox and Wolf River channels hold fish when the flats are too warm.
- Winnebago System rules apply.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Butte des Morts.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.