Fishing near Appleton, Wisconsin
Outagamie County, population 75,644.
- 6 milesto nearest lake
- 10landings nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Appleton fishing, the quick version
Appleton (Outagamie County) counted 75,644 residents in the 2020 Census as a city. Little Lake Butte Des Morts is the closest lake with a page, 6 miles to the southwest. Lake Winnebago covers 131,939 acres, more than any other lake listed here. A boat goes in at Sunset Park Ramp, about 2 miles from the town point.
2 of the nearby lakes list walleye as common or abundant, starting with Little Lake Butte Des Morts. For trout, the Lancaster Creek is about 23 miles from town. Without a boat, try Winnebago County Community Park, about 16 miles away.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lakes around Appleton
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | DNR lake class | Top fish (WDNR rating) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Lake Butte Des Morts | 6 miles southwest | 1,200 | 18 | 2 | complex riverine | catfish (abundant) |
| Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 13 miles west | 78 | 9 | 1 | simple riverine | largemouth bass (present) |
| Ox-Bow Lake | 18 miles northwest | 33 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Lake Winnebago | 18 miles south | 131,939 | 21 | 20 | complex warm dark | catfish (abundant) |
| Round Lake, Calumet County | 19 miles southeast | 11 | 50 | 1 | simple warm dark | largemouth bass (common) |
| Lake Butte des Morts | 19 miles southwest | 8,581 | 9 | 3 | complex warm dark | catfish (abundant) |
Moving water near Appleton
- North Branch Manitowoc River11 miles
- East River14 miles
- Duck Creek15 miles
- Rat River, Winnebago County15 miles
- Dutchman Creek near Hobart, Brown County16 miles
Straight-line distances from the Census point for Appleton; WDNR Find a Lake and lake classification data.
The Appleton area map
- Sunset Park RampFox River, 2 miles
- Lutz Park Boat RampFox River, 3 miles
- Riverside Park Boat Ramp on Fox RiverFox River, 5 miles
- Ninth Street Boat LaunchLittle Lake Butte Des Morts, 5 miles
- Jefferson Park Boat RampMenasha Channel, 5 miles
- Manitowoc Street Boat RampMenasha Channel, 6 miles
- Smith Park Boat RampMenasha Channel, 6 miles
- Fritse Park Boat RampLittle Lake Butte Des Morts, 7 miles
- Doty Park Boat RampLake Winnebago, 7 miles
- Recreation Park Boat RampLake Winnebago, 8 miles
Fishing piers around Appleton
- Winnebago County Community ParkFishing Lake, 16 miles
Gauge readings by Appleton
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Appleton, Wi | 3,300 cfs, 5.59 ft gage height | Oct 22 5:05 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 22, 2026 5:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Tackle and guides for Appleton
Bait counters near Appleton
- The Reel Shot, 1919 E Calumet Stbait and tackle shop, Appleton, 2 miles
- The Sportsmanbait and tackle shop, Appleton, 3 miles
- Appleton Boatsbait and tackle shop, Appleton, 3 miles
- Walmart Appleton Eastfarm and general store with fishing gear, Appleton, 3 miles
- Fleet Farm Appletonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Appleton, 3 miles
- Bob's Bear Baitbait and tackle shop, Appleton, 3 miles
- Scheels Sports Appletonsporting goods store, Appleton, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 4350 W Greenville Drbait and tackle shop, Appleton, 4 miles
Guided days on Appleton
- River Guide, AGreen Bay charter, Door County, Appleton, (920) 841-2118
- Captain Rick's Charter Fishing Servicecharter, Appleton, (920) 730-6100
Event dates close to Appleton
| Date | Event | Water | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-17 | Wolf River Bass Club Event #8 | Wolf River-Main Stem | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-08-29 | Wolf River Bass Club Event #7 | Wolf River-Main Stem | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
| 2026-07-11 | Shadows on the Wolf Ruff Fish Tournament | Wolf River-Main Stem | All Rough Fish, Bowfin, Carp, Drum (Sheepshead) |
| 2026-04-25 | Dirty Banks Walleye Tournement | Wolf River-Main Stem | Walleye |
WDNR Calendar of Permitted Tournaments for Outagamie County, checked October 2026.
State records set close to Appleton
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logperch | 0 lbs. 0.8 oz. | Lake Winnebago | 2023 |
| Perch, Yellow | 3 lbs. 4 oz. | Lake Winnebago | 1954 |
| Sturgeon, Lake | 212 lbs. 3.2 oz. | Lake Winnebago | 2010 |
Statewide limits for waters near Appleton
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (north of Hwy 10) | 5; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Wisconsin Hook and Line guide; pike row for the Northern Zone (north of US Highway 10) by the town position. Each lake page shows that lake rule.
Next to Appleton
Overnight towns handy to Appleton
- Kimberly3 miles
- Little Chute3 miles
- Combined Locks4 miles
- Menasha5 miles
- Fox Crossing6 miles
Which counties Appleton touches
- Outagamie Countyseat: Appleton
Reels and a scale grip to bring to Appleton
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Photographs from waters near Appleton
Photo: popo.uw23, Public domain
Photo: Dan Perry, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: midnightcomm, CC BY 2.0
What people in Appleton ask before a trip
How many miles separate Appleton from a lake?
Little Lake Butte Des Morts, 6 miles southwest.
How far is the closest ramp from Appleton?
Sunset Park Ramp, 2 miles away.
Which pier lies nearest Appleton?
Winnebago County Community Park, roughly 16 miles off.
Where can a Wisconsin angler buy bait in Appleton?
Closest on the list: The Reel Shot (2 miles).
Where can I catch walleye near Appleton?
The WDNR lists walleye as common in Little Lake Butte Des Morts, 6 miles away.
What county page covers Appleton?
The county is Outagamie.
Which classified trout stream lies nearest Appleton?
The Lancaster Creek, roughly 23 miles, carries 10.9 classified miles.
Which pike rules apply around Appleton?
By map position Appleton is in the Northern Zone (north of US Highway 10); lake pages show any lake rule.
How much does a weekend of fishing near Appleton cost a visitor?
A visitor license is $15 a day, $29 for four days, $33 for fifteen.
Start a trip in Appleton
Each lake, landing and shore site above has its own page.