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Aerial view of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin.jpg
Jsayre64 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lakes → Wisconsin → Lake Winnebago

Lake Winnebago

Wisconsin · Natural · near Oshkosh

137,700 acres 21 ft deep 4 ft clarity Water D
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6.0SCORE
Survey summary · Wisconsin
137,700
Surface acres
21 ft
Max depth
88 mi
Shoreline
4 ft
Typical clarity
746 ft
Elevation

Lake Winnebago covers 137,700 acres in Wisconsin and drops to 21 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Clarity is limited, which is typical of productive fisheries but worth seeing in person if you are swimming daily. Short-term rental posture: Winnebago County. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Very stable water level year-round
  • Large open water, 137,700 acres
  • Fishing
  • Sturgeon spearing

Watch outs

  • Nutrient-rich water; seasonal algae blooms are possible

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 4.1
Recreation 6.3
Value 5.9
Access 7.3
Investment 7.4

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

WalleyeSturgeonWhite bassPerch

On the water

FishingSturgeon spearingSailing
No USGS gauge on this lake. We only publish a station when its own name matches this water body. Nearby gauges on other lakes would look like data and mislead you, so we show nothing instead. Why we do that.
2.53 ft
Gage height
2019-10-24 · 2476 days old

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 534 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 508 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 21 ft max avg 7 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 21 ft, average 7 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityStable Typical drawdown2 ft Drawdown seasonWinter Trophic stateEutrophic Typical clarity4 ft Water quality gradeD Elevation746 ft Managing authorityWisconsin DNR

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityWisconsin DNR Wake / speed rulesOpen water
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Wisconsin DNR that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Winnebago County

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$380,000
Median waterfront
$2,806
Per shoreline foot
+2.5%
Year over year
124
Est. inventory
125
Avg days on market
$443
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy65% Booked nights / yr171 Gross revenue$85,549 Net operating income$40,540 Yield on median price10.67%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake Winnebago actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$3,378
All-in per month
$88,370
Cash to close + setup
$10,920
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$40,532 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $24,026 (61%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $4,180 (11%) Property taxes $3,990 (10%) Utilities $2,700 (7%) Hazard insurance $1,596 (4%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (2%) Dock maintenance $900 (2%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (2%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$24,026
Property taxes$3,990
Hazard insurance$1,596
Flood insurance$650
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$4,180
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$40,532
Model your own numbers →

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