Since we are moving to Fond du lac we want to buy a boat for the lake. My wife wants to get a Pontoon Boat for the Grand kids and Family where I would like more of a deeper Inboard Boat that could be used for both Fishing and Tubing. I know that Lake Winnebago is huge and could be more for a pontoon boat unless we stayed closer to shore but then a lot of the fishing could be closer to shore but I already have Down Riggers and poles from when we lived in Florida. Which would be better???

I run a 21' Crestliner on there and I've been blown off a few times- with an average depth of 15' it can get pretty rough fast- but I don't like fishing in big swells when others might. You definitely won't need down riggers, but you could run some planner boards if vertical jigging is slow.

Well, with the pontoon boat you can always come in if it gets ugly, and if thats the case the bigger boat won't be much more comfortable, and I wouldn't consider an inboard, the new 4 stroke outboards , though pricy are good, but thats me. YMMV....

What seems popular in that area? Folks there will have already figured out what works in those conditions...

Your going to need 3 boats.Family boat fishing boat and trapping boat.

There will be surf boats making huge waves like all the lakes everywhere. Even a small lake is like an ocean these days. I can surf a tri-toon with a 150 Honda on the wakes on our lake.

I get by with two boats. Use both for trapping and fishing depending on the water body. I could drag kids on an innertube or even skis with one of them but motors are pricey. Lot less stress on the engine fishing and trapping.

Lake Winnebago being huge is a bit of an overstatement. It's a good size Lake.

It's going to boil down to what you want to do with the boat. A pontoon isn't a fishing boat, not even a decent substitute.

A 16 or 18 ft boat with a good motor will take a lot of water, what's your planning on bringing grandkids out you'll need a bigger boat.

we are at a time when 4 stroke outboards are a better option than an inboards or inboard outboards. they weigh a little more than 2 stroke but really space save in the boat , tilt and trim you can motor up , you can even do a transom jack
you want to be able to run in waves but also in shallow areas


the way Winnebago can blow up I wouldn't want a pontoon as my first choice although they have made them a lot more able to go nose up and take waves without diving into them.

the new pontoon boats are much better than old the larger HP capable 3rd pontoon and keep the people and weight back so that you an go nose up and get over the waves

for fishing and it's ability to handle the weather if it blows up something 18-24 feet with a V hull and a 150-250hp outboard

it is a big lake you want to be able to carry a decent amount of fuel and move at a good speed to get places

the waves blow up different much closer together than on the ocean or even on lake Michigan.

it is a huge lake but depth is only like 15-20 feet for huge portions of the lake

Another thought, will you be trailering? If so outboards are the way to go, and anything over 20 feet is more challenging to trailer unless you're really experienced at it, and of course the bigger the boat, the bigger and more expensive the motor.

Not on Bago. Bago is a fishing lake. Fishing boats from 16 to 21 feet are the norm. Not a lot of pontoons.

here is the map of Winnebago
https://usa.fishermap.org/depth-map/winnebago-lake/

this will give you a better idea of the lake

a good boat would put you in a place to head to lake Michigan and green bay also , the Winnebago and green bay fisheries have had a lot of work and made a great comeback.

I already have the trappingBoats covered. I have a canoe and 2 John Boats. In WV that was all we really needed for fishing and Trapping the rivers.

Thank you.

Before you think about buying a pontoon boat for that lake I would suggest that you rent one (they are available) for a couple of times under varying conditions and then buy the fishing boat.

I think my wife just wants the Pontoon Boat for having the kids and Grand kids for pleasure. I think in the long run we will get a deep Boat about 16 feet probably with an outBoard so we can use it to fish as well as do some skiing and Tubing. If we need to go to Neenah Menasha to my sisters we will probably drive. unless there are Marinas along the way to fuel up.

Might want to look at something like a Sea Ark "big easy" boat. It's a fishing/family boat. 24 ft with outboard and lots of seating.

I would avoid a pontoon as well.
I have one.
The wake from a boarder boat hitting broadside will all but chuck you out, along with others and gear that aint tied down.
If you meet it head on its not too bad, but you cant always do that.
And, they are like a sailboat with the sail up. Can be a total PITA maneuvering at the ramp as well as fishing.
Very nice otherwise.

I have been on this lake a lot. I've caught a lot of walleyes on this lake. Take some time and check out the boat launches in the early mornings and drive around and look at the boats on the water. That will give you an idea of what is best. This lake is not really a lake that pleasure boaters use. It's mostly 16 to 21 foot fishing boats. Not much for pontoons.....but, there are so many other lakes around too. You don't need to just be on Bago.

Winnebago is large and shallow and gets very rough. Used to spend time there (and on the great lakes) with my parents and their friends marina hopping with 26 to 30 foot cabin cruisers. If they crossed on a nice day to tour or stay somewhere, they often had to delay their return trip due to rough water.

from 1989-2012 my dad had a Lund 1750 Tyee 17 1/2 foot hull

we ran it on lake Michigan and green bay and lakes all over WI MI and Ontario even over to Erie an a little on Superior.
had to watch the weather but we had it in 6-8 footers when stuff blew up in Michigan it was a very capable boat that was a little uncomfortable to be out in that.

that is a really good size and hull shape to be capable but still fit in a garage and get 4-5 people in decently

it had a 90 Evenrude 2 stroke and we ran it with a 15 Yamaha 2 stroke kicker as well as later a 5hp Honda 4 stroke kicker for trolling

sometimes wished it had the 125hp for a little extra but it cruised about 27 knots 32 full throttle but burned more gas that way

he upgraded in 2012 and has a 24 foot fiberglass with small cabin what they call a walk around and 225 Yamaha 4 stroke , he keeps it in a slip on lake Michigan it is actually more like 30 feet since the motor mounts off a platform on the back and it has a bow pulpit it also has a 9 foot beam

if he had bought a 2150 I am not sure he would have wanted to upgrade so much , it is a bit hard to launch and trailer as it requires a wide load permit

he really does like the new boat has zero carpet , and a washdown so when you get it full fo fish blood it is easy to just wash down right away

his friend has a 19 foot crestliner that they take when they head to the smaller lakes so it works out but he does talk about going back to a boat he can trailer and put in the garage again 18-20 seems to be that sweet spot

he build a bigger garage since 1989 so he could do up to a 22"


I have a little 14 foot fishing boat and it is only good for very good weather and if something starts to blow up get off the lake.
decent on the Mississippi and other smaller lakes but I was up in Chippewa falls on Wisota and it blew up it was a little uncomfortable

I would like to get a 16 -18 with a wider hull and a little more HP

that would still only be for 2-3 people