Fishes Fox River (Wisconsin)
River · Central Sands · Wisconsin
Fox River (Wisconsin) Fishing Guides
The upper Fox above Lake Winnebago — a slow marsh-fringed river through Berlin and Omro with a strong spring walleye and white bass run out of the lake.
Map of the Fox River (Wisconsin)
20 numbered points: 1 access point, 1 campsite, 1 outfitter, 5 bridges, 8 parks and conservation areas, 1 hazard, 1 USGS gauge, 2 points of interest. Tap a marker for details. Reviewed Oct 23, 2026.
- Access / boat ramp (1)
- Campsite (1)
- Outfitter / canoe rental (1)
- Bridge crossing (5)
- Park / conservation area (8)
- Dam / hazard (1)
- USGS gauge (1)
- Point of interest (2)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Points are curated from OpenStreetMap and state agency sources; confirm access and hours before you go.
Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
Open the printable mapAll 20 points on this map
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox River Public Access Princeton | Access / boat ramp | 43.82634, -89.15794 | Public access on the river at Princeton, beside the dam. |
| 2 | Princeton Dam Princeton | Dam / hazard | 43.82621, -89.15749 | Dam at Princeton at the head of this reach. |
| 3 | Heistand Park Princeton | Park / conservation area | 43.85178, -89.13346 | Riverside city park at Princeton. |
| 4 | West Main Street WI 23 and WI 73, Princeton | Bridge crossing | 43.85140, -89.13391 | Highway crossing in the centre of Princeton. |
| 5 | Old Mill Park Princeton | Park / conservation area | 43.85279, -89.13632 | Park at the old mill site on the Princeton riverfront. |
| 6 | Princeton Prairie State Natural Area Wisconsin DNR state natural area | Park / conservation area | 43.89304, -89.03845 | Wet prairie remnant in the river corridor below Princeton. |
| 7 | Berlin Lock Number One Berlin | Point of interest | 43.95199, -88.95932 | The first of the old upper Fox navigation locks, at Berlin. |
| 8 | Mound Street Park Berlin | Park / conservation area | 43.96219, -88.95332 | Riverside city park on the south side of Berlin. |
| 9 | Broadway Street WI 49, Berlin | Bridge crossing | 43.96833, -88.95022 | Highway crossing in the centre of Berlin. |
| 10 | Longcroft Park Berlin | Park / conservation area | 43.96963, -88.95381 | Riverfront city park at Berlin. |
| 11 | Riverside Park Berlin | Park / conservation area | 43.97828, -88.95165 | Riverside park below the Berlin bridges. |
| 12 | County Road XX CTH XX, below Berlin | Bridge crossing | 43.98687, -88.94685 | County crossing below Berlin. |
| 13 | Eureka Dam No. 1 Eureka | Point of interest | 43.99399, -88.87545 | Dam at Eureka, holding the pool between Berlin and Omro. |
| 14 | Eureka Dam Campsites Eureka, near Omro | Campsite | 43.99666, -88.87181 | Riverside campground at the Eureka dam. |
| 15 | Eureka Road Eureka | Bridge crossing | 44.00562, -88.84355 | County crossing below the Eureka dam. |
| 16 | State Highway 21 and 116 WI 21 and WI 116, Omro | Bridge crossing | 44.04058, -88.74712 | Highway crossing at Omro. |
| 17 | Scott Park Omro | Park / conservation area | 44.04026, -88.73701 | Riverfront city park at Omro. |
| 18 | Critter's Sporting Goods Winneconne | Outfitter / canoe rental | 44.11198, -88.72140 | Sporting goods, bait and tackle serving the Winnebago system, north of the river at Omro. |
| 19 | Terrell's Island Lake Butte des Morts Conservation Club | Park / conservation area | 44.07593, -88.66549 | Restored island and dike complex at the head of Lake Butte des Morts, with a walking causeway. |
| 20 | USGS 04073500 Fox River at Berlin Primary flow reference | USGS gauge | 43.96875, -88.95031 |
Guides on the Fox River (Wisconsin)
Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.
Order on this page: premium and outfitter plans first (labelled Premium placement), then claimed free profiles, then unclaimed — one published price, no bidding for position. How placement works
About the Fox River (Wisconsin)
The upper Fox River runs north and east from the Portage area through Princeton, Berlin, Omro and Oshkosh into Lake Butte des Morts and on to Lake Winnebago. It is a low-gradient marsh river for most of that distance, bordered by sedge meadow, wild rice and the state wildlife areas of the Fox River corridor, and it looks nothing like the industrial lower Fox below Winnebago. The Berlin reach, where this gauge sits, is characteristic: slow current, soft bottom, weedy edges, and deep outside bends that hold fish year-round.
The fishery is driven by the Winnebago system below it. Walleye run up the Fox in numbers from late March into May, and that run is the busiest fishing of the year, worked from boats and from the bank at the dams and bridges. White bass follow shortly after and provide fast, unfussy fishing through May and June. Northern pike are abundant in the weeds and backwaters, muskellunge are present and increasing, and the river carries good smallmouth on the harder bottom with largemouth in the slack water. Winnebago’s lake sturgeon population uses the river as well, though they are protected and encountered rather than targeted. Crappie, perch, catfish and drum fill out a genuinely deep species list.
Most fishing here is done from small boats, and the river takes a tiller boat comfortably through the Berlin and Omro reaches. Kayaks work well in the marsh channels and backwaters. Ice fishing is a serious pursuit on the connected lakes and the slower river reaches. Wind on the open marsh, not current, is the usual limiting factor.
The Berlin gauge is one of the few in this batch that reports water temperature alongside stage and discharge, which makes it unusually useful — the spring walleye run keys on water temperature more than on calendar date.
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Access
Princeton public landing — upstream access on the marsh reach.
Berlin city ramp and riverwalk — access at the USGS gauge with bank fishing at the dam.
Eureka landing — mid-river trailer access between Berlin and Omro.
Omro city ramps — the busiest access on the lower upper-Fox reach.
Fox River State Wildlife Area accesses — paddle and walk-in access to the marsh channels.
Lake Butte des Morts ramps — access to the river mouth and the lake connection.
Oshkosh Rainbow Memorial Park — bottom-end access to the Winnebago connection.
Seasons
Spring: the walleye run from late March into May, with white bass following through May and June.
Summer: pike and muskellunge in the weeds, smallmouth on hard bottom; early and late are best.
Fall: walleye return to the deeper bends and muskellunge fishing peaks through October and November.
Winter: ice fishing on the connected lakes and slow river reaches for perch, crappie and pike.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Fox River (Wisconsin)?
As of Nov 2, 7:00 am, the USGS gauge FOX RIVER AT BERLIN, WI reads 962 cfs, with water temperature 56.1 F. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Fox River (Wisconsin)?
Anglers target Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Lake Sturgeon, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Yellow Perch on the Fox River (Wisconsin) in Wisconsin.
Are there fishing guides on the Fox River (Wisconsin)?
GuidedFloats lists 3 guides and outfitters on the Fox River (Wisconsin). Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.
Where can you access the Fox River (Wisconsin)?
Princeton public landing — upstream access on the marsh reach. Berlin city ramp and riverwalk — access at the USGS gauge with bank fishing at the dam. Eureka landing — mid-river trailer access between Berlin and Omro. Omro city ramps — the busiest access on the lower upper-Fox reach. Fox River State Wildlife Area accesses — paddle and walk-in access to the marsh channels. Lake Butte des Morts ramps — access to the river mouth and the lake connection. Oshkosh Rainbow Memorial Park — bottom-end access to the Winnebago connection.
When is the best time to fish the Fox River (Wisconsin)?
Spring: the walleye run from late March into May, with white bass following through May and June. Summer: pike and muskellunge in the weeds, smallmouth on hard bottom; early and late are best. Fall: walleye return to the deeper bends and muskellunge fishing peaks through October and November. Winter: ice fishing on the connected lakes and slow river reaches for perch, crappie and pike.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Fox River (Wisconsin)?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Wisconsin agency site: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/regulations