Lake Mendota
The largest of Madison's Yahara lakes, bordered by the UW campus and the Capitol isthmus. It has abundant panfish and a strong mix of bass, pike, walleye and musky.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Panfish
Abundant. Bluegill, perch and crappie. Weed edges and through the ice.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Northern Pike
Common. 40 in minimum, 1 a day.
Walleye
Points, flats and river mouths at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits in summer.
Musky
Big baits along weed edges, rock bars and channel breaks, best in fall.
Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and river mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panfish | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 10 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 May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | 18 in | 3 / day |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027; page also notes catch & release year-round | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | 40 in | 1 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2-Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 40 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Lake Sturgeon Closed; no fishing allowed | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 0 / day |
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.
- Deon's Live Bait & Minnows0.7 mi2301 Commercial Ave, Madison(608) 244-5880Directions ↗
- Harley's Liquor & Bait2.1 mi3838 Atwood Ave, Madison(608) 222-7941Directions ↗
- Cabela's4.8 mi1350 Cabela Drive, Sun PrairieDirections ↗
Local tips
- It's a busy urban lake. Fish early on summer weekends.
- Ice fishing for perch is very popular when the lake freezes.
- There are 10 public landings and 7 public beaches around the lake.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Mendota.
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.