Natural lake

Lake Wingra

Dane County, Wisconsin

Lake Wingra is a 336 acre lake inside Madison, next to the Henry Vilas Zoo and Edgewood College. It is known for spring runs of large muskellunge.

Air temp in Madison, WI Loading current temperature…

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Lake Wingra (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area336 acres

Max depth14 ft

Shoreline3.7 mi

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Muskellunge●●●○○

Known for spring runs of large fish

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Northern Pike●●○○○

Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.

Walleye●●○○○

Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.

Bluegill●●●●○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Boat launches

2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Lake Wingra public landingRamp
One public boat landing and a public beach.Directions ↗
More public accessPublic
See the WDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Wingra are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Wisconsin DNR ↗

Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Wisconsin DNR before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Harley's Liquor & BaitNearby
3838 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53714608-222-7941 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Lake Wingra ↗

Local tips

Water clarity is low, so use bold lures.
Most of the shoreline is public, so shore fishing works.
Spring is the best time for muskie.

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.

More Wisconsin lakes

Lake Puckaway Lake DuBay Lake Winneshiek Lake Winneconne Willow Flowage Lake Vieux Desert Lac Vieux Desert Trout Lake All Wisconsin lakes →

Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.