Lake Mendota fishing

Fishing at Lake Mendota is on a natural lake, stocked with Northern Pike and Walleye. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2010, most often in January. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Last stocked

January 1, 2024

Plants on record

Since 2010

Species recorded

Average size

6.3 in

Surface acres

9,777.7

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake
Nearest town: Madison, WI
Shore access: Yes
Boat ramp: Yes
Float tube friendly: Yes
ADA accessible: Yes
Fee required: Yes
Facilities: restrooms, dock, cleaning station

Lake Mendota has 10 public ramps around Madison, Westport, and Middleton, several with docks, fish cleaning stations, and flush restrooms. Governor Nelson State Park's ramp has an ADA-accessible fishing pier; Dane County charges daily and annual launch fees at most sites.

Sources: water_type , access.boat_ramp , access.ada , access.shore , access.float_tube , access.fee , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities

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How Lake Mendota is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2024 it was January 1, 2024, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

About 93 reported fish per acre, 4th most of 5 lakes in Dane County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Lake Monona (4 mi), Lake Waubesa (8.1 mi), Lake Kegonsa (12.8 mi), and Leota Lake (22.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Monona is also stocked with Northern Pike, Lake Waubesa is also stocked with Walleye and Northern Pike, Lake Kegonsa is also stocked with Northern Pike and Walleye, and Leota Lake is also stocked with Walleye and Northern Pike.

Fish at Lake Mendota

Fishing Lake Mendota is most likely to be for Walleye. Walleye accounts for 9 of 13 plants on record, ahead of Northern Pike.

Walleye 9 plants

Plants: 9 of 13
Last stocked: January 1, 2024
Average length: 5.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Northern Pike 4 plants

Plants: 4 of 13
Last stocked: January 1, 2016
Average length: 8.1 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Northern Pike guide.

Fish stocked per year

5,0002010
83,6042012
152,6682013
105,2512014
100,5772016
99,7972018
49,2102020
263,5462022
49,2522024

Stocking history

All species Northern Pike Walleye

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
January 1, 2024	Walleye	49,252	7.68 in	report
January 1, 2022	Walleye	263,546	1.52 in	report
January 1, 2020	Walleye	49,210	7.55 in	report
January 1, 2018	Walleye	96,247	7.13 in	report
January 1, 2018	Walleye	3,550	7.9 in	report
January 1, 2016	Northern Pike	2,500	8 in	report
January 1, 2016	Walleye	98,077	7 in	report
January 1, 2014	Walleye	97,751	7.16 in	report
January 1, 2014	Northern Pike	7,500	9 in	report
January 1, 2013	Walleye	152,668	1.65 in	report
January 1, 2012	Northern Pike	2,800	7.9 in	report
January 1, 2012	Walleye	80,804	2.4 in	report
January 1, 2010	Northern Pike	5,000	7.5 in	report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.