Lake Monona Fishing
A 3,359-acre Wisconsin lake in Dane County, down to 74 feet.
Pick for panfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
The basics of Lake Monona for anglers
Lake Monona is a lake of 3,359 acres lying in Dane County. The bottom drops to 74 feet at most, with a mean of 27 feet. For a home base, Monona is roughly 2 miles away. It falls in the WDNR South Central Region. Its WDNR lake class is complex two story.
Find a Lake shows panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish and muskellunge. Public launching comes through 5 public boat landings. About 5.5 feet of clarity, by the 2017 satellite estimate.
For the panfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The Lake Monona fishery by species
Abundance labels for Lake Monona come straight from the WDNR lake page.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Catfish | Present |
| Musky | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Sturgeon | Present |
WDNR on lakes like Lake Monona
“Complex two story lakes are able to support coldwater species – primarily cisco, and occasionally lake trout or lake whitefish. They have the potential to produce action and quality walleye fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Launching on Lake Monona
- Olbrich Park Boat Ramp5 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Madison Parks Dept.
- Olin-Turville Park Boat Ramp5 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Madison Parks Dept.
- Law Park Boat Landing2 lanes, boarding dock, Madison Parks Dept.
- Tonyawatha Park Boat Ramp2 lanes, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Monona Parks & Recreation Dept.
- Winnequah Trail Boat Ramp2 lanes, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Madison Parks Dept.
Piers and shore spots at Lake Monona
- Schluter Beach Park Fishing Pierfishing pier, City Of Monona, end depth 0 feet
Other launches near Lake Monona
- Olin Turville Park Canoe LaunchMurphy Creek, 1 mile southwest
- Yahara River Boat LandingYahara River, 2 miles north
- Tenney Park Boat RampLake Mendota, 2 miles north
- Lottes Park Boat LaunchYahara River, 2 miles southeast
- Lake Street Boat RampLake Mendota, 2 miles west
- Vilas Park Boat LaunchLake Wingra, 3 miles west
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Water quality and bottom at Lake Monona
Expect a bottom of 30% sand, 25% gravel, 5% rock, 40% muck on Lake Monona.
By water source, Lake Monona counts as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasive species the WDNR has confirmed in Lake Monona: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, spiny waterflea and zebra mussel. Clean boats and drain live wells before leaving the landing.
On Lake Monona, local rules cover ski jumps, buoy placement, slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Lake Monona water level
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Monona At Madison, Wi | 4.94 ft gage height, 844.94 ft lake elevation | Oct 23 7:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 23, 2026 7:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Seasons and bag limits on Lake Monona
For Lake Monona, the DNR regulation search returns the rows shown here.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
The all-species line for Lake Monona reads: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
The Dane County entry says: Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
Pike rules here follow the zone south of Hwy 10; bass follow the Southern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Lake Monona
WDNR crews stocked Lake Monona 6 times from 2023 to 2025, 5,270 fish counted.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 12 in | 1,177 |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 485 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11.74 in | 1,687 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 900 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | yearling | 12.7 in | 521 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 9.6 in | 500 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Event permits for Lake Monona
WDNR tournament permits and posted results for Lake Monona are collected on one page.
Lake Monona against nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Monona | 3,359 | 74 | 5 | complex two story | |
| Upper Mud Lake | 3 miles southeast | 218 | 8 | 0 | complex riverine |
| Lake Wingra | 3 miles west | 336 | 14 | 1 | complex warm dark |
| Lake Mendota | 4 miles northwest | 9,781 | 83 | 12 | complex two story |
| Lake Waubesa | 4 miles southeast | 2,074 | 38 | 4 | complex warm dark |
| Mud Lake near McFarland, Dane County | 6 miles southeast | 185 | 15 | 0 | complex riverine |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Close to Lake Monona
More water to try near Lake Monona
- Upper Mud Lake3 miles southeast
- Lake Wingra3 miles west
- Lake Mendota4 miles northwest
- Lake Waubesa4 miles southeast
- Mud Lake near McFarland, Dane County6 miles southeast
Shops that serve Lake Monona anglers
- Blue Crane Boat Worksmarina, Monona, 2 miles
- Walmart Mononafarm and general store with fishing gear, Monona, 2 miles
- Harley's Liquor & Baitbait and tackle shop, Madison, 2 miles
- Farm & Fleet Of Madisonfarm and general store with fishing gear, Madison, 2 miles
- Walmart Madison, 4198 Nakoosa Trlfarm and general store with fishing gear, Madison, 4 miles
- Beach House Marinamarina, Mc Farland, 4 miles
Communities around Lake Monona
- Monona2 miles
- Maple Bluff3 miles
- Madison4 miles
Counties holding Lake Monona
- Dane Countyseat: Madison
Piscifun reels sized for Lake Monona
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Water close to Lake Monona in photographs
Photo: Heidi Meudt, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Common questions about fishing Lake Monona
Where in Wisconsin is Lake Monona?
Dane County holds it, WDNR South Central Region, about 2 miles from Monona.
How deep does Lake Monona get?
Roughly 3,359 acres and 74 feet at the deepest.
Which public landing serves anglers on Lake Monona?
There are 5 mapped landings; Olbrich Park Boat Ramp has the most lanes.
Is Lake Monona good for panfish?
WDNR lists panfish (abundant), largemouth bass (common), northern pike (common), walleye (common), catfish (present), muskellunge (present) and smallmouth bass (present).
Which WDNR rules cover Lake Monona?
For Walleye, sauger and hybrids, The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Which Wisconsin license covers fishing Lake Monona?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What is the water like in Lake Monona?
Satellite clarity about 5.5 feet (2017). Bottom: 30% sand, 25% gravel, 5% rock, 40% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Where are minnows sold on the drive to Lake Monona?
Drive 2 miles to reach Blue Crane Boat Works.
Which fish are stocked in Lake Monona?
Latest on file (2025): 1,177 muskellunge and 485 muskellunge.
Trailer up for Lake Monona
Check the posted rules before keeping fish.