Lake · Dane, Wisconsin
Lake Mendota at Madison
Current Lake Rating
Point-in-time lake rating — separate from the trip recommendation below.
Fair
This condition rating is estimated because current on-water monitoring is not available.
Estimated Conditions
Estimated from available current readings, weather, seasonal patterns, destination characteristics, and historical conditions. Some important on-water measurements may be unavailable.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Consider
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Recommendation confidence: Low
Why
- Current water-level and water-temperature observations are not available.
- StrikeTracks is showing a provisional Estimated Conditions rating from accepted secondary evidence.
- Available atmospheric evidence is favorable for provisional Estimated fishing suitability; the public rating is capped by the accepted Estimated evidence path and confidence policy.
Current Readings
- Water level
- 849.90 ft
- Change over 24 hours
- 0.00 ft
- Trend
- Stable
- Last updated
- 50 min ago
Source: USGS · LAKE MENDOTA AT MADISON, WI · 05428000 · Elevation, lake/res, NAVD88
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Fog
Temperature
72°F
Feels like
79°F
Wind
4 mph NE
Wind gust
7 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 12:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.22 in
Little recent rainfall near this lake.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 3 AM
Overcast
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 7 AM
Overcast
Temp 70°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 11 AM
Overcast
Temp 73°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 3 PM
Overcast
Temp 78°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 7 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 11 PM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Fog
High 78°F / Low 68°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 18 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 80°F / Low 62°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 18 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 78°F / Low 58°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 26 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Drizzle
High 85°F / Low 59°F
Chance 30%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 46 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Lake Elevation History
Elevation is reported relative to the datum used by this USGS monitoring site. Elevations from different lakes or datums should not be directly compared.
Loading historical elevation…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Lake Mendota.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Lake Mendota at Madison is the upper Yahara chain muskie and mixed fishery. StrikeTracks keeps this existing public identity and publishes complete static fishery. USGS 05428000 is stage/elevation, not same-lake 00010. Distinct from Lake Monona. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only.
Target species
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
WDNR Lake Mendota muskellunge. USGS 05428000.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
WDNR Mendota smallmouth.
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
WDNR Mendota walleye.
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
WDNR Mendota yellow perch.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Yahara chain Lake Mendota at Madison, Dane County.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public landings and parks are documented by WDNR and City of Madison. Catalog coordinates are USGS 05428000.
Stocking information
WDNR manages Mendota muskie and mixed species. Confirm current official stocking separately.
- Stocked
Muskellunge
Stocked · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Official sources
WDNR Yahara chain / Dane County rules change. Distinct from Monona 05429000. Confirm current WDNR regulations.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Popper-style surface flyGeneral warmwater surface family. Not an insect Hatch event.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral warmwater streamer family. Not a baitfish Hatch event.
- Crayfish-style flyGeneral subsurface family. Crayfish forage is not a Hatch insect.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Dane, Wisconsin
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Dane
Management Category
Yahara chain mixed lake
Regulation Scope
Lake Mendota at Madison
Regulation Summary
Lake Mendota at Madison: WDNR inland lake rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
muskellunge, walleye, smallmouth-bass, yellow-perch
Public Access
Public
Description
Lake Mendota at Madison, Wisconsin. Existing public Yahara-chain lake. Stage/elevation; PATH B fishery populated.
