Lake Monona

Lake fishing Wisconsin · 05:17 - 20:39

Lake Monona is a lake in Wisconsin. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

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Conditions right now

Weather

Heavy rain

Water temp (est.)

67°F

Air temp

57°F

Wind

9 mph

Pressure

29.58 inHg ↓ falling

Clouds

100.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Updated 2026-06-17 15:04

Best times today

Dusk 19:24–21:24 Night 21:24–04:32

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Next hours

08:00

57°

09:00

57°

10:00

57°

11:00

57°

12:00

58°

13:00

58°

14:00

58°

15:00

60°

16:00

62°

17:00

64°

18:00

64°

19:00

65°

Likely catch now (17 species)

Common Carp

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season.

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Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

10%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

4%

Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Brook Trout

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

4%

Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Black Crappie

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

3%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

2%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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Bluegill

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

2%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, peak season.

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White Bass

White Bass

Morone chrysops

1%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 19 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Lake Trout

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

1%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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About the fishing here

Lake Monona is a lake in Wisconsin.

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye and Smallmouth Bass.

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for common carp, the most likely catch right now.

Timing This is a prime window for common carp at night. Fish hard now.

Colour Stained water: try red, yellow and strong scent for common carp.

Lure Ledger bait for common carp: Boilies or corn.

Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

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About this water

Lake Monona is a freshwater drainage lake in Dane County, Wisconsin, surrounded on three sides by the city of Madison, Wisconsin, and on the south east side by the city of Monona, Wisconsin. It is the second-largest of a chain of four lakes along the Yahara River in the area and forms the south shore of the isthmus that forms downtown Madison. The name 'Monona' is a word believed to mean 'beautiful', although the lake was originally named by the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) 'Tchee-ho-bo-kee-xa-te-la' or 'Teepee Lake'.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Lake Wingra Wisconsin · 3.0 mi away Geneva Lake Wisconsin · 55.6 mi away League Lake Wisconsin · 71.9 mi away Hooker Lake Wisconsin · 72.9 mi away Mississippi River Wisconsin · 74.6 mi away Mississippi River Wisconsin · 74.7 mi away Mississippi River Illinois · 75.7 mi away Mississippi River Illinois · 75.9 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Monona?

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge and Largemouth Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake Monona?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake Monona?

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Lake Monona right now?

Right now Common Carp is the most likely catch, at about 13%.