Wisconsin · United States

Lake Mendota WI fishing forecast

70 Good of 100

Lake Mendota WI is a freshwater fishing spot in Wisconsin, United States. Anglers here target Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September.

Quick answer

Best monthsMay, June, July, August

Top speciesLargemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye

Score now70/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #147 of 644 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending down — 3 points below this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Wind+11.0Barometric pressure+4.4

Pressure trend

Pressure stable — fish feeding on their usual rhythm

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	20.1 °C
Wind	16 km/h from NW, gusting 26 km/h
Pressure	1016 hPa
Cloud cover	13%
Chlorophyll	10.50 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
UV index	4
Wind sea	0.0 m
Ground swell	0.0 m at 0 s

The water is running true to season — within a few tenths of the August average of 20.1 °C for this location. The water is mixed to about 20.0 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Lake Mendota WI

Lake Mendota WI currently scores 70 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 20.1 °C. 6 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +15.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Wind +11.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Thermocline +3.0: a defined layer stacks fish at one depth
Pre-storm bite +2.4: the classic feed before heavy weather
Moon phase +2.0: lunar feeding rhythm

What’s biting now

The model expects today: atlantic-sturgeon, white-perch, golden-trout, common-carp, european-carp-entry, rock-bass, brown-bullhead, pumpkinseed

[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 82% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Lake Mendota WI:

Score history at this spot

26 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-08-19, 82/100

21 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

+8 points vs the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Lake · Freshwater

Lakes have no tide, so target structure, drop-offs, and seasonal thermoclines where fish concentrate by depth and temperature.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · beach

What you can catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides
Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu
Walleye

Sander vitreus
Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Best months by species at Lake Mendota WI

Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides
Smallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieu
WalleyeSander vitreus
Northern PikeEsox lucius

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.