Wisconsin · United States

Lake Mendota WI fishing forecast

63 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 now63/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #292 of 408 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Wind+4.9Barometric pressure+4.4

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

dawn 12:06

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	17.7 °C
Wind	21 km/h from S, gusting 36 km/h
Pressure	1015 hPa
Cloud cover	46%
Chlorophyll	6.06 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
UV index	0
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 October average of 17.7 °C for this location. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Lake Mendota WI

Lake Mendota WI currently scores 63 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 17.7 °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 +4.9: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Cloud cover +4.0: light penetration and fish confidence
Moon phase +3.0: lunar feeding rhythm
Pre-storm bite +2.4: the classic feed before heavy weather

What’s biting now

The model expects today: smallmouth-bass, walleye, largemouth-bass, northern-pike, sauger, white-perch, golden-trout, common-carp

Bite windows

Moon

New Moon · 0% lit

Solunar day rating

70 / 100

Best months for Lake Mendota WI:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-28, 75/100

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

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.

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

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