Lake Monona Overview
Year-round panfishing. Quality largemouth bass and northern pike. Muskie population improving.
Fishing Regulations in Lake Monona
Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Waterbody Regulations
- 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.
Special Species Regulations
- Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
- Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Muskellunge and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1.
- Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2.
- Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
- Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 15” and the daily bag limit is 3.
- Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Rock, yellow, and white bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Rough fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Round goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Shovelnose sturgeon: 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.
Lake Monona Features
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Fish Species
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Bluegill abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Crappie abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Largemouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Muskellunge abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2017 | 20 |
Lake Monona Northern pike abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Perch abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Pumpkinseed abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Smallmouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Lake Monona Walleye abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2017 | 20 |
Lake Monona White bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
