Lake Monona
Dane County, Wisconsin · WBIC 804600
The DNR has advice about eating fish from this water. How much is safe depends on the fish and on who is eating it. Look it up on the DNR site
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
3,274 acres
Max depth
64 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Two Story
Water clarity
8.2 ft
Moderate, measured Jun 2026
A deep lake type that can hold a cold layer below the warm surface in summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1983), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
8.2 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Jun 25, 2026. 64 readings on record, 2016 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 6.8 ft, moderate, from 59 readings (2016 to 2026).
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station Lake Monona - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
Last measured Jun 25, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 4 (Mar 28 to Apr 9)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 2 (Apr 20 to May 5)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 29 (May 25 to Jun 1)
- June surface75°F, usually 74 to 77°F
- July surface83°F, usually 80 to 83°F
- August surface79°F, usually 76 to 81°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 18, lasting about 151 days.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Stocking history
- Muskellungelast stocked 2025 (large fingerling and yearling); stocked in 15 years since 2010
- Northern Pikelast stocked 2019 (large fingerling and small fingerling); stocked in 5 years since 2010
Stocking shows what was added to the lake, not what is in it now.
Wisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1964 to 2023; 3 records
- Brook Silverside Labidesthes sicculus1964; 1 record
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy2021; 1 record
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu2023; 1 record
Recorded in open fish survey and museum records (GBIF). A record shows a fish was found near this lake in that year, not that it is there now, and says nothing about how many. Most coordinates are rounded to about 1 km, so a record is attached only when one lake is the clear match.
Open fish survey and museum records from GBIF; datasets are listed on the sources page. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Boat landings
- 1Law Park Boat LandingBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · City
Directions - 2Olbrich Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete Panels surface · Accessible features · City
Directions - 3Tonyawatha Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · City
Directions - 4Olin-Turville Park Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · City
Directions - 5Olin Turville Park Canoe LaunchCarry-in access · Paved surface · City
Directions - 6Winnequah Trail Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · City
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fishing from shore
- SCHLUTER BEACH PARK FISHING PIERDirections · DNR details
Wisconsin DNR shore fishing sites. Checked Oct 24, 2026.
Water level and flow
- LAKE MONONA AT MADISON, WIGage height, Lake or reservoir elevation (NGVD 1929), Lake or reservoir elevation (NAVD 1988)
- STARKWEATHER CREEK ABOVE ATWOOD AVE AT MADISON, WIDischarge
U.S. Geological Survey gauges at or beside this lake. Readings are provisional and fetched when you open the page.
More lakes in Dane County
- Upper Mud Lake3.0 miles away
- Lake Wingra3.0 miles away
- Lake Waubesa4.2 miles away
- Lake Mendota4.4 miles away
- Goose Lake7.9 miles away
- Hook Lake8.3 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Stocking historyWisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water level and flowU.S. Geological Survey gauges (readings are live), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Fish consumption advice flagWisconsin DNR advisory areas (flag and link only), checked Oct 24, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Shore fishing sitesWisconsin DNR shore fishing sites, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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