Today's Best Fishing Times for
Madison, United States đź‡şđź‡¸

Solunar
Weather
7-Day
Spots

How to use our fishing calendar

Planning your next fishing trip in Madison, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...

  • Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
  • Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
  • Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
  • Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.

Madison, Wisconsin offers exceptionally diverse freshwater fishing thanks to its connected chain of lakes—Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa—plus nearby rivers and ponds. Anglers target trophy smallmouth bass, big walleyes, heavyweight pike and crappie, as well as some of the Midwest’s most consistent musky and panfish action, from open-water trolling to hardwater ice fishing. read more...

Some of the best fishing spots near Madison include: Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, Yahara River, Lake Kegonsa, Monona Bay, Picnic Point, Olin Park, etc. see full list

Sun and Moon Times

The sun will be at it's highest point at . Today we have 15:16 hours of daylight. For shallow water fishing the twilight periods are often the most productive fishing times, especially on days when a major or minor time will coincide with twilight. In low light conditions predators have better cover for their ambush and often hunt in shallow water.
  • Nautical Twilight begins:
    Sunrise:
  • Sunset:
    Nautical Twilight ends:
  • Moonrise:
  • Moonset:
  • Moon over:
  • Moon under:
  • Visibility:
    84%
  • Waning Gibbous - 84% illuminated Waning Gibbous
Next New Moon in ~11 days on 14th June
  • Distance to earth:
    399,539 km
    Proximity:
    14.5 %
We can compare the current moon distance to it's minimum and maximum distance from earth and express that as proximity. A high proximity means the moon is closer to earth. At 50% it would be at it's mean distance. A high proximity causes big tides, currents and has a direct effect on increased bite times. A proximity greater than 90% indicates a super moon.
Moon Phases for Madison
Full Moon
Sun, 31 May
New Moon
Sun, 14 Jun
Full Moon
Mon, 29 Jun

Solunar Bite Times

Settings
Display Settings:
  • average Day
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Best fishing times:
  • major Time:
    03:05 am - 05:05 am
  • minor Time:
    07:43 am - 09:43 am
  • major Time:
    03:25 pm - 05:25 pm
  • minor Time:
    11:08 pm - 01:08 am
All times are displayed in the America/Chicago timezone and are automatically adjusted to daylight savings. The current timezone offset is -5 hours. Green and yellow areas indicate the best fishing times (major and minor). The center shows the current moon phase which is a Waning Gibbous at 84% lumination. According to the Solunar Theory, today is a average day for fishing, but you need to cross check this with the current weather forecast for a final decision. The next best fishing time ( ) starts in -2 hour and -12 minute. The gray time indicator displays the current local time.
America/Chicago • Thu, 4 Jun 01:52 • 43.073, -89.401
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Current Fishing Weather

Updating Weather Infos...

7 Day Fishing Weather

The weather plays an important role in fishing. Wind strenght and direction often determine where you can fish and where fish might be holding. Although high pressure is usually good for fishing, steep pressure changes often trigger feeding frenzies and are great times for fishing. Of course temperature has also a strong effect on fishing and comfort on the water. So make sure to cross check the weather forecast with the solunar fishing times to determine the best times to go fishing. The graph below shows you the 3 hourly weather progression over the next 7 days. Scroll the graph left or right to see more.
Selected Weather Station: Madison, US
Temperature
Wave Height
Swell Height
Wind
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudcover
Rain Precipitation
UV Index
Retrieving Weather...

7 Day Fishing Forecast Calendar
Date Major Bite Times Minor Bite Times Sun Moon Moonphase
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S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
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S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
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S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
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Third Quarter Moon
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S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
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S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
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S: 		Waning Crescent moon phase
Waning Crescent
*bold times indicate best fishing times around sunrise or sunset

Fishing Overview Madison

Fishing in Madison, Wisconsin centers on the Yahara Chain—Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa—plus the Yahara River and nearby ponds. Each lake fishes differently, so successful anglers match their tactics to the water body and season rather than using a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.

Seasonal patterns are crucial. In early spring, ice-out walleye and panfish push into warming bays, channels, and river inlets on Lakes Monona and Waubesa. Small jigs tipped with plastics or minnows under a float excel in 4–8 feet of water. As water temperatures climb into the 50s, prespawn bass and pike slide onto shallow flats with emerging weeds; suspending jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and slow‑rolled swimbaits are particularly effective along dark-bottom shorelines that warm first.

By summer, Lake Mendota’s deeper structure becomes prime. Walleye and smallmouth orient to main-lake points, rock humps and steep breaks in 15–30 feet. Target these with jig-and-plastic combos, live bait rigs, or finesse presentations like drop-shots along the edge of deep weed lines. Mid-summer panfish on Monona and Waubesa typically hold in cabbage and coontail beds in 8–14 feet; tiny jigs under slip bobbers, worked just above the weed tops, produce consistent action and help weed out smaller bluegills.

Fall is trophy time in Madison. Cooling water pulls baitfish and predator species shallow. Work wind-blown points and shorelines with crankbaits and swimbaits for walleye and smallmouth, and focus on green, healthy weeds adjacent to deep water for musky and pike. Large bucktails, rubber baits and jerkbaits are standards on Monona and Waubesa, while Mendota’s rock bars can kick out heavyweight smallmouth and walleye right up until freeze-up.

Ice fishing on the Madison lakes is highly productive. Early ice sees aggressive panfish in shallow bays; as winter progresses, crappie and bluegill shift to basin edges and mid-depth weeds. Small tungsten jigs with plastics or waxworms, fished lightly, are deadly. Many anglers set tip‑ups along breaks for walleye and pike at dawn and dusk, while hopping holes with jigging spoons to locate active fish.

Key habitat types include rock bars, steep breaks, weed lines, and current areas. Mendota is the deepest and most structure‑oriented lake, favoring rock and open-water patterns for walleye and smallmouth. Monona offers a mix of weeds and basin for panfish, bass and musky. Waubesa and Kegonsa are classic weed‑oriented fisheries where precise boat positioning along inside and outside weed edges is often the difference between a slow day and a full livewell.

Tactical tips for Madison: fish early and late for pressured species like walleye and musky, lean on electronics to follow weed edges and mid‑lake structure, and always play the wind—active fish frequently load up on windward points and shorelines. Downsizing tackle on clear, sunny days and upsizing in low light or chop is a reliable adjustment that consistently boosts catch rates across the whole Madison chain.

The Best Fishing Spots around Madison

Lake Mendota

Madison’s flagship lake is a multi-species powerhouse where anglers chase walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, perch, crappie, and bluegill. Spring brings walleye to shoreline structure and river mouths, summer weedlines produce steady panfish and bass, and fall is prime for trophy musky along breaks and points like Picnic Point; winter ice anglers spread tip-ups across famous flats for pike and perch.

Lake Monona

Known for urban access and big fish potential, Lake Monona offers muskie, walleye, bass, pike, and panfish with productive weed edges and deep basin structure. Early season walleye work current areas, summer weedbeds hold bluegill and largemouth, and fall trolling for muskie is a highlight; shore access around Olin Park and Olbrich Park keeps it convenient.

Lake Waubesa

Just south of downtown on the Yahara chain, Waubesa features fertile weed growth and classic breaks that produce walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and bluegill. Spring crappie push into warming bays, summer largemouth prowl thick vegetation, and twilight walleye bites shine along drop-offs; it connects seamlessly with Lake Monona and Lake Kegonsa.

Yahara River

Flowing through and between Madison’s lakes, the Yahara is a versatile corridor for walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, catfish, and seasonal white bass. Current seams, bridge pilings, and lock areas concentrate fish in spring, while summer shade lines and eddies hold bass and channel catfish; shoreline spots near Tenney Locks and canoe/kayak drifts are popular.

Lake Kegonsa

Downstream on the chain near Stoughton, Kegonsa offers clear structure and weed flats that yield walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, and panfish. Early mornings on rock bars and mid-lake humps are productive for walleye and smallmouth, while weed edges give steady summer action; it complements nearby Lake Waubesa on a multi-lake day.

Monona Bay

This sheltered arm off Lake Monona (often fished from city parks and paths) is a go-to for bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and pike. Warming water in spring brings panfish shallow around docks and cattails, summer vegetation holds bass, and cool-season pike cruise edges; easy kayak access and short drifts connect it to the main body of Lake Monona.

Picnic Point

Jutting into Lake Mendota, this iconic peninsula gives excellent shore reach to deeper water for smallmouth bass, walleye, muskie, and panfish. Rocky edges, wind-driven points, and adjacent drop-offs concentrate fish through spring and fall, with summer evenings bringing topwater smallmouth; it’s a scenic alternative to boating on Lake Mendota.

Olin Park

On the southwest shore of Lake Monona, Olin Park provides a popular launch and generous shoreline for muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, and panfish. Anglers work nearby weedlines, breaklines, and evening light transitions, while the park’s piers and riprap make it an easy after‑work stop with city skyline views.

Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Madison area

Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 20 beaches and bays in this area.

Brittingham Bay - 1.15122513968km , Brittingham Beach - 1.35444503822km , Monona Bay - 1.59338237775km , James Madison Beach - 1.77803597163km , Vilas Beach - 1.86446398734km , Bernies Beach - 2.02853435404km , University Bay - 2.13161422341km , B B Clarke Beach - 2.69627632435km , Olin Beach - 2.84634774818km , Tenney Beach - 3.27649824406km , Turvilles Bay - 3.9437233779km , Esther Beach - 4.50106540097km , Dengel Bay - 4.58286625043km , Squaw Bay - 5.28569923761km , Spring Harbor Beach - 5.66210627718km , Olbrich Beach - 6.01110561773km , Warner Beach - 6.19149814679km , Marshall Beach - 6.96264977872km , McConnel Bay - 8.33723262579km , Brams Bay - 9.24344350216km

We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Madison. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.

Brittingham Bay - 1.15122513968km , Brittingham Beach - 1.35444503822km , Monona Bay - 1.59338237775km , Lake Wingra WP 74 Dam - 1.69685688257km , James Madison Beach - 1.77803597163km , Vilas Beach - 1.86446398734km , Great Central Marsh (historical) - 2.01899322514km , Bernies Beach - 2.02853435404km , University Bay - 2.13161422341km , Picnic Point Marsh - 2.34294564462km , Lake Wingra - 2.63055084196km , Class of 1918 Marsh - 2.68635703831km , B B Clarke Beach - 2.69627632435km , Wingra Creek - 2.71261791616km , Olin Beach - 2.84634774818km , Tenney Beach - 3.27649824406km , Mendota Locks 2WP1286 Dam - 3.51623305467km , Lake Monona - 3.54869064168km , Lake Mendota - 3.86258402533km , Turvilles Bay - 3.9437233779km , Esther Beach - 4.50106540097km , Dengel Bay - 4.58286625043km , Squaw Bay - 5.28569923761km , Spring Harbor Beach - 5.66210627718km , Governors Island - 5.6787669842km , Starkweather Creek - 5.7033659801km , Olbrich Beach - 6.01110561773km , Warner Beach - 6.19149814679km , Nine Springs Creek - 6.8706256287km , Marshall Beach - 6.96264977872km , Pheasant Branch - 7.53783360236km , Sixmile Creek - 7.75830129685km , Upper Mud Lake - 7.96858498856km , Dorn Creek - 8.14306415589km , McConnel Bay - 8.33723262579km , Tiedemans Pond - 8.6506972413km , Strickers Pond - 8.95765601959km , Lake Waubesa - 9.16681807742km , Brams Bay - 9.24344350216km , Cherokee Lake - 9.50404705124km

Harbours and Marinas Beaches Bays Wharfs Points,Reefs,etc
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