Lake Mendota, Dane County, Wisconsin — fishing destination

Dane County • South-Central Wisconsin

Fishing Lake Mendota, Wisconsin

The largest of Madison's Yahara chain of lakes, Mendota is a deep, clear urban fishery with trophy smallmouth, quality largemouth, and a thriving panfish population along its weedlines and drop-offs. Country Cave Baits injection-pours premium soft plastic baits built for the bass, panfish and walleye that call Lake Mendota home.

9,740 acres Max depth 83 ft Dane County

About Lake Mendota

The largest of Madison's Yahara chain of lakes, Mendota is a deep, clear urban fishery with trophy smallmouth, quality largemouth, and a thriving panfish population along its weedlines and drop-offs.

Lake Mendota is located in Dane County in South-Central Wisconsin and is one of the state's premier fishing destinations. Anglers visiting Lake Mendota target Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie throughout the open-water season. Whether you're fishing from a boat or the shore, Lake Mendota offers diverse structure and productive water that responds well to injection-poured soft plastic baits from Country Cave Baits — made right here in Fall River, WI.

Fish Species in Lake Mendota

Smallmouth Bass Largemouth Bass Walleye Northern Pike Bluegill Crappie

Landmarks & Points of Interest

Boat Launches & Access

Best Baits for Lake Mendota

Our top-recommended Country Cave Baits for fishing Lake Mendota in Dane County, Wisconsin. Each is injection-poured in Fall River, WI and shipped fresh to your door.

5 Inch Fluke for fishing Lake Mendota, Dane County, Wisconsin

$4.95

Weightless wild action

5 Inch Fluke

Our 5-inch fluke dances with an erratic, darting action on a weightless Texas rig. The soft, slim body glides and slashes through the water column, imitating a fleeing baitfish that bass simply cannot resist.

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3 Inch Split Tail Minnow for fishing Lake Mendota, Dane County, Wisconsin

$5.75

Finesse flicker

3 Inch Split Tail Minnow

A delicate 3-inch split tail minnow that flickers and darts on a drop shot or small jig head. The slim forked tail shimmies on the fall, making it a go-to for pressured bass and finicky feeders.

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Cave Prickly Star for fishing Lake Mendota, Dane County, Wisconsin

$12.95

Urchin-style tentacled threat

Cave Prickly Star

The Cave Prickly Star is an urchin-style creature bait with a buoyant center ball and dozens of thin, whipping tentacles that quiver on the slightest movement. It stands up off the bottom, taunts pressured bass into striking, and keeps working long after other baits die. Flip it, drag it, pin it to a jig, or throw it on a Ned rig and watch it come alive.

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4 Inch Craw for fishing Lake Mendota, Dane County, Wisconsin

$6.25

Flip, pitch & punch

4 Inch Craw

A full-bodied 4-inch craw with aggressive kicking claws that thump on the retrieve. Built thick to hold up through dozens of fish, this bait excels flipped into heavy cover or dragged on a jig head.

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