Lake Kegonsa near Stoughton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Dane County, Wisconsin, this is Lake Kegonsa. Elevation runs to 840 feet. It covers about 5.0 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. Some 9.6 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Few waters listed in Dane County are bigger. Stoughton at 3.7 miles is the nearest place to stop. McFarland follows at 3.8 miles, then Oregon at 7.1 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lake Kegonsa

  Depth records show about 30 feet at the bottom of the basin. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Dane County cover brown trout, common carp, bluegill and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Lake Kegonsa for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 16°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Lake Kegonsa.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Mud Lake, 2.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Lake Kegonsa locally before you travel.