Upper Mud Lake Fishing near Monona, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Dane County, Wisconsin, this is Upper Mud Lake. It sits at 840 feet above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 303 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. It lies lower than most water we list in Wisconsin. Nearest town is Monona, 1.9 miles off. McFarland follows at 2.2 miles, then Madison at 5 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Upper Mud Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Dane County cover brown trout, common carp, bluegill and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat Upper Mud Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 72°F and January near 16°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. The season on Upper Mud Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a launch about 0.9 miles from the bank. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. There are picnic tables half a mile away. There are toilets half a mile off. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lake Waubesa, 1.7 miles out. For Upper Mud Lake in particular, ask before you travel.