Lake Mendota
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Lake Mendota Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Mendota. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Omnia Community MemberBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Largemouth BassTechniqueGrass JigsSeasonSummerStructureSubmerged VegetationVery tough fishing this past weekend 9/11-9/12. Normally the Bass can be found on weedlines in 10-12'. The city was chopping weeds and that made the lake cloudy and had a lot of floating weeds. Only 2 fish were caught using a war eagle jig with chompers trailer. 1 was in 4' of water in the middle of the weeds and the other was in 16' just outside the weedlines. Neither were photo worthy.
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonFallStructureRip RapFish started biting after the rain. Overcast and rain
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonFallStructureDocks
Throwing wacky rigs on docks. It was important to get far under the docks to get the good bites
Ben Eckard-LeeBronze AmbassadorSpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSummerStructureSubmerged VegetationUsing traditional 2D Sonar, we found a weedline in 13'. We dropped 5 homemade Marker Buoys along the edge, then casted along it. A 4'' Jigworm worked, as did a small 2.5' Swimbait, but Jig-Wacky (Flick-Shake Rig) got the big bite. Hardly felt it, just a gentle weight. Long pauses (10 Seconds) key. Be sure lure is on bottom before working it. Some fish just off edge. Braid with flouro leader on a mod-light spinning setup best. Walleyes and Northern Pike also present. Smallie was 17'', my new PB! Check out my YouTube channel, ECRD Fishing! https://www.youtube.com/@ECRDFishing
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueDeep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)SeasonFallStructureHumps
Smooth path under the water and big strikes. Most consistent lure for 3-5lbs Largemouth in September/October
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonFallStructureDocksHas the opportunity to take a kid out from my high schools fishing club. It was cold windy and post frontal and generally a pretty tough bite. I had some trolling motor issues so we drifted shorelines in 3-6 feet of water and through spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. We caught a handful of nice bass and a bunch of pike including a nice one in the mid 30’s. We made the best of a tough day and had a great time.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonFallStructureSubmerged Vegetation
We were targeting fish in 15-18 of water near steep transitions. Fish were just off the weed edges near scattered rock. Caught off good mixed bag of smallmouth, largemouth, white bass and a few walleye all on a Rapala DT6. Fun day on the water!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonFallStructureRock Pile
Slowly swimming the swimbait above a rocky bottom and the smallmouth came up and crushed it I even caught my personal best smallmouth for 5 pounds and 14 ounces
