Wisconsin Lake Finder

Lake Monona

Lake Monona is a 3,359-acre lake in Dane County, Wisconsin, up to 74 feet deep, with 866 waterfront parcels on its shore. Fish include musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, sturgeon and catfish. It has 5 public boat landings, a public beach and public land or a park on the shore.

• Size: 3,359 acres
• Deepest point: 74 ft
• Average depth: 27 ft
• Bottom: 40% muck, 30% sand, 25% gravel, 5% rock
• Fish: Musky, Panfish, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish
• Public access: 5 public boat landings, a public beach and public land or a park on the shore
• Boating: Full recreation: over 50 acres, so open to water-skiing and boating at speed under state law
• Local boating ordinances on record: slow-no-wake areas
• Drive time without traffic: Madison 15 min, Waukesha 1 hr 5 min, Milwaukee 1 hr 15 min, Rockford 1 hr 15 min, Appleton 1 hr 45 min, Chicago 2 hr 15 min, Green Bay 2 hr 15 min, Eau Claire 2 hr 45 min, Twin Cities 3 hr 50 min
• Invasive species on record: Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Spiny Waterflea, Zebra Mussel
• Waterfront parcels: 866 waterfront parcels

Questions about Lake Monona

How many waterfront properties are on Lake Monona?

866 waterfront parcels front Lake Monona in Dane County. That counts parcels on the water from county parcel maps, not homes for sale.

How big is Lake Monona?

Lake Monona covers 3,359 acres in Dane County, Wisconsin.

How deep is Lake Monona?

Lake Monona is 74 feet deep at its deepest point, and 27 feet deep on average.

What fish are in Lake Monona?

The Wisconsin DNR lists musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, sturgeon and catfish in Lake Monona.

Is there public access to Lake Monona?

Yes. Lake Monona has 5 public boat landings, a public beach and public land or a park on the shore.

Can you water-ski or run a boat at speed on Lake Monona?

Lake Monona is over 50 acres, so Wisconsin's slow-no-wake rule for small lakes does not apply and boats may run at speed, staying slow within 100 feet of shore, docks and swimmers. Local ordinances on record include slow-no-wake areas; the ordinance itself says which part of the lake or the day each covers.

How long is the drive to Lake Monona?

By car, Lake Monona is about 15 min from Madison, 1 hr 5 min from Waukesha, 1 hr 15 min from Milwaukee, 2 hr 15 min from Chicago and 3 hr 50 min from the Twin Cities. Those are typical times without traffic, to the nearest road at the lake.

What is the bottom of Lake Monona like?

The lake bottom is 40% muck, 30% sand, 25% gravel, 5% rock, by the Wisconsin DNR's record.