Walleye fishing at Madeline Lake

Spring walleye on Madeline Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

Yellow Perch fishing at Madeline Lake

Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 5 to 17 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 17 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.

Northern Pike fishing at Madeline Lake

Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.

Muskellunge fishing at Madeline Lake

Spring muskellunge on Madeline Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for fall muskellunge. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) gets it done.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Madeline Lake

Spring largemouth bass on Madeline Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.

Crappie fishing at Madeline Lake

Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 17 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 17 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 14 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.

How deep is Madeline Lake?

Madeline Lake is about 17 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Madeline Lake?

Anglers target largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, muskellunge, yellow perch, pumpkinseed on Madeline Lake. These come from the Wisconsin DNR's per-lake fish listing; where the DNR lists a group (panfish, catfish, trout) the specific species are resolved from Wisconsin's fish distribution by the lake's location, depth and habitat.

Where is the best fishing spot on Madeline Lake?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Madeline Lake?

For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.