Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest October 30, 2025
Species recorded at Madison Lake
20 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Madison Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
3 public boat landings are recorded on Madison Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 22, 2025 caught 2.53 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Madison Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Madison Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
27 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-30 (Targeted Survey).
27 surveys on file · most recent 2025-10-30 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 48.60 | 3–8 in 2025-07-18 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Crappie | 20.61 | 3–12 in 2025-07-18 | 0.25 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.50 | ||
| Freshwater Drum | 18.17 | 7–20 in 2025-07-18 | 0.91 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.96 | 3–19 in 2025-07-18 | 1.37 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.79 | 5–10 in 2025-07-18 | 0.14 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Freshwater Drum
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-10-30 survey
A survey targeting age-0 Walleyes was conducted at Madison Lake on 30 October 2025 using 90 minutes of standard boat electrofishing. No age-0 Walleyes were sampled for a catch rate of 0.0/hour on-time for the second year in a row. The mean catch rate since 2003 during fry stocked years (n=11) was 31.8/per hour on-time…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Madison Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MadisonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MadisonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MadisonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Madison Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 22, 2025 caught 2.53 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Madison Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 20 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Madison Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Madison Lake is dated October 30, 2025. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Madison Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Madison Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Madison Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Madison Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class: a lake with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Madison Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Madison Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Madison Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Madison Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.