Hooked on Middleton: Top Places to Fish
With peaceful shorelines, scenic natural areas and access to one of Wisconsin’s most popular lakes, Middleton is a great destination for a day of fishing….
With peaceful shorelines, scenic natural areas and access to one of Wisconsin's most popular lakes, Middleton is a great destination for a day of fishing. Pack the tackle box, grab a fishing license and explore some of the best places to cast a line in and around Middleton.
Know Before You Go
Fishing in Wisconsin requires a valid fishing license for anyone 15 or older. Annual resident licenses range from $5 to $20, while nonresident licenses range from $10 to $55. Licenses and additional details are available through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.
Bait & Gear
Before heading out, anglers can easily pick up bait and basic gear around Middleton. Ace Hardware (2450 Allen Boulevard) carries a variety of live bait like worms, leeches and small minnows, along with fishing poles and tackle essentials. Its location near Lake Mendota, Lakeview Park and Pheasant Branch Conservancy makes it a convenient stop on the way to the water.
A newer addition to the area, The Fishing Hunting Store (7182 US-Highway 14, Suite 1010) sells an expanded selection of live bait such as nightcrawlers, leeches, minnows, northern suckers and waxworms, along with tackle and musky gear for more specialized trips.
Just next door in Madison, additional bait and tackle stops include Dorn Outdoor Pro Shop (1345 S Midvale Boulevard), D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop (1411 Northport Drive), and a small bait fridge at a nearby Kwik Trip (5445 University Ave).
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Few places combine fishing and natural beauty quite like Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The 682-acre natural area features wetlands, prairies, oak forests and a spring-fed creek that flows through the conservancy on its way to Lake Mendota.
Because Pheasant Branch is a conservancy, visitors must stay on designated trails to help protect the habitats that make this site so special. Fortunately, several areas still provide fishing access while helping preserve the landscape.
Fishermen can cast from the southeast bridge or even Saban’s Viewpoint if they have a long cast, but the most popular spot is where Pheasant Branch Creek empties into Lake Mendota near the Century Avenue bridge. Anglers often cast beneath the bridge and along nearby sections of trail that run alongside the creek. The area attracts bass, walleye, panfish, freshwater drum and catfish, and it serves as an important northern pike spawning area each spring. A small fishing pier accessible from Harbor Village Road delivers a peaceful place to cast a line and enjoy the surrounding wildlife. Turtles, frogs, muskrats and even beavers are frequently spotted in the area.
Lakeview Park
Lakeview Park is one of Middleton's most family-friendly fishing destinations. The 80-acre park has a large pond surrounded by four docks, including two accessible piers, along with plenty of shoreline access.
Known locally as one of the best places to learn how to fish, the pond is packed with bluegills that keep young and first-time anglers engaged. If you can't catch a fish at Lakeview Park, the fish simply aren't biting.
Don't let the abundance of bluegills fool you. Beneath the surface lurk largemouth bass that can grow surprisingly large, alongside sunfish, pumpkinseed, crappie and common carp.
Confluence Pond
Confluence Pond offers a peaceful fishing spot that feels just a little off the beaten path. The entire pond is fishable, but many anglers gravitate toward the southeast side near a small dam.
The upper side of the dam drops into deeper water, making it a dependable casting spot even when summer weeds start to fill in. Just across the structure, the flow into Pheasant Branch Creek creates another productive fishing area. Spring typically delivers the best action before dense plant growth makes casting more difficult.
Bluegill, largemouth bass, bullhead and sunfish are all common catches in the pond, keeping anglers of all skill levels busy. Look closely at the shoreline and moving water and you may notice it is not always fish creating the activity. Confluence Pond is home to a healthy muskrat population that regularly swims, feeds and travels through the pond.
For a closer look at the experience, check out this video of fishing at Confluence Pond here.
Lake Mendota
At 9,842 acres, Lake Mendota is the largest lake in the Madison chain and is widely recognized as one of the most studied lakes in the world. The lake supports a wide range of species: panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish, muskies and even sturgeon. Many who fish the Yahara Chain catch and release due to the consumption advisories by the Madison/Dane County Department of Health. A full list of Lake Mendota bag limits is available online, as well as consumption advisories.
A quick way to tap into what is happening on the Madison chain is the Madison Chain Fishing Club Facebook group. Anglers post real-time catches, share where the bite is on and swap stories from Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa and Kegonsa. It is also a lively space to pick up local tips and share a photo when the day on the water turns into something worth remembering.
Lake Mendota: Know Before You Go
A Lake Access Permit is required for use of designated Dane County Parks boat launches, including Marshall Park (on the Middleton side of the lake) and Mendota Park. The permit is valid for 15 months, running from Jan. 1 through March 31 of the following year. A daily permit is $8, and annual permits range from $28 - $65. A full list of participating launch sites is available online, and permits can be purchased through Dane County Parks here or at Ace Hardware on Allen Boulevard. There is an additional boat launch site at Governor Nelson State Park that requires a state park sticker rather than a Dane County Lake Access Permit.
There are several carry-in launch sites in Dane County that allow access for small boats, canoes and kayaks without a permit, such as Lake Street Park kayak launch.
Marshall Park
Marshall Park sits along the edge of Lake Mendota, where the sheltered bay around the boat launch draws steady fishing activity year-round. Anglers can cast from several piers at the launch or set up along the shoreline when space is limited. In winter, it becomes a popular ice-fishing spot when conditions allow.
For those looking to venture farther out on Lake Mendota, Marshall Boats (located within the park) offers rentals of kayaks, canoes and fishing pontoons. The fishing pontoon is built for both relaxation and angling, with lounge seating in the front and casting chairs in the back. It also includes rod holders, a live well for your trophy catch and a fish finder. The boat accommodates up to eight people and can be rented for as little as two hours or as long as 10 hours, making it a flexible option for everything from a quick outing to a full day on the water.
Lake Street Park
Lake Street Park may not be the most well-known fishing spot, but its easy access makes it worth a quick cast. The park features a pier and kayak launch, giving anglers a simple way to reach Lake Mendota. Located near the outlet of Pheasant Branch, the area brings opportunities to catch fish moving between the creek and the lake.
