Size
3,198ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
Species in Lake Kegonsa
Walleye
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
White bass
Largemouth bass
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Perch
Crappie
Muskellunge
Channel catfish
Rock bass
Striped Bass
Tiger muskellunge
Yellow Bass
Overview
Excellent bluegill and crappie fishing. Largemouth, walleye and northern pike round out the featured species.
Lake Kegonsa Map
Fishing Regulations
Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Waterbody Regulations
- Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Special Species Regulations
- Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
- Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
- Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
- Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
- Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
- Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
- Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
- Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
- Crappies: See Panfish.
- Channel catfish: See Catfish.
- Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
- Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 15” and the daily bag limit is 3
- Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
- Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
- Muskellunge and hybrids: May 3, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
- Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2
- Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
- Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
- Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
- Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
- Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
- Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
- Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
- Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
- Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
- Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
- White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
- Bluegill: See Panfish.
Features
Waubesa and Kegonsa were created by glacers that left their debris which damned the melting glacers and created the lakes 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. The present day Yahara River connects these two lakes with the other two lakes of the Yahara Chain Mendota and Monona. Early settlers referred to Lake Kegonsa as “First Lake” beause it was the first of the four Madison lakes they entcountered traveling north up the Yahara River. The name Kegonsa is attributed to the Ho-Chunk Indians who once lived in this area. Kegonsa means “Lake of Many Fishes.” Today Lake Kegonsa and Lake Waubesa are two of the most productive lakes in Wisconsin. For fisherman looking for a mixed bag of fish these lakes offer the opportunity to catch everything from musky, bass, northern pike, crappie, perch and bluegill. In the summer Lake Waubesa sees a lot of fishing pressure due to tournaments being held on the lake. Lake Waubesa ranks 10th in the state as a fishing destination for its for such species as walleye.
Forage
The primary forage make up of forage in the lake is shiners, suckers and juvenile panfish species that allow for a healthy large population of fish species.
Seasonal Movements
Up stream migrations occur during the spring spawning period by walleye and, to a lesser extent, by northern and crappie.
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Top Fish Species
Walleye
8-24 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Understanding Abundance
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Species Lengths
2022
May
2023
Oct
