Madison Lake

Has anyone been able to get to Madison for the walleye slaughter? They are hitting like pan fish right now. However, a large majority are less than 13 inches. Anyone have better luck in size on Madison? How about Shields or Reeds?

Same deal as Shields, Cannon, French, and Tetonka. I’ve tried increasing the lure and bait size, speed, etc. This resulted in many more pike caught though and still not many more 15+ walleyes. Could be a matter of population. Too many shorties? Not enough 15″+ in the population. This is like a vicious cycle in some of these lakes. Sometimes it’s better to look at in the sense that it’s better to drive an extra hour or 2 to get some quality size than to spend endless hours catching shorties and wait until more productive times and patterns to look for the bigger fish…you know their there, but can’t get the right one’s to bite gets frustrating. TGIF

Hey TGIF, Now that you have a bigger boat you want bigger fish hey! lol. Couldn’t resist Bud. Thanks for the report. Thanks, Bill

We fished Madison last Saturday and caught 30 eyes. 1 – 15″ plus eye, we watched several boats catching the same size eyes and keeping every one people need to learn that keeping these little 8″ to 13″ eyes will not give us a good class of walleyes for the future throw the under 14″ back boys so they have a chance to grow!!!!!

Snagger. Good point. We kept a couple around 14 and one at 19. We too witnessed a boat of 4 on a meat hunt. They easily had their 24 (atleast) bucket full of walleye sticks. It’s sad.
On a different note, I have a feeling that the pike in the lake are stuffing themselves with walleye. I haven’t caught one all year which is rare this time of year. Not one break off.

Has anyone been on Miller’s point on Madison?

Well there was a flash of hope on Madison. We were able to get a 28 inch walleye out of there (it’s still in there). But the bite has slowed a bit even with the little ones. Maybe it was the drop in temp.

Has anyone found the crappies near shore on Madison or any of the other lakes near by?

I have a place on Madison Lake and can’t believe people are keeping the cigars like they are, please throw these back, I also haven’t been able to catch the gators like I used to, and the crappies haven’t move to under the docks like usual yet, I think the water is too cold yet and also unusually clear

Maybe if enough people complain to the DNR about people keeping small cigars they might put a minimun size limit on walleyes. Anyone know the DNR’s e-mail address for that area? Thanks, Bill

I was on Madison on Sunday we caught some eyes. Again there were several boats keeping the little 9″ to 12″ eyes. we watched one pontoon with 3 guys keep at least a dozen eyes that were not even12″ long. I yelled to them that they should be sportsman and throw them little ones back they left for shore to there cabin. I wish the DNR would just do a minimum size for eyes state wide.

The lack of feed on this lake has gone from humurous to sad. We were using fat-heads and shiners. When your bait fell off by the boat, it was only a matter of time before a fish snached it. We watched white bass, crappies and even walleyes come to the surface to feed off dead bait. I think the “hording” of the smaller fish is a temp problem so I’m not sure a minimum size rule would be necessary. But we all know that when fishing is this heavy people tend to stretch their limits a bit. Since the fish are so small, people will be coming out every night getting a limit of 6 when the law is a POSESSION of 6. I think the DNR should just pay a few visits to the lake instead of enforcing the minimum. If the show up at the landing frequently, the people who are just “visiting” (the people who are only fishing it because it’s hot right now) will disappear. Once the DNR enforces rules, it’s hard to get them lifted (i.e. Clear lake and bass).

I wish they had a all release on any bass over 17″, makes me wanna cry seeing a guy with a stringer of 3 lb+ bass and taking them home to eat em, what a waste of beautiful fish, catch and release those big ones people, let someone else have some fun too!
I was on Washington last week and caught a 17 lb northern, what a blast!! And she’s still out there for someone else to enjoy, please C&R!!

Walleyes are still going on Madison, but my kid caught suspended crappies longer than most of the walleyes. I caught one ‘eye just short of 15″ after catching 5 or 6 short ones….threw it back figuring it’s not worth getting a knife out. I can’t imagine cleaning a 10″ walleye (or walleye sandwich) as I have heard them referred to as. NOT!

Eating bass….YUCK. I’ve only kept one bass for the table in my life….I see why catch and release caught on with that species!!! TGIF

The bite IS still on at Madison. All-be-it from small eyes. They are getting smaller…less that 12 inches now. We did happen to find some nice slabs. They are very aggressive but not as aggressive as the walleye. I never thought I would say this but the walleyes (smaller ones anyway) are becoming very annoying. And to the person who can’t get the “gators” anymore…I think they are finding more than enough food. 10 inch walleys look very tasty to a pike.

Does anyone know the names and maybe phone numbers of all the resorts on madison. There are some guys that stayed at one of the resorts a couple of years ago, and don’t remember the name of the resort. Behind part of the camp site is a high bank down to the river, one of our guys went down it on his butt. Alot of funny stories fishing with these guys! Anybody know???? Thanks Jim

Try Point Pleasant, They are mostly a seasonal camp ground but they do have some cabins, or if you have access to a camper the county runs a camp ground on the south end of the lake, Bray Park real resonable too, very nice
good luck