Espen Lakes

Pool 4 is the longest pool in terms of river miles and has both the largest water area and longest shoreline. The entire Lake Pepin area accounts for much of the length and size of the pool. There are many public park facilities in this pool. These facilities include Frontenac State Park on the Minnesota side. Several municipal parks include Wabasha Municipal Park, Bay Point Park, Barn Bluff Municipal Park, Colville Municipal Park, Hok-Si-La Municipal Park, Ohuta Municipal Park, McChill Municipal Park and Roscher Park. With the size and the number of parks this pool offers plenty of opportunity for fishing and sightseeing.

Gizzard shad make up a majority of the forage. Other species include silver chub, bullhead minnow, emerald shiner, river shiner, mooneye and juvenile panfish.

Walleye begin to concentrate below the dam during the late winter months up to ice out in March. As the water temperature rises into the 40’s, walleye move upstream from winter areas into backwater areas for spawning. Spawning takes place when the temperature is between 47 to 51 degrees in April. White bass concentrate below dams and spillways as the walleye run ends, which occurs in late April. Most largemouth are found in backwaters until mid-June since these are the first areas to warm. When the backwaters warm largemouth move to side channels and main channel borders where they can be found along riprap. Some of the largemouth summer in tributary streams. When the water cools bass move to low-current areas, in or near backwater complexes. Northern pike share the same seasonal movement as largemouth bass.