Lake Pepin

Lake Pepin

Size
25,483ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Lake Pepin
Bluegill
Bluegill
Sauger
Sauger
White bass
White bass
Walleye
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Perch
Perch
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Crappie
Crappie
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Northern pike
Northern pike
Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
Rock bass
Rock bass
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Brown trout
Brown trout

Overview

Lake Pepin Map

Features

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.

Forage

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

Seasonal Movements

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.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.25
0Statewide Range19.6668

Lake Pepin Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20239
20229
20219
20209
20199
Brown trout
fish
5-6 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2015
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2015
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
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
2015
Jun
Channel catfish
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
4.0833
0Statewide Range12.3499

Lake Pepin Channel catfish abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Crappie
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0625
0Statewide Range12.6668

Lake Pepin Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized crappie based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202014
Flathead catfish
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.125
0Statewide Range0.3958

Lake Pepin Flathead catfish abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Largemouth bass
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
17.9342
0Statewide Range166.4366

Lake Pepin Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized largemouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202323
Northern pike
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.875
0Statewide Range19.75

Lake Pepin Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized northern-pike based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202340
202238
Perch
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
20.7917
0Statewide Range43.5833

Lake Pepin Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized perch based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202313
202212
202113
202012
201912
Pumpkinseed
fish
6-7 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0417
0Statewide Range6.1668

Lake Pepin Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2008
May
2017
Jun
2021
Jul
Rock bass
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.2917
0Statewide Range6.5668

Lake Pepin Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Sauger
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
30.6667
0Statewide Range7.4793

Lake Pepin Sauger abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized sauger based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202322
202222
202122
201722
201623
Smallmouth bass
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
24.021
0Statewide Range72.1895

Lake Pepin Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202320
202220
202119
202019
201920
Sturgeon
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
0.125
0Statewide Range1.7371

Lake Pepin Sturgeon abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2014
Jun
2015
Jun
2019
Jul
Walleye
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
9.4583
0Statewide Range16.9168

Lake Pepin Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized walleye based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202128
202029
201829
White bass
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
8.4583
0Statewide Range20.2135

Lake Pepin White bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Jul
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized white-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202217
202017