Lake Pepin

Lake Pepin

View in the App
Size
25483ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Lake Pepin
Bluegill
Bluegill
Brown trout
Brown trout
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Crappie
Crappie
Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Sauger
Sauger
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Walleye
Walleye
White bass
White bass

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.
Waterbody poster background

logo

Get Your Line in the Right Water

Quickly find the best places to fish and plan your day right.

Start 7-Day Free Trial
Buy onX Fish Midwest

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 Range19.6

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
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
View in the App
Channel catfish
fish
7-31 in
Length Range
18 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
4.08
0Statewide Range12.35

Lake Pepin Channel catfish abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
Crappie
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.06
0Statewide Range12.66

Lake Pepin Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
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
View in the App
Flathead catfish
fish
10-37 in
Length Range
18 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.13
0Statewide Range0.41

Lake Pepin Flathead catfish abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
Largemouth bass
fish
7-24 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
17.93
0Statewide Range166.35

Lake Pepin Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
Northern pike
fish
11-41 in
Length Range
25 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.88
0Statewide Range19.75

Lake Pepin Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
Perch
fish
5-14 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
20.79
0Statewide Range43.58

Lake Pepin Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
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
View in the App
Pumpkinseed
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
0.04
0Statewide Range6.18

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
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
7-9 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.29
0Statewide Range6.58

Lake Pepin Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
Sauger
fish
7-23 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
30.67
0Statewide Range7.48

Lake Pepin Sauger abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
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
View in the App
Smallmouth bass
fish
7-21 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
24.02
0Statewide Range73.66

Lake Pepin Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
Sturgeon
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
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
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
8-28 in
Length Range
16 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
9.46
0Statewide Range16.93

Lake Pepin Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App
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
View in the App
White bass
fish
5-17 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
8.46
0Statewide Range20.23

Lake Pepin White bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
View in the App

Nearby Lakes

waterbodys

Frontenac

Size: 71 acres

Fish Species: 6

Boat Launch: No

Pine Creek

Size: NA

Fish Species: 7

Boat Launch: No

Gilbert Creek

Size: NA

Fish Species: 11

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

3 Reservoir

Size: 14 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

Miller Creek

Size: NA

Fish Species: 5

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

2 Reservoir

Size: 3 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No

waterbodys

1 Reservoir

Size: 0 acres

Fish Species: NA

Boat Launch: No