Colvill Bay

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Size

24ac

Boat Launch

Carry-in Launch

Toilet

Boat Dock

Colvill Bay Overview

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

Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.

Special Species Regulations

Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 15” and the daily bag limit is 3.
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.
White perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 26” and the daily bag limit is 2.
Muskellunge and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
Rough fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Rock, yellow, and white bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.

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.