Fishing Lake Pepin

AKA: Pepin Lake

Popular Fish Species
Lake Pepin Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing Boat Rentals
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Lake Pepin, WI

Popular Fish Species Lake Pepin, WI

Walleye Fishing

Lake Pepin is home to a hearty population of walleye. Good fisheries management and plenty of forage in the lake have them growing fat and healthy. When the lake freezes over in winter, ice fishing for walleye can be very rewarding. Use GPS to locate fishing spots you normally fish during other times of the year. Walleye have excellent vision in low light scenarios which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water anytime there are low light conditions. During May and June is the optimal time to catch them, while feeding in shallower water. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. Concentrate around structure like points, flats and ledges off the river channels. One of the proven methods for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

Crappie Fishing

Crappie anglers can fish for both black crappie and white crappie at Lake Pepin. These two species tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may catch both species, as they often use the same cover. For best results when fishing for crappie, light line and small hooks are key, especially when fishing live or prepared baits. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. This is a good place to catch quantities of nice, fat slabs. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a bunch of hungry of crappie. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch tend to spawn in the April to May timeframe, and the spawn has been strong for years at Lake Pepin. As a result, the lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. They are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing as well. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Lake Pepin Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, sauger, saugeye, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, spotted sunfish, white bass, yellow perch and northern pike at Lake Pepin in Wisconsin.

Straddling the state border with Minnesota, Lake Pepin is a 25,000-acre section of the Mississippi River running from Red Wing to Reads Landing. Anglers from both states, and visitors, fish these 50 miles of shoreline in search of smallmouth bass, northern pike and white bass. Colvill Park, Frontenac State Park and Hok-Si-La Municipal Park and Campground afford access for fishing from the bank.

Primary fish species residing in Lake Pepin

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Pepin Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Red Wing Marina & Boat Rental
Rentals: Fishing boats and pontoons
651 388-8995

River Valley Marina and Boat Rentals
Rentals: Fishing boats and pontoon boats
651 388-0481

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Bay City Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Park Street, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Lake Pepin Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Lakeshore Drive, at Roschen Park, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Lake Pepin Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, north side, off Prarie Street, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Marinas

Pepin Marina
303 1st St
Pepin, WI 54759
715 442-4900

Red Wing Marina
918 Levee Road
Red Wing, MN 55066
651 388-8995