Lake Pepin
A natural widening of the Mississippi River, about 21 miles long, on the Wisconsin–Minnesota border. It's a boundary water, so special boundary rules apply.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Wing dams, current seams and the head of the lake. Jigs and minnows.
Sauger
River current and deep holes. Jigs and minnows in cold water.
Panfish
Bluegill, crappie and perch in weeds and brush. Great through the ice.
White Bass
Schools chasing bait in open water and river runs in spring.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Sauger | ||||||||||||
| Panfish | ||||||||||||
| White Bass |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 6 public landings in totalPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all locationsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Pepin are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Dunham's Sports5.3 mi140 Tyler Road North, Red Wing(651) 388-1402Directions ↗
Local tips
- Boundary-water rules are shared by Wisconsin and Minnesota. Check them before you go.
- It's big, open water. Wind and barge traffic make conditions rough fast.
- Early spring is the classic time for walleye and sauger near the upper end.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Pepin.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.