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12,299-acre lake near Lake City. The lake tops out around 50 ft. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1959, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map). What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn outline gives you 82.7 miles of bank to pick apart, with 6 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 3.7, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 42% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 23.2 mi with a 5.8-mi widest point. Pepin County claims this one. If the bite dies, Frontenac is 3 mi to the west.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 35 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Spring walleye concentrate at Gravel shoal, a prime-rated gravel shoal around 9 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Gravel shoal (9 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (34 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, white bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 15 to 40 ft for winter. Fall white bass concentrate at Secondary point, a prime-rated point around 13 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Gravel shoal (9 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (13 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (13 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (34 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 34 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow feeding flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Feeding flat (10 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (10 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (34 ft) |
Come spring, look for flathead catfish tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 34 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (34 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (34 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (34 ft) |
Spring freshwater drum on Lake Pepin hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 45 ft. Put Gravel shoal first on the milk run — a gravel shoal near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening. The summer box starts with a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal (9 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (34 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 15 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (34 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (10 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (13 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Lake Pepin also holds largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 19 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 34 ft.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Lake Pepin specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Lake Pepin is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1959, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target walleye, white bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, northern pike, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, common carp on Lake Pepin.
Gravel shoal is the top-rated area: a gravel shoal in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lake Pepin is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Frontenac 3 mi · Duck Lake 12 mi, WI · Dead Lake 13 mi, WI · Nugget Lake 13 mi, WI · Mississippi River Pool 4 (Red Wing) 13 mi, MN/WI · Silver Birch Lake 14 mi, WI · Thompson Lake 17 mi, WI · Gantenbein Lake 18 mi, WI · Lake Eau Galle 20 mi, WI · Mississippi River - Goose 20 mi · Schlosser Lake 21 mi, WI · U.S. Lock & Dam #3 23 mi
See how Lake Pepin stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Pepin County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.