Lake Pepin is the largest lake on the Mississippi River. It is a naturally occurring lake formed by the backup of water behind sedimentary deposits of the Chippewa River's delta. It is part of Pool 4 which extends from Lock and Dam (LD) 3 near Red Wing, MN to LD 4 downstream at Alma, WI. The lake is 21 miles long, averages 1.7 miles wide and covers 29,295 acres. It has a maximum depth of 60 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. Since 1991, 89 species have been identified by the Lake City Long Term Resource Monitoring Program.
Interesting facts:
- First written history of Lake Pepin identifies the French fort, Fort Beauharnois, built in 1727
- Ralph Samuelson from Lake City, MN invented water skiing on Lake Pepin
- Only working lighthouse on the entire Mississippi River is found at the Lake City Marina
Management
- Annually sampled by the MN DNR as part of the DNR’s Large Lake Program
- Goal: identify trends in fish populations in Minnesota’s ten largest and most popular lakes
- Sampling: shoreline seining, bottom trawling, gill netting, and electrofishing
General Trends
- Environmental conditions in the spring of 2009 appeared to be favorable for spawning walleye, sauger, and yellow perch
- Gizzard shad young-of-the-year abundance was below average for the second year in a row
- Angling should continue to be excellent for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and sauger during 2010
- White bass fishing success should remain good
- Black crappie, northern pike, bluegill, and yellow perch populations should benefit from the explosive reproduction observed in 2008
Surveys and Reports
- 2010 Annual Completion Report
- 2009 Annual Completion Report
- 2008 Annual Completion Report
- Pool 4 creel study 2005-2007 completion report
- 2007 sauger winter angling mortality study
- 2000 Seasonal distribution, habitat use and spawning location of walleye and sauger in Pool 4
Invasive Species Found in Lake Pepin
- Invasive Aquatic Animals
- Bighead carp
- one found in 2003: 23 pounds near southern end of the lake
- one found in 2007: 39.4", 28.7 pounds upstream of Wells Creek
- Grass Carp
- a few over the last 20 years
- Zooplanton: Daphnia lumholtzi
- Zebra mussels
- Bighead carp
- Invasive Aquatic Plants