Townline

Townline Lake is located about five miles southwest of the City of Aitkin along the border between Aitkin and Crow Wing counties. Most of the land surrounding the lake is rolling hills covered by mixed forests and wetlands. Residential development is light and concentrated on the north half of the lake with a county road along the west shore. There is no designated public access on the lake. Anglers who obtain legal access will have opportunities to catch many popular species commonly found in bass-panfish lakes. Largemouth bass were abundant in survey nets with a variety of sizes up to about 16 inches sampled. Reproduction of bass appears consistent with each of the last seven year-classes represented in the sample. Northern pike were captured in slightly lower numbers than the previous survey, but still fairly abundant compared to similar lakes. Size of pike in gill nets averaged 19 inches with 18% greater than 24 inches and fish as large as 33 inches sampled. Panfish anglers should have ample opportunities to catch decent fish. Abundance of bluegill captured in survey trap nets remained within the normal range for similar lakes. Size ranged from 3.4 to 8.7 inches with an average of 6.1 inches and 24% greater than 7 inches. Age analysis revealed consistent reproduction, but slow growth compared to statewide averages. In contrast, age analysis of black crappie showed sporadic recruitment and fast growth. Abundance has also varied significantly between surveys suggesting that crappie fishing may be cyclic around occasional good year-classes. Pumpkinseed and hybrid sunfish also offer panfish anglers opportunities to catch sunfish larger than 8 inches.

Townline Lake, a 173 acre lake of good fertility, is located southwest of the city of Aitkin on the Aitkin/Crow Wing County line. Land use along the lake margin is composed of mixed hardwood forest that is interspersed with lake homes or seasonal cabins, marshland, and a gravel county road along most of the west shoreline. Residential development is primarily along the northern half of the east shore and along the northwest shore. The current management plan lists bluegill sunfish as the primary management species with largemouth bass and black crappie as the secondary management species.As per the evaluation goals of the current management plan, a fish population assessment was conducted to evaluate the current status of fish community and the water quality in 2001. During the week of July 23, six gill nets and 9 trap nets were utilized for the evaluation. Bluegill sunfish numbers were found to be at normal levels for this type of lake. Lengths ranged from 3.2 to 8.2 inches with most fish from 5.0 to 6.0 inches; however, 20% of the fish sampled were at 7.0 inches or greater. Bluegill growth was normal at age one and slow thereafter. The abundance and average size of largemouth bass were above normal. Lengths extended from 5.9 to 18.6 inches and their growth was normal at all ages. In the past, local anglers have reported excellent largemouth fishing that included many nice sized fish. Sampled black crappie numbers in 2001 were the highest ever recorded by DNR survey crews. Abundance and average size were above normal for lakes of this type. Crappie lengths ranged from 5.4 to 11.9 inches. Normal growth was displayed at all ages. Northern pike numbers were above normal while their average size, at 1.6 pounds, was within a normal range. Measured northern pike ranged from 12.0 to 28.5 inches with most fish between 13.0 and 21.0 inches. Just under 30% of the 75 fish sampled were at 22.0 inches or greater in length. Catch and release of larger northern pike ranging from 24.0 to 36.0 inches is encouraged. Opportunities for anglers to harvest northern pike would still be provided while the proportion of larger fish in the population would most likely be improved. The sampled fish species composition also included dog fish, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch. When compared to similar lakes, the abundance of brown bullhead, dog fish, pumpkinseed sunfish, and yellow bullhead were within a normal range while yellow perch were below normal in abundance. According to previous surveys, yellow perch numbers have always been low and yellow bullhead numbers were down considerably from 1991.Since Townline Lake does not have a public access, fishing enthusiasts will have to obtain permission from a private land owner to gain access to the lake. An angler fishing Townline Lake may encounter an abundance of smaller northern pike, good numbers of largemouth bass, occasional quality sized northern pike or bass, and good numbers of all sizes of bluegill and crappie. Anglers are encouraged to be selective when harvesting fish by keeping the smaller fish for eating and releasing the larger ones. Releasing the larger fish will help maintain or improve the quality of the fish population and provide future angling opportunities for others who would like to experience catching a memorable sized fish. Since land uses within a watershed surrounding a lake influence a lake's water quality, additional nutrient input may decrease this lake's water quality and ultimately its overall health. Shoreline property owners and other land users within the watershed can maintain or improve water quality by protecting or re-establishing buffer strips along the shoreline with native plant species; updating outdated or failing septic systems; using phosphorus free fertilizer (if needed) on surrounding lawns, gardens, or crop land; utilizing farming practices that reduce run-off, limiting aquatic plant removal or disturbance, and limiting construction of impervious surfaces near shorelines.

The trap net indices for pumpkinseed and black crappie were below their respective lake class 29 first quartiles. Northern pike (36 of 36 aged) ranged from one to seven years of age with strong year classes indicated for 1988 and 1989. Growth rates for the third, fourth and fifth annual increments were slower than normal. Total length at formation of the fifth annulus was normal. Bluegill (43 of 115 aged) ranged from three to eight years of age with strong year classes indicated for 1984, 1986 and 1987. Growth rates for the first, second, third and fourth annual increments were slower than normal. Largemouth bass (13 of 14 aged) ranged from one to five years of age. The growth rate for the first annual increment was slower than normal. Total length at formation of the third annulus was normal. Black crappie (5 of 5 aged) ranged from one to six years of age. Although the sample is small, growth rates appeared to be normal. Bluegill trap net catches decreased from 44.6 fish per net in 1983 to 25.5 fish per net in 1991 (Wilcoxon's signed rank test, p=0.1954, n=8).

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch in Townline. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Townline. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Townline has a maximum depth of 69 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Townline is from 2012. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Townline in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.