Turnip

Turnip Lake is a designated stream trout lake that has been managed as a trophy trout fishery for the last 30 years. Currently it is covered under a special regulation closing the lake to winter angling, and allowing only catch-and-release fishing, with artificial lures and flies only (no live bait) during the open-water stream trout season. Goals for the lake, from the 2018 lake management plan, are to maintain a Brook Trout population with a minimum of two catchable-sized (over 10-inch) year classes, with 10 percent of fish over 12 inches also exceeding 16 inches in length. The 2018 plan reduced the stocking frequency in this lake from annual to every even-numbered year, beginning in 2020. This was the first of three targeted, non-lethal, surveys scheduled in the plan to evaluate the change in stocking. The survey used small (80-ft-long) graduated-mesh monofilament gill nets that were fished for about 30 minutes, then lifted and reset elsewhere. A total of 24 such sets were made in 2018, and most of the fish taken survived their capture and were released alive. Because of a temporary closure of the state's Crystal Springs hatchery, no Brook Trout were available for stocking this lake in 2016 and 2017. As a result, only three-year-old (or older) fish were present in 2018, so we could not expect to see a high catch (gill net catches have usually been dominated by younger fish). We do not know how indicative catches in short-term gill nets are of true trout abundance, and we do not have a local history with this type of netting to give us anything to compare to. We don't know whether two or more year classes were included in the catch because most of the scales collected during the survey were unreadable. The one fish we could age was four years old at a length of 17.2 inches. The size goal from the 2018 plan was met, since all of the fish taken were over 16 inches in length. A 19.2-inch fish taken in this survey was among the largest ever sampled in this lake. Clearly Turnip Lake continues to provide trophy trout fishing potential. No Rainbow Trout were taken in this survey, but that does not mean there was no survival of those fish. We do not know how vulnerable Rainbow Trout will be to short-term gill net sets; but experience gained on Trout Lake suggests they may be as difficult to sample with that gear as they have been with standard nets. Rainbow Trout catches in stream trout lakes in this area have tended to be low, and a catch of zero is not surprising in a lake where only a single year class could be present. Brook Trout stocking resumed in 2018, after this survey was completed.

Brook trout abundance appeared to have been unusually low in Turnip Lake in the fall of 2005. Low numbers were offset by the high average size of the brook trout that were present. Brook trout as large as 20.5 inches were observed, and most of the fish taken were over 15 inches in length. Turnip lake supported an estimated population of just 42 brook trout in late September 2005 (19 to 105 fish, at a 95% confidence level). That estimate was low compared to other lakes in the area, and compared to past estimates made on Turnip Lake.No undesirable fish species were collected in Turnip lake in 2005, as has been the case in all other past assessments. Other than brook trout, the lake is known to support a small number of minnow species.The special regulations covering Turnip lake were changed in 2005 to make this a catch-and-release only lake. The lake is closed to winter fishing. Only artificial lures and flies, with a single hook, may be used.

Brook trout were abundant and many quality-size fish were present in fall, 2000. No fish larger than 18 inches (bag limit of one, minimum size limit of 18 inches at this special regulation lake) were collected in 2000, but the number of fish up to 18 inches was high. For catch-and-release anglers, this fishery shows great promise.

Minnesota DNR records list Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout for Turnip, but none have a fishing-quality score yet — they may be recently stocked or have limited survey data. See the species list above.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Turnip. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Turnip has a maximum depth of 30 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Turnip is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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