North Twin

North Twin Lake is located approximately 6 miles S of Aurora. There is a gravel boat ramp located on the S side of the lake off CSAH 100 for public access. The 2016 targeted survey of North Twin Lake was done to evaluate walleye stocking using gill nets only. The previous survey in 2012 was a standard survey and included trapnets to evaluate the panfish populations. Walleye fingerlings are stocked during even numbered years on North Twin Lake. Only four walleye were sampled in 2016 despite increasing the stocking rate starting in 2009 and only one of these was from a stocked year. Walleye numbers (1.0/gill net) were below the historic average of 2.5/gill net. Yellow perch numbers in 2016 (7.0/gill net) were above average compared to other similar lakes in the area and above the historic average of 4.8/gill for North Twin Lake. The average perch sampled was 6.3 inches which is similar to the historic average. The largest perch sampled in 2016 was 8 inches long.

North Twin Lake is located approximately 6 miles south of Aurora. It has a surface area of 66 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. Other area lakes in this class include Colby, Deep and Elbow. There is a gravel boat ramp with a large parking area on the southeast shore off of County Road 11. North Twin Lake has two inlets, one from South Twin Lake and one from Turpela Lake. The outlet is to the Embarrass River. The shoreline substrates along the shoreline are mostly sand. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 5 feet. Common plants are hardstem bulrush, horsetail, yellow waterlily, and floatingleaf pondweed. Dissolved oxygen readings were poor during the 2012 survey with little oxygenated water below 6 feet. Water clarity was poorer than normal as well. Black crappie numbers in 2012 (16.1/trap net) were higher than the long term average for all assessments on this lake. Crappies were from only five year classes since 2004. Because of this, the sampled crappie fell into three general size classes: 4, 6, and over 9 inches. Crappies are known to have high variability in spawning success so seeing just a few sizes is typical. The average 5 year old crappie sampled was over 9 inches long and the largest was 11.7 inches Bluegill numbers in 2012 (6.0/trap net) were similar to the long term average for all assessments on this lake. The average bluegill sampled was 5.5 inches long and about 4 years old. The largest bluegill sampled was 9.6 inches. Northern pike numbers in 2012 (2.3/gill net) were similar to the long term average for all assessments on this lake. Pike were 19.4 inches long on average. The largest pike sampled was 32 inches long and from a trap net. Walleye were fewer in the gill nets than the long term average for all assessments on this lake. However, this was likely due to poor oxygen at the depths that the gill nets are set. Walleye catch was above average in the shallower trap nets, indicating that the water quality influenced where the walleye were spending their time. The average walleye sampled was 11.3 inches long and about 3 years old. The largest walleye sampled was 19.3 inches.

North Twin Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 11, which consists of 49 small lakes in northeast Minnesota. North Twin Lake is smaller, more bowl-shaped, and has clearer and softer (less mineralized) water than many of the lakes in this lake class. North Twin Lake was thermally stratified on 06/26/2006 with a surface temperature of 72 F and a bottom temperature of 41 F. Adequate oxygen for fish (more than 2 ppm) was retained to a depth of 14 feet, where the temperature was 50 F. North Twin Lake has two inlets, from South Twin Lake and from Turpela Lake. The outlet is to the Embarrass River. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly sand. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 5 feet; the most common plants are horsetail, hardstem bulrush, yellow waterlily, and floatingleaf pondweed. There are two homes on the lake and an access with a gravel boat ramp on the southeast shore off County Road 100. Fish sampling in the 2006 fish population assessment was done with 4 gillnets and 9 trapnets. Seven previous fisheries investigations, dating back to 1976, used 3-6 gillnets and 5-7 trapnets, except that trapnets were not used in the 1984 investigation. Shoreline seining for small and young fish was done in the 1976 and 1999 investigations. The gillnet catch in 2006 was dominated by northern pike, white sucker, and yellow perch. Walleye numbers were lower than in most previous investigations on this lake. The trapnet catch in 2006 was dominated by black crappie and bluegill sunfish. Northern pike numbers in 2006 (2.8/gillnet) were normal (near the median) for this lake class and were at the median value of 2.8/gillnet for all investigations on this lake. Pike sizes in 2006 averaged 19.7 inches (1.8 lb), which was somewhat smaller than normal (in the second quartile) for this lake class, but was similar to the median pike size of 20.1 inches for all investigations on this lake. The largest pike (caught in a trapnet) was 29.9 inches. Pike growth was slower than normal (in the first or second quartile, depending on the age) by area standards. Perch numbers in 2006 (7.0/gillnet) were somewhat higher than normal (in the third quartile) for this lake class and were higher than the median perch catch of 5.3/gillnet for all investigations on this lake. Perch sizes in 2006 averaged 6.7 inches (0.14 lb), which was normal (near the median) for this lake class and was identical to the average perch size of 6.7 inches for all investigations on this lake. The largest perch was 9.3 inches. Perch growth was somewhat faster than normal (in the third quartile) by area standards. Walleye fingerling stocking began in North Twin Lake in 1969 and walleye were present in the first fisheries investigation in 1976. Walleye fingerlings were stocked every other year from 1979 through 2005. Walleye numbers in 2006 (1.5/gillnet) were somewhat lower than normal (in the second quartile) for this lake class and were lower than the median walleye catch of 2.9/gillnet for all investigations on this lake. Walleye sizes in 2006 averaged 16.8 inches (2.3 lb), which was larger than normal (in the fourth quartile) for this lake class, and was larger than the average walleye size of 14.1 inches for all investigations on this lake. The largest walleye was 18.4 inches. Walleye growth was inconsistent, but generally appeared to be in the normal range (second or third quartile, depending on the age) by area standards. Crappie numbers in 2006 (7.0/trapnet) were somewhat higher than normal (in the third quartile) for this lake class and were at the median value of 7.0/trapnet for all investigations on this lake. Crappie sizes in 2006 averaged 9.1 inches (0.45 lb), which was larger than normal (in the fourth quartile) for this lake class and was larger than the average crappie size of 8.1 inches for all investigations on this lake. The largest crappie was 11.6 inches. Crappie growth was faster than normal (in the third or fourth quartile, depending on the age) by area standards. Bluegill numbers in 2006 (6.2/trapnet) were normal (near the median) for this lake class and were at the median value of 6.2/trapnet for all investigations on this lake. Bluegill sizes in 2006 averaged 6.9 inches (0.31 lb), which was somewhat larger than normal (at the third quartile) for this lake class and was larger than the average bluegill size of 5.7 inches for all investigations on this lake. The largest bluegill was 9.5 inches. Bluegill growth was faster than normal (in the third or fourth quartile, depending on the age) by area standards. A few of the game fish examined in 2006 were infected with neascus (black spot). Many of the yellow perch were infected with yellow grub. Neascus and black spot are common parasites that are native to the area. They cannot infect humans, are often removed by filleting, and are killed at temperatures used to cook fish.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Largemouth Bass in North Twin. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

North Twin has a maximum depth of 40 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in North Twin is from 2016. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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