West Twin

A standard survey was conducted on West Twin Lake during the summer of 2015 to evaluate and update information about fish populations and to evaluate the cessation of the walleye fry stocking program that was discontinued in 2005. Walleye and Black Crappie are the primary management species for West Twin Lake. Walleye abundance of 0.5 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota Lakes. Walleye average length was 18.7 inches and 2.4 pounds. Walleye abundance has steadily decreased since 1997 when catch rates peaked at 4.0 per lift. The Walleye population in West Twin Lake may be unsustainable without supplemental stocking. Northern Pike abundance of 6.3 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes. Average length was 22.4 inches and 2.6 pounds. One large specimen exceeding 36 inches was captured in the trapnets. Black Crappie abundance of 25.0 per trapnet lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes. The catch rate observed in 2015 represents a historic high for Black Crappie in West Twin Lake. Average length was 7.3 inches with fish up to 12.2 inches sampled. Anglers should expect good catches of Black Crappie in the next couple years as a strong 2012 year-class will be entering the creel. Bluegill abundance was average at 1.8 per trapnet lift. Average length was 6.4 inches but no Bluegill sampled exceeded 8 inches. Electrofishing was used to detect if an emerging Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass population was present. Anecdotal reports from anglers have indicated that Smallmouth Bass are present in West Twin Lake. No Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass were captured by electrofishing.

West Twin Lake is a 107 acre lake located near Alborn, Minnesota with 96% (103 acres) littoral area and a maximum depth of 18 feet. There is a public back-in access on the south side of the lake off County Road 31. Walleye and black crappie are the primary fish species. Walleye fry were stocked in West Twin Lake periodically since 1975 and ceased after 2005. West Twin Lake was assessed during the summer of 2010 to evaluate and update information about fish populations, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the walleye stocking program. Walleye abundance of 2.3 fish per gillnet for 2010 was down from 2005 (3.3) and was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye average length was 22.1 inches and growth was slightly below average growth when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Walleye from year-classes 2000 to 2004 were represented and fifty-five percent of walleye aged were from the 2001 year-class. Sixty-six percent of walleye aged corresponded to stocked year-classes. No walleye were sampled from the 2005 year class despite stocking 205,000 fry. Black crappie abundance of 5.7 per lift was up from 2005 (4.3) and was above average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black crappie mean length was 6.4 inches and growth was above average compared to other Duluth area lakes. Twenty-two percent of northern pike were longer than twenty inches. All year-classes from 2003 to 2008 were represented. Northern pike abundance of 4.5 per lift was down from 2005 (7.8), but was still greater than 50% of other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Northern pike abundance ranged from 0.7 per lift in 1978 to 7.8 per lift in 2005. Mean length was 18.8 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2005 to 2009 were represented. Electrofishing was used to detect if an emerging largemouth bass population was present. Largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in West Twin Lake between 1934 and 1945 and again in 1989. One young-of-year largemouth bass was caught by backpack electrofishing. Other fish species sampled include bluegill, golden shiner, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. West Twin Lake was included in an index of biological integrity (IBI) assessment in 2010. In addition to standard gillnets and trapnets, beach seines and backpack electrofishing equipment were used to index species richness of the nearshore lake habitat.

West Twin Lake is a 107 acre lake located near Alborn, Minnesota with 96% (103 acres) littoral area and a maximum depth of 18 feet. There is a public back-in access on the south side of the lake off County Road 31. Walleye and black crappie are the primary fish species. Over 200,000 walleye fry are stocked every other year. Walleye abundance of 3.3 fish/gillnet in 2005 was average for Minnesota lakes of this type. Mean length of walleye captured in gillnets was 17.9 inches. All of the fish captured were greater than 10 inches and 59% were 15 inches or greater, with the largest fish measuring 27.6 inches. Growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area populations. Only 32% of aged fish correlated to years stocked, suggesting a significant amount of natural reproduction in the population. In addition, walleye have produced year classes in all years between 1991 and 2002. Black crappie abundance was 4.3 fish/trapnet and was average for Minnesota lakes of this type. The mean and maximum length of black crappie was 8.2 and 14.3 inches, respectively, and 52% of fish were 8 inches or greater. Black crappie growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area populations. Based on age distribution, black crappie successfully reproduced from 1999 to 2003 with a majority of those fish (85%) a result of the 2001 and 2002 year classes. Northern pike abundance was above average for Minnesota lakes with a value of 7.8 fish/gillnet. Mean length was 22.6 inches; seventy-seven percent were 21 inches or greater and one fish measured 27.5 inches. Growth was average for Duluth Area populations. Based on age distribution, northern pike successfully reproduced from 1998 to 2004. Yellow perch abundance was 5.3 fish/gillnet and was average for Minnesota lakes of this type. The mean length was 6.0 inches and no fish were longer than 8 inches. Yellow perch and golden shiners are the primary forage base in West Twin. A good number of large walleye were observed in both gillnets and trapnets and a large percentage of these fish were presumably a result of natural recruitment. Black crappie abundance has decreased somewhat, but still has potential to provide excellent fishing in coming years.

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

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

West Twin has a maximum depth of 18 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in West Twin is from 2015. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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