Turtle

Turtle Lake (DOW# 77-0088-00; Lake Class 28) is a 112- acre lake located near Browerville, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the west shore. Turtle Lake has 2.19 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 39 feet. Turtle provides multiple angling opportunities. Northern Pike captured in 2025 ranged 9 to 36 inches and averaged just over 17 inches. Populations with large Northern Pike are easily impacted by harvest, especially in small lakes such as Turtle. Anglers can assist in preserving this fishery by harvesting small pike and releasing large individuals. Walleye fingerlings are stocked in even numbered years. Large Walleye are consistently observed in surveys, however, abundance appears to be low. A total of 5 walleyes were captured in 2025, with lengths ranging from 15 to 28 inches and averaging over 23 inches. Black Crappie up to 12 inches were captured in 2025, with good numbers present. Bluegill in Turtle are generally small, but some individuals captured in 2025 measured over 8 inches. Largemouth Bass are not actively managed in Turtle. Large fish are present, however, with one individual captured in 2025 measuring over 20 inches. Turtle supports a population of Tullibee (Cisco). This species requires cold, well-oxygenated water, is found in a minority of lakes in the area and are an important food source for large Northern Pike and Walleye, as well as an opportunity for ice anglers. Cisco captured in 2025 measured up to 18 inches.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Turtle Lake on June 14-15, 2022, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 35 survey sites evenly spaced 100 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 83.0 (+/- 3.2) out of 100 possible. Approximately 48 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 71.6 (+/- 5.2), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 93.7 (+/- 1.5). Riparian lakeshore habitat quality, as indicated by a MNDNR StS score of 83, is moderate within Turtle Lake and above the statewide average score of 73. A moderate score indicates a high percentage of unaltered habitat but at least one Zone has lower habitat quality than a high scoring site. Protection of undisturbed riparian and aquatic habitat should provide buffering capacity, shoreline stability, and future contributions of coarse woody habitat into the lake.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Turtle Lake on June 14-15, 2022, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 35 survey sites evenly spaced 100 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 83.0 (+/- 3.2) out of 100 possible. Approximately 48 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 71.6 (+/- 5.2), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 93.7 (+/- 1.5). Riparian lakeshore habitat quality, as indicated by a MNDNR StS score of 83, is moderate within Turtle Lake and above the statewide average score of 73. A moderate score indicates a high percentage of unaltered habitat but at least one Zone has lower habitat quality than a high scoring site. Protection of undisturbed riparian and aquatic habitat should provide buffering capacity, shoreline stability, and future contributions of coarse woody habitat into the lake.

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

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

Turtle has a maximum depth of 39 feet and a mean depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Turtle is from 2025.

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