South Twin

North and South Twin Lakes are located two miles northwest of Buffalo in Wright County. Possibly connected once, fish now move between the lakes by a culvert under CSAH 109 when water levels allow. Shore fishing is done on both lakes from the road right of way in this area since launching a boat is difficult and potentially dangerous. Each lake is small, under 50 acres. The watershed which encompasses Berthiaume, Albert, South Twin, and North Twin Lakes is also small at 1,685 acres. The Twin lakes were previously surveyed in 1983. Little development has occurred around the lakes or in the watershed. Over half of each shoreline of North and South Twin lakes is either forested or marshland. Only a third of the overall watershed is residential and agricultural land. Lake bottom types are similar as well, composed of silt, muck and sand. Depth is the primary difference. North Twin has a maximum depth of 58 feet, South Twin, a maximum of 19 feet. Lake depth affects many chemical and biological processes. Mid-July dissolved oxygen levels in North Twin dropped from 2.5 to 0.5 ppm between 22 and 23 feet deep, whereas South Twin dropped from 8.1 to 1.5 ppm between 8 and 9 feet. The shallowness and upstream position of South Twin resulted in high nutrient and blue-green algae levels, which in turn resulted in a secchi depth of only 1.5 feet. Aquatic plants grew to only four feet. North Twin had a secchi depth measurement of 14.5 feet and aquatic plant growth to 16 feet. Both lakes had abundant coontail and some curlyleaf pondweed. Eurasian milfoil was found for the first time in North Twin Lake in 2009. Overall net catches for both lakes in 2009 were low. North Twin averaged only nine fish per trap net and South Twin, 16. On both lakes catches of black bullhead and yellow perch were very low, and northern pike and bluegill, average. Black crappie catches were different between the two: North Twin averaged 0.5/trap, whereas South Twin averaged 5.3/trap. The latter was the typical catch rate for similar lakes. Lake conditions seem to favor black crappies in South Twin Lake. Only North Twin was electrofished for largemouth bass because of the lack of access on South Twin. Daytime shocking on May 11, 2009 collected eight bass in the 7 to 18 inch range. In 1983, on both lakes, northern pike populations were average, but black bullheads, yellow perch and black crappie were higher than average. The bluegill catch was high on North Twin (55/trap), but near the average on South (15.5/trap). Differences in net catches between the two surveys are difficult to decipher given the quarter century gap between the two. Possible influences may have been winter kill frequency, particularly on South Twin, timing of high water connection between the two lakes and density of aquatic plant growth limiting fish movement.

Northern Pike abundance (5.5/gill net) was average for this area. Ages 0-3 were caught. Growth was fast for the dominant age 1 year class and average for the others. The population was dominated by young fish. Largemouth Bass were caught only in gill nets (0.5/gill net) and as young-of-year fish in shoreline seining. Bluegill numbers (17.5/trap net) were average for the area. Age 2 fish dominated the five ages caught. Growth was average. A large young-of-year class is also present. Black Crappie numbers were high at 19.2/trap net. Most fish were ages 4-5 and growth was average for the three ages (3-5) caught. Adequate numbers of young-of-year fish were also present. Pumpkinseed (0.5/trap net) and Hybrid Sunfish (0.5/trap net) populations were low compared to their local averages. Yellow Perch numbers (13/gill net) were average for the local area. Black Bullhead (11.2/trap net) and Bowfin (0.5/gill net) abundance were average. Populations of White Sucker (0.5/gill net), Yellow Bullhead (0.7/trap net) and Brown Bullhead (0.2/trap net) were low.

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

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

South Twin has a maximum depth of 19 feet and a mean depth of 8.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in South Twin is from 2009. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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