Minnesota · Martin County
Big Twin Lake Fishing guide
Big Twin Lake sits in Martin County, Minnesota, and covers 461 acres, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 1.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2021One of the best around25.3per gill net10"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 196 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 65 fish
2025Lengths measured · 102 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2024Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 94 fish
2023No recent survey rating.
BluegillJust a few1.1per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2020Lengths measured · 4 fish
2016Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2012Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieJust a few1.1per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Lengths measured · 882 fish
2016Lengths measured · 633 fish
2012Channel catfishOne of the best around12per gill net21"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 44 fish
2024Lengths measured · 136 fish
2020Lengths measured · 122 fish
2016Lengths measured · 162 fish
2012Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Big Twin Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.9 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 96% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 1.9 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 96% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Channel catfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16" | — | — |
| 2024 | 27" | 14" | 25" |
| 2023 | 10" | — | — |
| 2022 | 10" | — | — |
| 2020 | 27" | 14" | 26" |
| 2016 | 25" | 17" | 24" |
| 2012 | 20" | — | 25" |
| 2008 | 21" | 19" | 20" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Skirted Casting Jig + Craw Trailer
3.5–4" craw-style trailer on a skirted casting/flipping jig
Channel catfish · Live bait
Bullhead Bottom Rig
nightcrawler chunk or whole worm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Yellow Perch | 2,736 adults |
| 2024 | Yellow Perch | 436 adults |
| 2021 | Walleye | 6,056 fingerlings · 727 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 204 yearlings · 337 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,737 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 3,383 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 5,071 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Big Twin is a 457-acre lake located near the city of Trimont in Martin County. The lake has a maximum depth of 18.0 feet and is a class 43 lake. Big Twin is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Black Crappie and Yellow Perch. Big Twin Lake was stocked with Lower Mississippi Strain (LMS) Walleye fingerlings in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 (to finish the 2019 quota), and 2021 in an effort to get this strain established in additional waterbodies. Big Twin Lake was stocked with LMS Walleye because it has traditionally supported a good Walleye population and has historically had sporadic natural reproduction and thus likely has habitat for spawning walleye providing environmental conditions are conducive to natural reproduction. Big Twin has not been stocked since 2021 because natural reproduction has been adequate to maintain the population so far. The summer 2024 survey showed that naturally produced year-classes in 2022 and 2023 made up 78% of the fish aged in the gill net sample. In the 2025 sample, LMS contributed 66%, based on genetic analysis. Electrofishing was conducted in October 2025 to determine if natural reproduction was present and if stocking was needed.
Young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye were captured at a rate of 128.0 per hour, which indicates that natural reproduction occurred in Big Twin Lake in 2025. Analysis of fall electrofishing data by DNR staff indicated that a catch rate greater than 5 per hour can result in a successful year class and greater than 25 per hour often produces a year class. Therefore, potential exists for Big Twin Lake. Given the highest catch rate of Walleye in gill nets in 2024 and the high natural reproduction catch rates in 2022 (161.3 per hour), 2023 (182.6 per hour), and 2025 (128.0 per hour) stocking was not advised in 2025. Walleye fingerlings ranged from 8.7 to 10.6 inches and averaged 9.7 inches. These fish should have a high chance of survival to catchable sizes. Future fall electrofishing and summer gill netting every 4 years will continue to monitor the population and determine the amount of stocking that may be needed to maintain the population.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Big Twin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Big Twin Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Big Twin Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Big Twin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Clam Lake · 71 ac · 3.8 mi
- Cedar Lake · 707 ac · 3.8 mi
- Fox Lake · 951 ac · 4.5 mi
- Temperance Lake · 166 ac · 5.6 mi
- Long Lake · 263 ac · 12.5 mi
- Kansas Lake · 403 ac · 12.8 mi
- Perch Lake · 174 ac · 14.3 mi
- Bright Lake · 639 ac · 14.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Big Twin Lake?
Big Twin Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point; about 96% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Big Twin Lake?
Big Twin Lake covers 461 acres with about 6.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Big Twin Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Big Twin Lake average 1.9 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Big Twin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Big Twin Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked yellow perch in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Big Twin Lake have a public access?
Yes. Big Twin Lake has one public access site: Big Twin Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Big Twin Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2008.
When was Big Twin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Big Twin Lake in 2025, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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