Minnesota · Cook County
East Twin Lake Fishing guide
East Twin Lake covers 173 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 19 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 3 times, most recently in 2005, with walleye in the nets. That survey is 21 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
The DNR last surveyed East Twin Lake in 2005. Ratings need a survey from the last 20 years, so this page lists the species from that older record without numbers.
- Walleye
How to fish walleye on East Twin Lake through the year
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.7 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 93% 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 19-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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 25" |
| 1999 | 27" |
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 · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2005 survey
Walleye abundance in East Twin Lake in 2005 was high compared to similar lakes, but the gill net catch in this assessment was lower than past catches observed in this lake. Although walleye as large as 25.5 inches were taken, most were smaller than 14 inches. All of the walleye collected in 2005 had been produced naturally, but growth rates had been slow by area standards. Slow growth was the result of limited forage. No yellow perch were present, and walleye had to compete with a dense white sucker population for the invertebrate forage base.As has usually been the case in this lake, only walleye and white sucker were taken in standard sampling gear. Creek chub were also present, with fair numbers taken in 1/4-in-mesh trap nets.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
East Twin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on East 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
- East Twin Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
East Twin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Pine Lake · 98 ac · 1.1 mi
- Talus Lake · 17 ac · 1.6 mi
- Kemo Lake · 189 ac · 2 mi
- Musquash Lake · 131 ac · 2.3 mi
- Pit · 26 ac · 2.7 mi
- Muckwa Lake · 49 ac · 2.8 mi
- Mush Lake · 28 ac · 2.9 mi
- Junco Lake · 41 ac · 3.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is East Twin Lake?
East Twin Lake reaches 19 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 8.3 ft; about 93% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is East Twin Lake?
East Twin Lake covers 173 acres with about 3.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in East Twin Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on East Twin Lake average 2.7 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in East Twin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2005) record walleye.
Is East Twin Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for East Twin Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does East Twin Lake have a public access?
Yes. East Twin Lake has one public access site: East Twin Lake (trailer launch).
When was East Twin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed East Twin Lake in 2005, the most recent of 3 surveys on record. That is more than 20 years ago, so this page lists species without ratings.
Page updated .
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