Minnesota · Beltrami County
South Twin Lake Fishing guide
South Twin Lake sits in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and covers 222 acres, reaching 45 ft at its deepest point. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.2per gill net21"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2025Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 41 fish
2000Largemouth bassFair numbers37.1per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 137 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 3 fish
2025Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 134 fish
2024Lengths measured · 99 fish
2016Lengths measured · 72 fish
2000Northern pikeFair numbers8per gill net18"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 62 fish
2024Lengths measured · 58 fish
2016Lengths measured · 95 fish
2000Last recorded in the 1987 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few19.7per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 401 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 232 fish
2025Lengths measured · 169 fish
2024Lengths measured · 203 fish
2016Lengths measured · 448 fish
2000CrappieJust a few2.5per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 33 fish
2025Lengths measured · 38 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 8 fish
2000Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchFair numbers3.3per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 22 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 170 fish
2000Rock bassExcellent numbers2.9per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 76 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 46 fish
2025Lengths measured · 30 fish
2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2016Lengths measured · 64 fish
2000Rates 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 South Twin Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 45 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 45 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28" | 13" | 16" |
| 2024 | 25" | 18" | 34" |
| 2016 | 30" | 19" | 34" |
| 2000 | 27" | 17" | 33" |
| 1995 | 21" | 14" | 34" |
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
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 | Walleye | 181 yearlings · 21 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 2,545 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,209 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 3,080 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 476 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in South Twin Lake, was conducted on June 30th and July 1st, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 10 stations. Nearshore sampling captured 13 species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and no species that are tolerant of disturbance.
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA Program Staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline and in shallow offshore locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eight species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
In addition to fish sampling, LBMA program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on South Twin Lake on June 14th, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 32 survey sites evenly spaced 150 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 87.3 (+/- 2.9) out of 100 possible. A score of 87.3 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is High (85-91.9). Approximately 38 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 76.7 (+/- 6.4) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Moderate (70-79.9), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 93.7 (+/- 1.2) with Excellent (92+) habitat quality.
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in South Twin Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River-Headwaters watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in South Twin Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
South Twin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on South 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
- South Twin Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
South Twin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- North Twin Lake · 326 ac · 1 mi
- Pimushe Lake · 1,230 ac · 3.1 mi
- Webster Lake · 47 ac · 3.7 mi
- Benjamin Lake · 33 ac · 4.3 mi
- Big Rice Lake · 643 ac · 4.5 mi
- Rabideau Lake · 680 ac · 4.7 mi
- Big Lake · 3,598 ac · 5.9 mi
- Little Rice Lake · 123 ac · 5.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is South Twin Lake?
South Twin Lake reaches 45 ft at its deepest point; about 34% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is South Twin Lake?
South Twin Lake covers 222 acres with about 3.1 miles of shoreline.
What fish are in South Twin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is South Twin Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does South Twin Lake have a public access?
Yes. South Twin Lake has one public access site: South Twin Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in South Twin Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was South Twin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed South Twin Lake in 2025, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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