Minnesota · Beltrami County
Turtle River Lake Fishing guide
Turtle River Lake sits in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and covers 1,740 acres, reaching 63 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.3per gill net17"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 74 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 74 fish
2021Lengths measured · 61 fish
2016Lengths measured · 72 fish
2011Lengths measured · 67 fish
2007Largemouth bassJust a few15per hr (electrofishing)6"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 14 fish
2021Lengths measured · 43 fish
2016Lengths measured · 11 fish
2011Lengths measured · 6 fish
2007Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeGood numbers10per gill net19"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 170 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 170 fish
2021Lengths measured · 116 fish
2016Lengths measured · 98 fish
2011Lengths measured · 107 fish
2007BluegillJust a few4.3per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 99 fish
2021Lengths measured · 147 fish
2016Lengths measured · 28 fish
2011Lengths measured · 80 fish
2007CrappieJust a few0.3per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 39 fish
2021Lengths measured · 31 fish
2016Lengths measured · 56 fish
2011Lengths measured · 77 fish
2007Yellow perchExcellent numbers13.8per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 270 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 270 fish
2021Lengths measured · 116 fish
2016Lengths measured · 125 fish
2011Lengths measured · 100 fish
2007Rock bassExcellent numbers5.3per gill net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 108 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 108 fish
2021Lengths measured · 27 fish
2016Lengths measured · 39 fish
2011Lengths measured · 50 fish
2007Rates 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 Turtle River 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 63 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 63 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26" | 35" | 17" |
| 2016 | 27" | 33" | 20" |
| 2011 | 23" | 35" | 16" |
| 2007 | 28" | 35" | 5" |
| 2003 | 25" | 36" | 20" |
| 1998 | 25" | 34" | 18" |
| 1993 | 23" | 37" | 12" |
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
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
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | 331,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 337,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 335,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 335,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in three of the deepest basins on Turtle River Lake on August 10, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profiles, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 16 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 19.7 feet, which was within the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 19.8°C (67.6°F).
TDO3 values near 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are marginal for Cisco. Data collected in 1993-2016 further indicate marginal oxythermal habitat in most years, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2016. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Turtle River Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Turtle River 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
- Turtle River Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Turtle River Lake (W) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Turtle River Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Big Bass (east basin) Lake · 337 ac · 4.4 mi
- Beltrami Lake · 726 ac · 4.5 mi
- Three Island Lake · 730 ac · 5 mi
- North Twin Lake · 326 ac · 5.5 mi
- Black Lake · 271 ac · 6.1 mi
- South Twin Lake · 222 ac · 6.2 mi
- Gull Lake · 2,256 ac · 6.5 mi
- Big Lake · 3,598 ac · 6.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Turtle River Lake?
Turtle River Lake reaches 63 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 20 ft; about 38% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Turtle River Lake?
Turtle River Lake covers 1,740 acres with about 17.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Turtle River Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Turtle River Lake average 9.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Turtle River Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Turtle River Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2019.
Does Turtle River Lake have a public access?
Yes. Turtle River Lake has 2 public access sites, including Turtle River Lake (N) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Turtle River Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Turtle River Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Turtle River Lake in 2023, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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