Twin Lake (St. Louis County)

St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69096700

DNR records show 15 stocking entries at Twin Lake (St. Louis County) since 2016, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (750 fish).

• Twin Lake (St. Louis County) has 15 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (13), brown trout (2).
• The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 7,666 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 9 ft; surface area 2 acres, 2 littoral acres, 0.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.0 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, goldfish, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: October 13, 2008 (standard survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Duluth; DNR lake number (DOW) 69096700.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2008

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

Upper Twin Pond is a small (1.7 acres), shallow (max. depth 9 feet) and fertile pond located within the city of Duluth along Skyline Drive. Upper Twin Pond is a designated stream trout lake and has been managed for stream trout since 1932. Although less than ideal trout habitat, the close proximity to Duluth and easy access to the pond have created a valuable put and take rainbow trout fishery. From 1941 until 1973 the pond received annual (except 1946, 1949 and 1972) plantings of rainbow, brown or brook trout yearlings. Since 1991, approximately 400 rainbow trout have been stocked annually into Upper Twin Pond in the spring and early summer. Upper Twin Pond was assessed during the fall of 2008 to evaluate the success of the stocking program and to document changes in the fish community. Upper Twin Pond was last assessed in 1996, and prior to that in 1991. Rainbow trout abundance was 5.0 per gillnet lift. This gillnet set was a special two hour timed set, in an effort to increase the sample size and ensure an adequate sample for contaminant analysis. Rainbow trout abundance of 1.8 per trapnet lift in Upper Twin Pond was up from 1996 (0.4) but down from 1991 (2.0). Rainbow trout mean length of 10.6 inches was the same as in 1996 and 1991. Rainbow trout ranged in size from 8.5 to 13.4 inches (9.2-12.1 in 1996). The 2006 and 2007 year-classes were present in the sample. Sixty percent of the rainbow trout captured were carry-over fish from the 2007 stocking (2006 year-class). In 1996, no carry-over fish were captured. Three trapnets were also set into Lower Twin Pond after fish were seen surfacing and the crew identified that the barrier between the two ponds had been compromised. The barrier was installed in the 1970s as a way to keep the two ponds separate, as Lower Twin Pond is managed as a swimming hole by the City of Duluth and is occasionally treated with chemicals. Rainbow trout abundance was 3.0 per trapnet lift in these nets. Black bullhead abundance of 8.6 per trapnet lift was up from 1996 (0.1) and 1991 (1.0). Black bullhead mean length was 6.6 inches. White sucker abundance of 4.6 per trapnet lift was up from 1996 (3.8) but down from 1991 (12.3). White sucker mean length was 8.1 inches. No other fish species were sampled in Upper Twin Pond but many fathead minnows were observed in the shallows during the assessment.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, October 13, 2008.

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