West Twin Lake (St. Louis County, DOW 69069600)

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69069600

DNR records show 7 stocking entries at West Twin Lake (St. Louis County, DOW 69069600) since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (200,000 fish).

• West Twin Lake (St. Louis County, DOW 69069600) has 7 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2016-2025): walleye (7).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 1,200,912 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 18 ft; surface area 121 acres, 103 littoral acres, 2.2 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.3 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
• 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 29, 2015 (standard survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Brookston; DNR lake number (DOW) 69069600.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/15/1961 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

¹ fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2015

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.

A standard survey was conducted on West Twin Lake during the summer of 2015 to evaluate and update information about fish populations and to evaluate the cessation of the walleye fry stocking program that was discontinued in 2005. Walleye and Black Crappie are the primary management species for West Twin Lake. Walleye abundance of 0.5 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota Lakes. Walleye average length was 18.7 inches and 2.4 pounds. Walleye abundance has steadily decreased since 1997 when catch rates peaked at 4.0 per lift. The Walleye population in West Twin Lake may be unsustainable without supplemental stocking. Northern Pike abundance of 6.3 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes. Average length was 22.4 inches and 2.6 pounds. One large specimen exceeding 36 inches was captured in the trapnets. Black Crappie abundance of 25.0 per trapnet lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes. The catch rate observed in 2015 represents a historic high for Black Crappie in West Twin Lake. Average length was 7.3 inches with fish up to 12.2 inches sampled. Anglers should expect good catches of Black Crappie in the next couple years as a strong 2012 year-class will be entering the creel. Bluegill abundance was average at 1.8 per trapnet lift. Average length was 6.4 inches but no Bluegill sampled exceeded 8 inches. Electrofishing was used to detect if an emerging Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass population was present. Anecdotal reports from anglers have indicated that Smallmouth Bass are present in West Twin Lake. No Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass were captured by electrofishing.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 29, 2015.

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