South Twin Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota141 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for South Twin Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 40 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
South Twin Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 140.78 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 4, 2008 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at South Twin Lake. DNR survey details →
South Twin Lake is a 141-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-08-14. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What South Twin Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether South Twin Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for South Twin Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for South Twin Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about South Twin Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
South Twin Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 70°F) and coldest in Jun (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2016–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 4, 2008 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at South Twin Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Twin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-08-04 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2008-08-04 (Standard Survey)
18 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 10.52 | 3–17 in 2008-08-04 | 0.85 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.49 | 3–7 in 2008-08-04 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.59 | 5–10 in 2008-08-04 | 0.3 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.14 | 10–27 in 2008-08-04 | 2.19 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.27 | 8–18 in 2008-08-04 | 0.97 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 1.28 | 8–13 in 2008-08-04 | 0.91 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
From the 2008-08-04 survey
South Twin is a 179 acre lake located just south of Marble, MN. Access can be obtained via North Twin Lake through the channel on the north side. The 2001 lake management plan indicated largemouth bass and northern pike were primary species for management while black crappie were secondary species. In 2008, the black…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Twin Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
40 ft
Surface area
141 acres
Shoreline
2.9 mi
Littoral zone
45%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays near South Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Twin Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near South Twin Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow South Twin Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Twin Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about South Twin Lake
Where is South Twin Lake?
- South Twin Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Twin Lake?
- South Twin Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 140.78 acres.
Is South Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of South Twin Lake?
- South Twin Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Twin Lake?
- South Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 140.78 acres.
What fish are in South Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in South Twin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. South Twin Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at South Twin Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 4, 2008 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at South Twin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Twin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at South Twin Lake?
- Public access to South Twin Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore South Twin Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near South Twin Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA11 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder