Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 17, 1991
Turtle Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Turtle Lake average 16.31 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 17, 1991. In Polk County, Minnesota, Turtle Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 3.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Stocking at Turtle Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Turtle Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Turtle Lake average 16.31 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 17, 1991.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Turtle Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1991-06-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 87.16 | 0.52 lb |
| Walleye | 16.31 | 0.99 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.67 | 1.53 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.25 | 0.86 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.21 | 2.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.88 | 0.62 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
From the 1991-06-17 survey
FOLLOWING SEVERAL YEARS OF MODERATE WINTER-KILL, TURTLE LAKE'S FISH POPULATION STATUS HAS REVERTED TO ITS ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION-BLH. NOP AND WTS NUMBERS REMAIN STRONG AS WELL. NOP EXHIBIT AN ABOVE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE. CEN AND PERCID SPECIES HAVE BEEN NEARLY ELIMINATED BY LOW DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS DURING WINTER.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Turtle Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Turtle (1959)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TurtleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TurtlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Turtle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Turtle Lake average 16.31 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 17, 1991. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Turtle Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Turtle Lake is dated June 17, 1991. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Turtle Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Turtle Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Turtle Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Turtle Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
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