Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 17, 2023
Upper Twin Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Twin Lake average 4.66 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 17, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–36 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Upper Twin Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 6.9 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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.
Species recorded at Upper Twin Lake
18 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Upper Twin 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Twin Lake average 4.66 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 17, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–36 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Twin Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 16.97 | 0.17 lb |
| White Sucker | 7.19 | 1.98 lb |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 7.17 | 3.04 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.66 | 2.31 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.46 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.96 | 0.19 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.
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.
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Shorthead Redhorse
Northern Pike
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Upper Twin (North Twin) is located in southern Hubbard County on the Hubbard-Wadena County line. Upper Twin is a very shallow lake with a maximum depth of only 12 feet. Due to its shallow depth, Upper Twin has abundant growth of both submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation. Upper Twin is connected to Lower Twin…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Twin Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Upper TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Upper Twin (1282)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Upper TwinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Upper Twin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Twin Lake average 4.66 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 17, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–36 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 18 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Upper Twin Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Upper Twin Lake is dated July 17, 2023. 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 Upper Twin Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Upper Twin 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 Upper Twin Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Twin Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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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