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Frequently Asked Questions About Little Turtle Lake, MN
- How big is Little Turtle Lake?
- How deep is Little Turtle Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Little Turtle Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Little Turtle Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Little Turtle Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Little Turtle Lake?
- What are the fishing regulations for Little Turtle Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Little Turtle Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Little Turtle Lake?
How big is Little Turtle Lake?
How deep is Little Turtle Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Little Turtle Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Central Mudminnow, Cisco (Tullibee), Hybrid Sunfish and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Little Turtle Lake area?
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Are there topographical lake maps available Little Turtle Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Little Turtle Lake?
What are the fishing regulations for Little Turtle Lake?
There are specific fishing regulations Little Turtle Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?
History & Status of the Fishery
Little Turtle Lake (D.O.W. # 04-0155-00) is a 468-acre lake with a maximum depth of 25 feet located 10 miles north of Bemidji in Beltrami County. Little Turtle is part of a connected chain of lakes known as the Turtle River chain. Little Turtle Lake is accessed from Big Turtle Lake, which is connected by a navigable channel. The DNR public water access is located on the west shore of Big Turtle Lake off of County Road 15. Little Turtle is managed for Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Bluegill. There is a special regulation in effect for Northern Pike. All pike from 24 to 36 inches in length must be immediately released. The possession limit is 3, with only one greater than 36 inches allowed in possession.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota lakes based on similarities in lake basin (depth, size) water chemistry (alkalinity, water clarity) and location within the state. Lake Class can affect the type of fish community present in the lake. Little Turtle Lake is in lake class 34. The following discussion makes comparisons between Little Turtle Lake and other class 34 lakes in the state. Other Bemidji area lakes in this class include Campbell Lake and Boot Lake.
The 2016 Walleye catch rate was 3.44/gill net. Walleye captured had an average size of 15.83 inches in length and 1.33 lbs/fish. Walleye presence in Little Turtle is likely due to a combination of stocking in connected waters and natural reproduction throughout the chain.
The Northern Pike catch rate was 8.11/gill net. While this is higher than desired, pike numbers have been declining the in the last two assessments. Pike had an average size of 20.33 inches in length and 1.76 lbs/fish. The largest Northern Pike captured in the 2016 assessment measured 33.78 inches in length.
Largemouth Bass were captured, measured and released using electrofishing in mid-June to evaluate the population in Little Turtle Lake. In just over two hours of effort, 16 bass were captured with lengths from 12.6 to 19.5 inches and averaged 15.4 inches. Though few fish in total were captured, they were of quality sizes and definitely worth pursuing. Smallmouth bass were sampled in Big Turtle in 2016, but so far have not been documented in Little Turtle.
The Black Crappie catch rate was 1.56/trap net. The average size of 11.0 inches and 0.87 lbs/fish was above the normal range found in similar lakes (0.22 lbs/fish - 0.48 lbs/fish).
The Bluegill catch rate was 8.22/trap net. Bluegill had a good average size (7.27 inches in length and 0.40 lbs/fish) with good numbers of fish exceeding 8 inches in length.
Other species of fish captured in the 2016 assessment were Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Bowfin, Yellow Perch, Tullibee (Cisco), White Sucker, and Bullhead species.
What is the average air temp for Little Turtle Lake?
Are there any state parks near Little Turtle Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
Little Turtle Lake Reviews
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More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Little Turtle Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Larson Lake | 1.7 mi | 203 | 49 ft |
| Turtle Lake | 1.7 mi | 1,606 | 45 ft |
| Lake Julia | 2.1 mi | 511 | 43 ft |
| Lake Campbell | 2.5 mi | 463 | 25 ft |
| Fox Lake | 3.0 mi | 165 | 19 ft |
| Black Lake | 3.3 mi | 271 | 42 ft |
| Movil Lake | 3.6 mi | 853 | 50 ft |
| Puposky Lake | 4.1 mi | 2,177 | 20 ft |
| Three Island Lake | 4.2 mi | 729 | 25 ft |
| Long Lake | 4.2 mi | 664 | 18 ft |
