Turtle Lake

How big is Turtle Lake?

How deep is Turtle Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Turtle Lake?

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Are there boat launches on Turtle Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Turtle Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Turtle Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations 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?

Turtle Lake is located about a mile north of Marcell, MN, within the Bigfork River Watershed and the Chippewa National Forest. The 2,052 acre lake has 556 littoral acres with a 137 foot max depth and is in Lake Class 22. Walleye and smallmouth bass are primary management species, while northern pike, black crappie, and largemouth bass are secondary management species. Walleye have a long stocking history and fingerlings have been stocked biennially on even years since 2002. A special smallmouth bass regulation of a 12 to 20 inch protected slot with one fish over 20 inches allowed was implemented in 2006. The shoreline is relatively developed with some public ownership along various areas around the lake. Somewhat diverse aquatic plant life including floating leaf and emergent vegetation can be found along the 26.7 mile shoreline. The lake association is active in purple loosestrife control. There is one public access located along the northeast shore with parking available for five rigs.

Walleye were sampled at a rate slightly higher than the previous assessment and within the expected range for lakes similar to Turtle. The catch rate fell short of the ambitious lake management plan goal despite being the second highest observed. Lengths were from 9.1 to 24.7 inches with a mean length of 16.9 inches. Size structure was favorable with a relatively abundant proportion of angler preferred sizes present. Scale and bone analysis identified 10 age classes with fish from age 2 to 16 present. The three strongest year classes represented 78% of the aged sample and correspond to biennial stockings from 2004 to 2008. The strongest year class was 2006, comprising 38% of the catch and averaging nearly 16 inches by age 4. Back-calculated length-at-age suggests growth was near the statewide average.

Gill nets sampled smallmouth bass better than expected, typical to most assessments, and exceeding the lake management plan goal. Lengths were from 7.3 to 20.1 inches with a mean length of 15.1 inches. Size structure appeared robust, exceeding lake management plan size goals. Smallmouth bass were also sampled with spring night electrofishing at the highest observed rate, 67.2/hr on-time. Lengths were from 4.2 to 19.2 inches with a mean of 11.7 inches. Size structure values were less than gill net values but likely related to the efficiency and susceptibility of all sizes of bass being sampled and a larger sample size. Scale analysis from the electrofishing sample identified eight consecutive year classes from age 2 to 9. Back-calculated length-at-age determined growth was slow being less than the statewide average for nearly all ages.

Northern pike were sampled within the expected range similar to most assessments, and similar to the lake management plan goal. Lengths were from 15.5 to 31.8 inches and a mean of 23.2 inches. Size structure appeared favorable but netting failed to sample a fish over 34 inches, atypical to most assessments since 1975. Scale and bone analysis suggests ages 1 through 7 were present in the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age determined growth was similar to the statewide average for most ages. Northern pike averaged almost 24 inches by age 4.

The black crappie gill net catch was a historical high, exceeding the expected range while the trap net catch was within the traditional and expected range. Lengths from the trap net sample were from 5.5 to 9.7 inches and a mean of 8.2 inches, while the gill net sample was from 5.3 to 14.2 inches and a mean of 8.6 inches. Size structure values from the gill net sample were encouraging despite a modest sample size. Scale analysis identified seven consecutive age classes from age 2 to 8 present in the combined samples. Back-calculated length-at-age determined growth was slow early but similar to the statewide average by age 3. Black crappie averaged 10 inches by age 5.

Largemouth bass were sampled with spring night electrofishing at a rate of 23.7/hr on-time, similar to the previous assessment. Largemouth were also sampled in gill nets at a rate exceeding the lake class expected range. Lengths from the electrofishing sample were from 7.4 to 16.2 inches with a mean of 11 inches, while the gill net sample had a mean length of 12 inches with fish up to 17.5 inches. Size structure indices were modest in the EF sample. Scale analysis identified six consecutive age classes from age 3 to 8 present in the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age determined growth was slow early but within 15% of the statewide average by age 4. Largemouth bass averaged almost 12 inches by age 5.

Bluegill were sampled at a historically high rate, near the middle of the expected range. Lengths were from 3.2 to 9.2 inches with a mean length of 5.3 inches. Size structure appeared moderately poor with 17% of the sample exceeding 7 inches. Scale analysis identified 7 year classes, from ages 4 to 9 and 11. Back-calculated length-at-age determined growth was near the lake class 22 median but slowed to less than 85% by age 2. Bluegill averaged almost seven inches by age 8.

Yellow perch were sampled at a rate lower than the lake class expected range, yet the highest catch since 1995. Lengths were from 4.9 to 10.1 inches with a mean of 7.0 inches. Size structure was relatively poor with most fish too small to interest most anglers.

Tullibee were sampled at a rate slightly higher than the previous assessment and near the higher end of the expected range. Lengths were from 6.7 to 21.1 inches with a mean of 11.1 inches. Two lake whitefish were also sampled, catch rate was within the expected range. The lengths of the fish were 14 and 18.9 inches. Triaenophorus was present in 22% of the examined tullibee sample and in one whitefish.

Other species sampled in test netting included hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow bullhead. As part of IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) near shore sampling, Iowa darter, Johnny darter, banded killifish, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, fourspine stickleback, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, mottled sculpin, rock bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and one unknown species were sampled in 19 seine hauls. Backpack electrofishing sampled Iowa darter, Johnny darter, banded killifish, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brook stickleback, central mudminnow, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, mottled sculpin, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch in 20 stations.

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