Lower Turtle Lake

Lower Turtle Lake

Size
286ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Lower Turtle Lake
Crappie
Crappie
Northern pike
Northern pike
Walleye
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Bluegill
Bluegill
Rock bass
Rock bass
Perch
Perch
Brook trout
Brook trout

Overview

Lower Turtle Lake Map

Fishing Regulations

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

  • Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

Special Species Regulations

  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Bluegill: See Panfish.
  • Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
  • Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 3
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
98.1595
0Statewide Range849.0614

Lower Turtle Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2011
May
2021
May
Brook trout
fish
9-11 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2011
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2011
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2011
Apr
Crappie
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
87.9346
0Statewide Range84.8403

Lower Turtle Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2011
May
2021
May
Largemouth bass
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
23.8582
0Statewide Range111.1888

Lower Turtle Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2020
Sep
2021
May
Northern pike
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
6.135
0Statewide Range16.72075

Lower Turtle Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2020
Sep
2021
May
Perch
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2021
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2011
May
2021
May
Rock bass
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
0.6817
0Statewide Range62.50905

Lower Turtle Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2021
May
Walleye
fish
7-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
10.8333
0Statewide Range75.60845

Lower Turtle Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2020
Sep
2021
May