Fish Iowa - Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs - North Twin Lake


About North Twin Lake

Surface Area (acres): 453.00
Maximum Depth (feet): 11.7 ft. (2019)
Motoring Restrictions: None
See below for additional location-specific regulations

Location

County: Calhoun
Description: North Twin
Coordinates: 42.48452694, -94.62971419

Nearby Parks

Twin Lakes State Park

Amenities

Amenities at North Twin Lake include:
  • Boat Access
  • Picnic Area
  • Beach
  • Trails
  • Restrooms
  • Camping
  • Hard Surface Boat Ramp

Fishing Report

Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.

Fishing Summary

North twin has historically been dominated by rough fish, including bigmouth buffalo and common carp. 140,000 pounds of buffalo were removed in the spring of 2019 and the water clarity had improved some. If the water clarity improvement is maintained anglers can expect to see better bluegill, crappie, and bass fishing in the coming years. North Twin has a decent walleye population. The densities are not as high relative to other natural lakes in the region, but the fish are large and many of the fish range from 22 to 27 inches. The channel catfish population is strong and there are many fish from 2 to 5 pounds in the lake. Hybrid striped bass, northern pike, and largemouth bass were stocked following the buffalo removal, but it will take several years for these fish to recruit to the creel. Walleye and catfish are stocked on a regular basis. The yellow bass numbers have declined substantially, but their size has improved slightly. - Last updated on 08/01/2019.

Consumption Guidelines

Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.

To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .

Stocking

  • 07/02/2025 - 4,736 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2.0)
  • 05/14/2025 - 226 Muskellunge (13.0)
  • 05/09/2025 - 1,281,844 Walleye (Fry)
  • 9/27/24 - 2,875 Largemouth Bass (5.0)
  • 9/19/24 - 1,360 Channel Catfish (8.0)
  • 4/30 & 5/6/24 2024 - 1,542,300 Walleye (Fry)
  • 11/12/24 - 3,401 Walleye (9.0)
  • 9/28/23 - 2,640 Largemouth Bass (3.7)
  • 6/26/23 - 4,560 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (2)
  • 5/2 & 5/5/23 2023 - 1,355,850 Walleye (Fry)
  • 5/17/23 - 226 Muskellunge (12.5)
  • September 2022 - 3,873 Largemouth Bass (4)
  • May 2022 - 388 Muskellunge (12.8)
  • 9/19/22 - 2,265 Channel Catfish (9.1)
  • 6/16/22 - 4,838 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3)
  • 5/5/22 - 1,402,500 Walleye (Fry)
  • 11/15/22 - 707 Muskellunge (11.8)
  • 11/02/2021 - 2,235 Walleye (9)
  • 10/05/2021 - 1,798 Largemouth Bass (3.8)
  • 06/29/2021 - 9,581 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.7)
  • 05/03/2021 - 1,428,698 Walleye (Fry)
  • 04/08/2021 - 153,188 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • October 2020 - 2,445 Largemouth Bass (5.3)
  • 10/01/2020 - 4,534 Walleye (6.5)
  • 09/21/2020 - 2,270 Channel Catfish (8.3)
  • 04/13/2020 - 476,984 Northern Pike (Fry)
  • 10/25/2019 - 4,223 Largemouth Bass (4.3)
  • 06/25/2019 - 4,550 Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) (1.3)
  • 05/13/2019 - 2,361 Northern Pike (1.22)
  • 05/06/2019 - 1,400,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/19/2018 - 3,458 Walleye (5.1)
  • 10/01/2018 - 2,268 Channel Catfish (8.2)
  • 07/11/2018 - 4,563 Walleye (2.8)
  • 05/14/2018 - 1,366,295 Walleye (Fry)
  • 5/2/2017 - 1,400,000 Walleye (fry)
  • 11/6/2017 - 1,330 Walleye (9.3")
  • 11/6/2017 - 3,204 Walleye (9.3")
  • 4/29/16 - 1,400,000 Walleye (Fry)
  • 10/5/16 - 4,542 Walleye (4.5")

Management

  • 2025 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing as part of a general survey.
  • 2025 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2025 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for Walleye was also conducted at North Twin Lake to assess young of year and adult numbers.
  • 2025 - Commercial Fishing-Other: A total of 13,100 pounds of Bigmouth Buffalo and 2,600 pounds of Common Carp were harvested from North Twin Lake.
  • 2024 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing, summer baited hoop netting, and fall fyke netting as part of a comprehensive survey.
  • 2024 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2024 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for Walleye was also conducted at North Twin Lake to assess young of year and adult numbers.
  • 2024 - Fish Kills-Natural Causes: The dead fish were exclusively Black Bullhead. The Bullheads exhibited lesions around the mouth, fins, and ventral side of the body. The timing of the kill was approximately two to three weeks past the peak spawning period for Bullhead.
  • 2023 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing as part of a general survey.
  • 2023 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2023 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for Walleye was also conducted at North Twin Lake to assess young of year and adult numbers.
  • 2022 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing as part of a general survey.
  • 2022 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2022 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for Walleye was also conducted at North Twin Lake to assess young of year and adult numbers.
  • 2022 - Commercial Fishing-Other: A total of 2,400 pounds of Bigmouth Buffalo and 50 pounds of Common Carp were harvested from North Twin Lake.
  • 2021 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake (Calhoun) to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2021 - Commercial Fishing-Other: North Twin Lake (Calhoun) 15,560 pounds of rough fish harvested.
  • 2020 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing, summer baited hoop netting, and fall fyke netting as part of a comprehensive survey.
  • 2020 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2020 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for Walleye was also conducted at North Twin Lake to assess young of year and adult numbers.
  • 2020 - Commercial Fishing-Other: North Twin Lake was seined once and only caught about 500 to 600 pounds of Bigmouth Buffalo. Iowa State University tagged those fish and released them so no harvest occurred.
  • 2019 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing and fall fyke netting as part of a general survey.
  • 2019 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength and evaluate survival of stocked fishes.
  • 2019 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for Walleye was also conducted at North Twin Lake to assess young of year and adult numbers.
  • 2019 - Commercial Fishing-Other: The contract for North Twin Lake was incentivized with a minimum removal goal of 139,000 pounds of Bigmouth Buffalo. A total of 9,800 pounds of Common Carp and 255,200 pounds of Bigmouth Buffalo were harvested from North Twin Lake.
  • 2019 - Other-Other: Walleye were collected for fish tissue samples as part of the mercury study.
  • 2018 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing and fall fyke netting as part of a general survey.
  • 2018 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength of fishes. No Walleye were found in the efforts, albeit numbers are typically very low at North Twin Lake.
  • 2018 - Survey-Population: DNR hired commercial anglers to conduct a seine haul to collect rough fish for tagging. No rough fish were harvested.
  • 2017 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing and fall fyke netting as part of a general survey.
  • 2017 - Survey-Population: Annual young of year seining was conducted at North Twin Lake to assess year class strength of fishes. No Walleye were found in the efforts, albeit numbers are typically very low at North Twin Lake.
  • 2015 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing, summer baited hoop netting, and fall fyke netting as part of a comprehensive survey.
  • 2015 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night electrofishing for walleye was conducted at North Twin Lake (Calhoun) in October.
  • 2015 - Survey-Population: Annual fall night seining for sampling young of year fish was conducted at North Twin Lake (Calhoun) in August.
  • 2015 - RAFT sampling-RAFT: Samples consisted of tissue plugs from walleye and fillets from channel catfish.
  • 2014 - Survey-Population: Two locations were sampled at night with a 30 foot seine in 2014.
  • 2014 - Other-Other: Fish were collected for tissue samples as part of the mercury research project.
  • 2013 - Survey-Population: Two locations were sampled at night with a 30 foot seine in 2013. Sampling was not conducted in 2012 due to time constraints.
  • 2013 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing as part of a general survey.
  • 2013 - Other-Other: Fish were collected for tissue samples as part of the mercury research study.
  • 2012 - Commercial Fishing-Other: North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Although Ralph Mohn held the contract for North Twin Lake, he did not expend any fishing effort there in 2012. He has dropped his contract for the 2013 citing an overabundance of freshwater drum for which he has no market.
  • 2011 - Survey-Population: Two sites were seined with 30' seine to assess young of year.
  • 2011 - Commercial Fishing-Other: North Twin Lake (Calhoun) was commercially fished for the first time in years and Ralph Mohn was awarded the contract. Only 125 pounds of buffalo, 95 pounds of carp, and 4,000 pounds of freshwater drum were harvested
  • 2010 - Survey-Population: Two sites were seined with 30' seine to assess young of year.
  • 2010 - Survey-Population: Conducted spring electrofishing, summer baited hoop netting, and fall fyke netting as part of a comprehensive survey.

Motoring Restrictions

Motoring Restrictions: None

Contacts for this Location

Fishing Regulations

The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.

Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Curlyleaf Pondweed

To learn more about AIS, visit the Iowa DNR's Aquatic Invasive Species page for more information and resources.

Fish Surveys

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