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Thomson Reservoir

Twin Lakes · Carlton · Thomson, Minnesota — Carlton County.

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342Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 107075016).

Location & fast facts

Where Thomson Reservoir is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Thomson Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Thomson Reservoir

  • County: Carlton
  • Shore towns: Twin Lakes, Carlton, Thomson
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 124 mi from Minneapolis and 17 mi from Duluth, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Minnesota

Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Fishing. Walleye, Northern pike, Smallmouth bass and Black crappie
  • Camping. 16 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake survey (Minnesota DNR)

22 ftMaximum depth
390Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black bullhead, Black crappie, Channel catfish, Northern pike, Rock bass, Shorthead redhorse, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, White sucker, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 283 of 390 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Thomson Reservoir (DOW 09000100), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Thomson Reservoir shoreline

½ mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons) data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 107075016), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Thomson Reservoir

We found 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Thomson Reservoir, 7 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

10 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Minnesota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (46.6712, -92.4078). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Thomson Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Thomson Reservoir

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Thomson Reservoir

    How big is Thomson Reservoir?

    Thomson Reservoir covers about 342 acres in Twin Lakes, Carlton and Thomson, Minnesota (Carlton County).

    How deep is Thomson Reservoir?

    The maximum recorded depth is 22 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Thomson Reservoir?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Walleye, Northern pike, Smallmouth bass, Black crappie, Yellow perch, Channel catfish, Rock bass, Black bullhead, Shorthead redhorse and White sucker.

    Are there campgrounds near Thomson Reservoir?

    Yes. We list 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 7 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Thomson Reservoir?

    Thomson Reservoir touches Twin Lakes, Carlton and Thomson in Carlton County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Thomson Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in Twin Lakes