TWIN LAKES, Wis. — Thousands of fish have been added to Lake Mary and Lake Elizabeth in Twin Lakes as part of a $10,000 fish-stocking initiative designed to support the lakes’ fish populations and recreational fishing opportunities. The project, completed over two days on October 21 and November 11, 2026, brought four species of fish into the lakes through Keystone Hatcheries of Richmond, Illinois.
The Twin Lakes Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District approved the $10,000 expenditure during its August 2025 annual meeting. The stocking plan was subsequently developed by the district’s Water Quality, Lake Habitat, Fish and Fishing Committee, which considered fish population surveys, recommendations from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the needs of each lake.
The stocking included smallmouth bass in both lakes, bluegill in Lake Mary, and black crappie and yellow perch in Lake Elizabeth. Approximately two-thirds of the funding was allocated to Lake Elizabeth and one-third to Lake Mary, reflecting the approximate difference in acreage between the two lakes.
The selection of species was influenced by a comprehensive DNR fisheries survey conducted in 2025. DNR fisheries biologist Travis Motl, who oversees fisheries resources in portions of southeastern Wisconsin, presented information about the lakes’ fish populations during the district’s August 2026 annual meeting. The committee also considered information indicating that northern pike were reproducing naturally and that the DNR was already stocking walleye under an established program.
The first round of stocking occurred October 21, when approximately 850 bluegill, measuring six inches or larger, were delivered for Lake Mary. Lake Elizabeth also received approximately 1,352 black crappie measuring four to six inches. The deliveries were documented through invoices from Keystone Hatcheries.
A second round took place November 11, when smallmouth bass and yellow perch were delivered. Lake Mary received 183 smallmouth bass, including 30 measuring four to six inches and 153 measuring six to eight inches. Lake Elizabeth received 366 smallmouth bass, including 60 measuring four to six inches and 306 measuring six to eight inches.
Lake Elizabeth also received 104 pounds of yellow perch measuring six inches or larger during the November 11 delivery. The exact number of perch was not specified, but hatchery records indicated an estimated three to nine fish per pound. The smallmouth bass were distributed between the two lakes at a ratio of approximately two to one, with Lake Elizabeth receiving the larger share.
The district’s stocking recommendations were unanimously approved by the four committee members who voted during a September 2026 meeting. The Twin Lakes Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Steering Council subsequently approved the recommendations on September 19, clearing the way for the fall deliveries.
Keystone Hatcheries, a fish supplier based in Richmond, Illinois, handled the stocking. The company specializes in gamefish and pond supplies and transported the fish to Twin Lakes for distribution into the lakes.
Twin Lakes Village Trustee Bob Livingston, who was elected in April 2026, was present during the November 11 stocking of smallmouth bass in Lake Mary. Livingston observed and supervised the activity, providing local elected-official oversight as the fish were introduced into the lake.
The stocking project represents a continued investment in the recreational fishing opportunities available to Twin Lakes residents and visitors. By using DNR survey information to select species and allocating resources between Lake Mary and Lake Elizabeth, the district sought to support the long-term health and diversity of the lakes’ fish populations.
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