Moose Lake

From the Minnesota DNR:

Moose Lake, better known as Big Moose Lake, is located about six miles northeast of Pennington. It is in lake class 25 which is a group of lakes described as deep and clear with hardwater and irregular shorelines. Bemidji area lakes in the class include Balm, Beltrami, Big Buzzle, Gilstad, Movil, Pimushe and Turtle River Lake. Primary management is for walleye with secondary species listed as largemouth bass, bluegill, and northern pike. It is being monitored as a comparison lake for special regulations of largemouth bass and black crappie that have been implemented on some similar lakes. Walleye are stocked during alternate years to supplement natural reproduction. The 1996 assessment sampled walleye at nearly double the average for comparable lakes. The average weight of 1.1 pounds is lower than most lakes but is a result of strong year classes in 1993, 1994 and 1995. The average length of walleye sampled was 14.0 inches and the largest was 29.5 inches. Northern pike are also above average in abundance though they are lower than during assessments in 1982 and 1989. Average weights have fluctuated and the present 2.3 pounds is a little above average. Some pike have Neascus (black spot) but the incidence is low. Yellow perch are abundant and have always been above the lake class average. The average weight is one-fifth pound at the high end of normal range. Neascus and yellow grubs were noted on some perch. They are unsightly but do not affect eating quality. Bluegill are also very high in abundance at nearly double the normal range. With a mean weight of one-third pound and with 40% of them greater than seven inches, they are attractive to many anglers. Pumpkinseed sunfish are also present. They are not as abundant as bluegill and the average size is smaller. Rock bass are about average in abundance and size. Largemouth bass are common in Moose Lake though our standard sampling effort does not show it. Average size from netting was 3/4 pounds and 9.7 inches, but special sampling by electrofishing in 1995 and 1996 found bass over 20 inches. Black crappie were also sampled at a low abundance during the standard assessment though special spring netting suggests that a good population exists. Crappies captured during special sampling averaged 11.4 inches long with some exceeding 14 inches. Brown bullheads are present at near average abundance and the average weight of 0.7 pounds is near the class average. Black bullheads are present but uncommon.

Minnesota Fishing

Minnesota Fishing

Minnesota Fishing Reports

Minnesota Fishing Resorts