Moosehorn

Moosehorn Lake is a small, 64-acre lake with a maximum depth of 9.0 feet and is located 18 miles northeast of Grand Marais. Access to the lake is considered difficult, with a 2.5 mile drive down a rough two track (Tower Road) and then a 0.5 portage to reach the lake. Wintertime access may be easier for anglers who use snowmobiles to reach the lake from the Irish Creek Road. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations in Moosehorn Lake have supported conditions that are favorable for stocked trout during the summertime. Moosehorn Lake is currently managed for splake and is stocked with 6,000 fingerlings during the fall of even numbered years. The long-range goal for splake is to maintain a minimum gillnet catch of 10.0 fish/net with two catchable sized (> 10 inches) year classes present. In 2025, a targeted survey was conducted on Moosehorn Lake to assess the splake population. Splake catch rates and sizes were exceptional during the 2025 survey on Moosehorn Lake. The 2025 catch rate from gillnets was 29.0 fish/net and higher than most of the previous surveys, exceeding the management goal for the lake. Splake lengths ranged from 7.6 to 20.0 inches, with an average length of 13.2 inches. Thirty-one percent of the catch was larger than 13.0 inches, indicating good size structure. Age analysis found one, three, and five-year-old splake from the 2024, 2022, and 2020 stocking events. Splake growth in Moosehorn Lake was excellent, with some fish reaching 12.0 inches in size after just one year. Habitat in Moosehorn Lake remains excellent for splake, with minimal stressful temperatures or lack of oxygen during stressful summer months. Anglers looking to fish Moosehorn Lake should expect to work harder getting into the lake but be rewarded with high catches of larger sized splake. Minnesota Lakes within Cook County continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions.

Moosehorn is a designated stream trout lake that has been stocked with Brook Trout or Splake since 1967. This was the first of two surveys scheduled in the current (2009) lake management plan to evaluate a change in stocking that began after 2010. At that time, the Splake stocking frequency was changed from annual to even-numbered years only, with no change in the number of fish stocked (6,000 fingerlings/stocking). It was hoped that the change could be made while still meeting long term goals for the lake (a minimum of 10.0 Splake/gill net, two year classes over 10 inches present) while improving conditions for average or better growth. With only two sets made, little confidence can be placed on the results of a single survey in this lake; however, numbers from the 2016 survey were encouraging. Splake seemed to have been abundant, and the gill net catch was similar to catches seen under annual stocking (14.5-35.5 fish/gill net set in 1991-2010). The two year classes contributing to the catch both averaged 10 inches or more in length. Our expectations for Splake growth were not met; growth appeared to have been slower than average, with fish reaching a mean length of 12.8 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 15.1 inches. Slow Splake growth could be attributed to high competition between Splake (high numbers of Splake), or to poor water quality (high summer water temperatures in this shallow lake). Competition from other species was probably not a factor, since no undesirable fish species were taken in 2016. Although White Sucker have been found in this lake, their numbers appear to have remained low and none have been collected since 1991. Temperature-oxygen conditions were to have been measured in late August 2016; however, poor access and a lack of staff and equipment kept us out of the lake at that time. Several area lakes that were tested in 2016, most deeper than Moosehorn Lake, exhibited marginal temperature-oxygen conditions for Brook Trout or Splake by the end of the summer. High water temperatures (over 68 F) would be stressful for Splake and could result in poor growth, particularly among larger fish. Because Moosehorn Lake is fairly shallow, cold water with sufficient oxygen typically found in deeper waters may be lacking.

Splake were abundant in Moosehorn Lake in 2010, and fair numbers of fish over 12 inches in length were present. Survival of recent stockings had been good, and fish one to four years of age contributed to the 2010 catch. Splake growth had been slightly slower than average for the area. Three-year-old fish averaged 12.5 inches in length at the end of their third year, compared to an area mean of 13.0 inches. Although white sucker were probably present, none were taken in this assessment. White sucker have never been abundant in Moosehorn Lake, and are probably not a factor limiting splake growth or survival in this lake. No other undesirable fish species were found or reported in Moosehorn Lake in 2010.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Brook Trout and Splake in Moosehorn. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Moosehorn. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Moosehorn has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Moosehorn is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Moosehorn in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.