Little Moose

Little Moose Lake is located 12 miles northeast of Deer River, Minnesota. The 271-acre lake has 123 littoral acres, a maximum depth of 23 feet. Little Moose is managed primarily for Black Crappie and Bluegill while secondarily for Muskie, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Spring targeted sampling for panfish had never occurred on Little Moose prior to 2025. Black Crappie were collected as part of a research project investigating populations across Minnesota. The spring trap net survey collected a total of 303 crappie. Individuals averaged 8.9 inches with the largest being 12.4 inches. Growth was rapid with age-3 fish averaging 8.9 inches. The oldest fish was 10. Annual mortality or the percentage of the population that dies each year was 35%, which was similar to other Minnesota lakes with comparable habitat. Bluegill data were also collected during the 2025 spring survey. The Bluegill population could be characterized as having moderate numbers with a quality size distribution. The 292 sampled fish ranged from 5.6 to 10.1 inches and averaged 8.2 inches. Fish from age 3 to 9 were estimated with age-5 fish dominating the sample. Growth was fast compared to estimates reported for other lakes with similar habitat. The average fish exceeded 8 inches between five and six years of growth.

Little Moose is a shallow, moderately productive lake located 14 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, MN. The outlet of Little Moose Lake flows into Moose Lake that flows into the Deer River and eventually to the Mississippi River. Navigation of the channel is limited to a determined person in a canoe/kayak. The lake has an earthen public access with limited parking and low shoreline development. Little Moose supports a variety of aquatic vegetation species with habitat for Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Northern Pike and panfish. The 2012 lake management plan indicates Muskie as the primary species of management with Black crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike as secondary species. The management goals were to: maintain a Muskie population with 60-80% longer than 30 inches and 10-30% longer than 42 inches, provide Black Crappie and Bluegill fisheries with the opportunity to catch some 10-inch crappie and 8-inch Bluegill, provide a pike fishery having a catch of 5.0/gill net with 50% longer than 21 inches and 10% longer than 28 inches, and provide a limited Walleye fishery through natural reproduction and immigration from Moose Lake. A standard survey was conducted in August 2023 to assess the status of the fishery. The survey used 6 gill nets and 9 trap nets but gears targeting bass and Muskie were not included. The 2023 survey included additional sampling of near shore fish species in order to calculate an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score. The IBI information is available in a separate report. Black crappie were effectively sampled with gill nets (8.7 fish/net) and trap nets (3.0 fish/net) in the 2023 survey. Catches for both gears were high compared to other lakes with similar habitat. The trap-net catch was typical for Little Moose Lake but high in the gill nets. The gill-net sampled fish ranged from 4.5 to 12.3 inches and averaged 8.4 inches while the trap net sampled fish ranged from 4.3 to 11.4 inches and averaged 8.2 inches. Nine year-classes from 1 to 10 years old were identified from scales. Growth was slow compared to similar lakes. The fish averaged 8.5 inches after four years of growth. The slower growth is consistent with the higher density population. Anglers should expect good action of moderate sized crappie. Trap-net catch rates for Bluegill have been lower in all but one survey. The catch was 2.3 fish/trap net in 2023. The sampled Bluegill ranged from 3.9 to 8.9 inches and averaged 6.6 inches. Six year-classes were identified from scales ranging from age 2 to age 8. Age-3 fish were the most commonly sampled. Growth rates have improved compared to prior surveys with fish approaching 8 inches after five years. The population should provide good angling opportunities at times. Northern Pike catches have fluctuated from 4.5 to 12.2 fish/gill net since 1974. The pike catch of 10.8/gill net in 2023 was the second highest recorded for the lake. The sampled fish ranged from 16.2 to 35.8 inches but only averaged 20.4 inches. Seven year-classes from age 1 to 9 were estimated from bony structures. Nearly 70% of the sample were age 3 and 4. Growth was similar to statewide averages through age 4 with fish averaging 20.5 inches. The few larger fish sampled grew faster than the statewide average. Anglers can expect to have relatively fast action from smaller pike but are encouraged to release larger fish. Walleye catches have ranged from 0.3 to 3.0 since 1979. The two most recent surveys (2011 and 2023) experienced the lowest catches on record. The 2023 catch of 0.3 fish/gill net was also low compared to other lakes with similar habitat. The two sampled fish were 20.9 and 26.4 inches. The sample size was too low to evaluate age and growth. The population has been maintained by immigration from Moose Lake since good spawning habitat is limited in Little Moose Lake. The low catches in Little Moose reflect the poor recruitment experienced in Moose Lake in the last 12 years. Yellow Perch catches have been above average for this type of lake in most surveys. The perch catch declined from 28.2/gill net in 2011 to 3.8/gill net in 2023. The 2023 catch was the lowest on record. The sampled fish ranged from 5.9 to 9.5 inches and averaged 7.1 inches. Based on the size distribution, anglers would not likely target perch but they remain an important part of the fish community as a prey species. Other species observed during the survey included Bowfin, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass and Yellow Bullhead. Additional species observed during IBI sampling included Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Common Shiner, Golden Shiner, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Mimic Shiner, Northern Sunfish and Spottail Shiner.

Little Moose Lake is in ecological lake class 31 and is located 6 miles northeast of Deer River, MN, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 271 acres and has a maximum depth of 23 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area fisheries staff beginning on 3 July, 2023. Ten sampling sites (100 feet long) were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at 7 sites using the 15-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 19 different species: 12 species by seining and 13 species by backpack electrofishing. The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report. Nearshore catches will be used with the gill net and trap net data from the standard survey conducted on 14 August, 2023, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Muskellunge, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Rock Bass in Little Moose. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Little Moose has a maximum depth of 23 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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