Moose

Moose Lake has been managed with a reduced bag limit for sunfish since 2016 when a 10 fish bag limit was enacted. This bag limit was further reduced to 5 fish in 2021. Trap netting and daytime electrofishing were performed throughout the month of May 2023 in an effort to calculate a population estimate of Bluegills 175 mm (about 7 inches) and larger. The combined trap netting and electrofishing work resulted in the marking of 662 Bluegill. Recapture efforts produced very few fish and only a single recaptured individual. The failure of recapture efforts to produce an adequate sample or sufficient recaptures resulted in the inability to calculate a statistically valid population estimate. Since only fish over 175 mm were measured, comparisons of size structure to past trap net assessments would not be suitable. The largest Bluegill sampled was 9.6 inches. Trap netting provided a large sample of Black Crappie totaling 1,515 fish of which 336 were measured. All size groups between 8 and 10.9 inches were strongly represented and mean length was 9.6 inches. Fish exceeding 10 inches accounted for 36% of the catch but only 1% were over 12 inches. Black Crappie growth rates are good. The present crappie population offers an abundance of harvestable size fish. A large sample of Largemouth Bass was also caught in the trap nets. A total of 308 bass were observed and 184 were measured. Bass ranged in length from 6.6 to 19.7 inches and mean length was 13.9 inches. Only one bass over 18 inches was captured. Moose Lake has an abundant bass population where anglers can experience high catch rates of medium sized bass (12-16 inches). A total of nine Northern Pike were captured in the trap nets and the catch was predominantly larger fish. Mean length was 30.7 inches and two fish over 38 inches were observed. Eight Walleye were also captured and 6 of the 8 appeared to be yearling fish from the 2022 fingerling stocking.

Moose Lake is a 129 acre bass/panfish lake located near Burtrum, MN. A population estimate for Largemouth Bass was conducted in the fall of 2020 on Moose Lake. Fish were captured via daytime electrofishing performed during six separate days from September 1 to October 1. The original intent was to complete this daytime electrofishing survey in the spring, however staff/time shortages and workload priorities resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic required this population estimate to be moved to the fall. Water temperatures dropped from 73F to 58F during the month-long sampling period. All bass 250 mm (10 inches) or greater were netted and marked with a partial left pelvic fin clip. Smaller bass were not netted therefore catch rates and size structure comparisons cannot be made to electrofishing efforts from previous years. No aging structures were collected. Moose Lake has had special regulations in place for Largemouth Bass since 1996 consisting of a 12 inch maximum size limit. The goal of this regulation has been to improve the size structure within the bass population and it has succeeded in producing a higher proportion of bass from 12-17 inches. Electrofishing provided an overall sample of 641 measured fish and a catch rate of 77.5/hr. for bass 250 mm or larger. Bass over 12 inches comprised 79% of the catch though fish over 16 inches accounted for only about 7% of the total and just 4 fish exceeded 18 inches. The largest fish observed was 19.6 inches. Calculations produced a population estimate of 2,495 bass that were 250 mm or longer. Population estimates for Largemouth Bass have been conducted in the past on two other similar size lakes, Pierz Fish and Green Prairie Fish. The estimate for Pierz Fish Lake was 2,906 bass 200 mm or longer and the Green Prairie population was estimated at 1,813 bass 200 mm or longer. A significant sample of Bluegill was also netted and measured during the September 25 effort to assess the viability of fall electrofishing targeting sunfish. These fish are not documented in this report as the data was added to the targeted spring Bluegill electrofishing also completed in 2020. Fall water temperatures of 60-67F appeared to be the most productive for sampling Bluegill and Black Crappie with electrofishing gear. Large numbers of juvenile bass (under 250 mm) especially young-of-year were noted during the early September visits as were roughly 10 yearling Walleye. Adult Common Carp were common along the east shore in early September and some juveniles were also observed. Yellow Perch were also common with some adults up to 11 inches long. Golden Shiners were especially abundant in the earliest effort. Northern Pike were seen in their highest numbers during the latest sampling on October 1.

A standard survey using six gill nets was completed on July 27-29, 2020. Bluegill were most commonly caught followed by Yellow Bullhead and Largemouth Bass. Additionally, Bluegill were targeted using daytime electrofishing rather than trap nets due to Covid working guidelines. Moose Lake is a small, 124-acre lake with moderately-high nutrient fertility. Water clarity is usually reduced due to algal blooms, however, our July 2020 water clarity measurement was 8.5 feet which is not bad. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Bluegills with Walleyes also stocked to provide an additional fishery to the public. Walleye fingerlings were stocked in 2013, 2015 and 2019. Subsequent surveys using gillnets to determine fingerling contributions to the adult fishery indicate that the 2013 and 2015 stockings were successful, with these fish now measuring 17.7-20.7 inches. A single fish from the 2019 stocking was caught and it measured 7.5 inches indicating this year class is not yet large enough to be caught efficiently with gill nets (typically 10 inches and larger fish are vulnerable to capture). Several yearling Walleye were observed during fall electrofishing. Moose Lake supports a Bluegill population that has the potential to develop into a high quality fishery (identified as Bluegills commonly reaching 9-10 inches and larger). For this reason, a special bag limit regulation went into effect March 1, 2021 limiting an angler's possession limit to five sunfish. Bag-reduction regulations for sunfish have been shown to improve the average size of Bluegills. Bluegill greater than eight inches made up 23% of the fall electrofishing sample and six fish over nine inches were captured. The vast majority of lakes in the Little Falls Area will continue to have the statewide 20-fish limit. Only a few lakes showing the highest potential to grow large Bluegill were selected for bag-reduction regulations. Individual lengths from angler-caught sunfish as well as those collected by traditional survey nets have been completed during 2020/21 and earlier in order to determine progress towards the goals of the regulation. While fishing for sunfish it is best to limit harvesting the largest individuals, especially the males. Large males exhibit the best growth rates and also discourage the behavior of smaller, slower growing males from spawning. Studies show that it's important for sunfish to use their energy for body growth rather than gonadal development at a young age and small size. Male Bluegill can usually be discerned from females by their more pronounced coloration and darker orange breast. At this time, Northern Pike abundance is not problematic in Moose Lake. Often times, small pike become over-abundant, causing negative impacts to other competitors and occasionally to the entire fish community. The average number of pike we see in the gill nets is about 2.9 fish/net which is below average for most lakes in the area. Currently, about 22% of the pike population is 28 inches or larger, better than many lakes similar in character. The average length in the sample was 23.7 inches. A total of 26 Black Crappies were caught in 2020 gill nets ranging in size from 5.9-12.2 inches. Yellow perch, an important prey species have been declining in abundance since 2004. This is not uncommon but somewhat puzzling given that Walleye and Northern Pike are not very abundant. Due to the small size of Moose Lake, it's possible that perch abundance can be impacted by lower levels of predation and/or the substantial bass population present.

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

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

Moose has a maximum depth of 26 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Moose is from 2020.

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