Moose Lake
Moose Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 132.66 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 67 ft
- Area
- 133 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Moose Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Moose Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Moose Lake is a 133-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 67 feet (23-foot average). The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Moose Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Moose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moose Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Moose Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 67 ft |
| Average Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 133 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Moose Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-06-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 43.92 | 0.97 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.57 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.76 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.64 | 1.49 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.19 | 0.22 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 1.70 | 0.85 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2009-06-15 survey
Moose is a 125 acre lake with 41 acres (33%) of littoral area and a maximum depth of 67 feet. Moose Lake (also known as Little Moose Lake) is located two miles east of the Town of Moose Lake off County Hwy #137. Moose Lake has a privately owned campground with a sand boat access. Moose Lake was last surveyed in 1999.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Moose Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Moose (0265)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Moose (2026)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.035 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1998-04-06 (1998) | 2022-05-05 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-29 (2023) | 2024-12-05 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Moose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Moose Lake?
- Moose Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 132.66 acres.
Is Moose Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Moose Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Moose Lake?
- Moose Lake has a maximum depth of 67 feet and an average depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 132.66 acres.
What fish are in Moose Lake?
- Fish species found in Moose Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Moose Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Moose Lake thaw?
- Moose Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Explore Moose Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA41 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate