Moonshine Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31044400
DNR records show 11 stocking entries at Moonshine Lake since 2016, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (169 fish).
- Moonshine Lake has 11 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (11).
- The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 20,326 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 68 ft; surface area 26 acres, 10 littoral acres, 0.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 7.5 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: rainbow trout.
- 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Grand Rapids; DNR lake number (DOW) 31044400.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 169 | 128.9 |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 500 | 277.8 |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 500 | 294.1 |
| 2023 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 500 | 294.1 |
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 500 | 277.8 |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 3,740 | 108.4 |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 2,546 | 61.5 |
| 2019 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 2,560 | 81.8 |
| 2018 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 2,521 | 66.9 |
| 2017 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 4,283 | 90.0 |
| 2016 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 2,507 | 88.4 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | USF | Carry down access north east corner of lake. |
| CA | USF | About 150 yds south of parking lot for main access. Mostly a shore fishing location. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FND | 1/2-in trap nets | 5.20 | 104 | 0.00 |
| Rainbow trout | 1/2-in trap nets | 0.45 | 9 | 1.47 |
| Northern redbelly dace | 1/2-in trap nets | 0.15 | 3 | 0.00 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Moonshine Lake is 25 acres and located in the Chippewa National Forest and administered by the U.S. Forest Service. The lake is located within the Trout Lake Semi-primitive Non-motorized Area. The entire area is closed to all motorized traffic or use except for Forest Road #3494. There is a small, earthen, carry-in access and multiple shore-fishing spots located at the end of #3494. The 2021 management plan lists Rainbow Trout as a primary management species with a goal of providing a put-and-take trout fishery. Moonshine Lake is a designated trout lake and has been managed as such since 1961. Rainbow Trout have been stocked annually since 1968. Past management mainly consisted of fall fingerling stocking with a put-grow-take philosophy. Success was inconsistent and generally fell short of management goals. Poor over-summer survival was speculated. Stocking was adjusted to annual, fall yearling stocking with the 2021 management plan. The Rainbow Trout catch rate was 0.5/net. The sampled fish averaged 15.3 inches and are from the 2022 stocking. These fish were two years old and demonstrated annual survival. This prolonged survival is conducive to attaining management goals. The adjusted stocking plan appeared to align with management goals.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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