Moosehorn Lake
Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16001500
DNR records show 6 stocking entries at Moosehorn Lake since 2016, most recently splake fingerlings in 2024 (6,000 fish).
- Moosehorn Lake has 6 DNR stocking records across 6 years (2016-2024): splake (6).
- The most-stocked species by count is splake: 28,762 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 9 ft; surface area 66 acres, 66 littoral acres, 2.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.8 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: splake.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Cook County, nearest town Hovland; DNR lake number (DOW) 16001500.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Splake | fingerlings | 6,000 | 188.9 |
| 2022 | Splake | fingerlings | 6,000 | 158.7 |
| 2020 | Splake | fingerlings | 2,000 | 64.9 |
| 2019 | Splake | fingerlings | 4,000 | 107.5 |
| 2018 | Splake | fingerlings | 4,762 | 234.6 |
| 2016 | Splake | fingerlings | 6,000 | 146.3 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | Minnesota DNR |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splake | Standard gill nets | 29.00 | 58 | 0.93 |
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.
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.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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