North Branch Pelican River

Size
NA
Boat Launch
No
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in North Branch Pelican River

Overview

North Branch Pelican River Map

Features

The Moen Chain consists of 5 interconnected bodies of water, Moen Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, Fourth Lake and Fifth Lake. The channels connecting the lakes are big enough for boat traffic and offer good fishing. Even though the Moen Chain can receive a lot of fishing pressure, fishing can be outstanding. With the average depth of 14.8- feet, the chain is relatively shallow. The shallowness of the lake means 3 things, weeds can grow relatively fast and thick (depending on water clarity), water warms up fast and locks up with ice fast during the winter. With the chain being relatively shallow, finding a fishing pattern can be easy. For example, if the fish are biting on a weedline with a certain bottom composition, you can replicate it in a different areas.

Forage

The primary forge species for this chain are small panfish, golden shiner, white sucker and redhorse sucker.

Seasonal Movements

After ice out, the walleye will make their spawning run to the Pelican River, Gudegast Creek and Twins Lake Creek. Shortly after that the muskie and northern pike will make their way to shallow marshy bays. After game fish season opens, the smallmouth, largemouth and crappie will be spawning on rocky, hard bottom or lightly weedy, shallow bays. When the water temperatures get into the high 60’s, low 70’s, the bluegill will make their way to the shallows to spawn. Look for hard or rocky bottoms.

Weather

Current Weather Icon
54°Feels like 54°
High Temperature70°
Low Temperature42°
Sunrise
6:35 AM
Sunset
7:08 PM
Wind Direction
9 mph
South
Precipitation
0 in
Rain
Pressure
29.88 inHg
Falling
Partly Cloudy
TuesdayTu
70° / 42°
Partly Cloudy
WednesdayWe
67° / 49°
Partly Cloudy
ThursdayTh
72° / 49°
Mostly Cloudy with Scattered Showers
FridayFr
68° / 53°
Mostly Cloudy with Scattered Showers
SaturdaySa
70° / 50°
Partly Cloudy with Scattered Showers
SundaySu
65° / 46°

Moon Phase

waxing crescent
September 15, 2026
20% Illumination
waxing crescent, getting brighter
Moon Rise and Set
Moon Rise 11:52 AM
Moon Set 8:45 PM
Moon Overhead Underfoot
Overhead 4:22 PM
Underfoot 3:58 AM
waxing crescent
TuesdayTu09/15
waxing crescent
WednesdayWe09/16
waxing crescent
ThursdayTh09/17
first quarter
FridayFr09/18
waxing gibbous
SaturdaySa09/19
waxing gibbous
SundaySu09/20
waxing gibbous
MondayMo09/21
Waterbody poster background

Get Your Line in the Right Water

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Top Fish Species

Muskellunge
Muskellunge
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths