Size
96ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
Species in Third Lake
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Perch
Crappie
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Muskellunge
Bluegill
Overview
Third Lake Map
Fishing Regulations
Special Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Species Regulations
- Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Cisco And Whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Lake Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass: June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Largemouth Bass: May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Muskellunge And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
- Northern Pike: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
- Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
- Rock, Yellow, And White Bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Rough Fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Round Goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
- Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
- Shovelnose Sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Smallmouth Bass: May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
- Trout: See specific regulations: See Trout Regulations
- Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids: May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027: The minimum length is 15”, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20” to 24” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24” is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
- White Perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office.
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
80°Feels like 80°
--
58°
--58°7:07 AM
6:20 PM
11 mph
South
0 in
Rain
29.77 inHg
Falling
SaturdaySa
-- / 58°
SundaySu
81° / 60°
MondayMo
77° / 43°
TuesdayTu
57° / 37°
WednesdayWe
60° / 38°
ThursdayTh
59° / 37°
Moon Phase
October 10, 2026
0% Illumination
new moon
SaturdaySa10/10
SundaySu10/11
MondayMo10/12
TuesdayTu10/13
WednesdayWe10/14
ThursdayTh10/15
FridayFr10/16
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Top Fish Species
Walleye
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
