Fourth Lake

Fourth Lake

Size
252ac
Boat Launch
No
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Fourth Lake
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Perch
Perch
Crappie
Crappie
Northern pike
Northern pike
Bluegill
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass

Overview

Fourth 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 Waterbody Regulations

  • Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the MOEN CHAIN including FIFTH LAKE, MOEN LAKE, SECOND LAKE, THIRD LAKE Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.

Special Species Regulations

  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Bluegill: See Panfish.
  • White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
  • Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: 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
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, 25 panfish may be kept, but only 10 of any one species

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.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2019
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2019
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2007
Jun
2019
May
Crappie
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2019
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2019
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2007
Jun
2016
May
2019
May
Largemouth bass
fish
20-27 in
Length Range
24 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
2.6858
0Statewide Range111.1888

Fourth Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
May
2024
Oct
Muskellunge
fish
20-27 in
Length Range
24 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
4.4763
0Statewide Range6.56125

Fourth Lake Muskellunge abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
Sep
2024
Oct
Northern pike
fish
19-26 in
Length Range
23 in
Length Range
2012
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2012
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2011
Sep
2012
Oct
Perch
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2019
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2019
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2007
Jun
2016
May
2019
May
Pumpkinseed
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2019
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2019
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2007
Jun
2019
May
Rock bass
fish
6-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2019
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2019
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
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
2007
Jun
2019
May
Smallmouth bass
fish
20-27 in
Length Range
24 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
2.6858
0Statewide Range80.5292

Fourth Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
Sep
2024
Oct
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201918
Walleye
fish
20-27 in
Length Range
24 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
8.9526
0Statewide Range75.60845

Fourth Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2019
Sep
2024
Oct