Moon Lake in Douglas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Douglas County, Minnesota, is where Moon Lake sits. It sits in rolling bush country. It measures about 130 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs about 2.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Alexandria lies 11 miles from the water. It is 86 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Moon Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Douglas County cover largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Moon Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 70°F and January about 8°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Moon Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Loves Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat Moon Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.