Any water pump guru's here??

Depends on the pump. Some will. Elevation is one factor, but distance can be too. Are you talkign having the pump right above the water or sucking through a hose that slopes that 4 feet elevation over 200 feet away?

Be sure to put a foot valve on too.

A above ground pool pump is below the surface level of the water so that that type of pump need not be good at creating a vacuum at the inlet.

I would think that that type of pump would have a difficult time self priming at four feet. Try to locate the pump as close to the level of the water as possible.

through a hose that slopes that 4 feet elevation over 200 feet away?

Yes, I think that's right.

I use my pool's own pump to empty it when that needs to be done, and once it gets started, it has no problem draining it all the way down - six feet plus maybe a foot the pump is elevated above the top of the pool. But if it ever loses its prime, it can't get it back beyond a foot or so down.

When it's driving air, the pump's impeller just can't create enough vacuum to lift water very far.

But may should work ok if you put it close to lake level and let it push the water uphill.