Minnesota · Kandiyohi County
Elizabeth (Main Lake) Fishing guide
Elizabeth (Main Lake) is a 1,024-acre lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, reaching 9 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.7per gill net6"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 62 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 9 fish
2024Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2023Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 62 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2020Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeOne of the best around16per gill net21"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 75 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 75 fish
2022Lengths measured · 26 fish
2016Lengths measured · 27 fish
2011Lengths measured · 27 fish
2006BluegillJust a few10.1per trap net5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 107 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 107 fish
2022Lengths measured · 88 fish
2016Lengths measured · 43 fish
2011Lengths measured · 1717 fish
2006Yellow perchOne of the best around43per gill net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 133 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 133 fish
2022Lengths measured · 37 fish
2016Lengths measured · 65 fish
2011Lengths measured · 77 fish
2006No recent survey rating.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Elizabeth (Main Lake) through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 3.3 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.3 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 5" | — |
| 2023 | — | 6" | — |
| 2022 | 31" | 27" | 8" |
| 2020 | — | 5" | — |
| 2019 | — | 11" | — |
| 2018 | — | 8" | — |
| 2017 | — | 10" | — |
| 2016 | 29" | 21" | 15" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 666,800 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 350,890 fry · 2,254 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 502,061 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 512,732 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 513,142 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 251,955 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 205,472 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 510,003 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 820,516 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted fall daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on Lake Elizabeth during August 27, 2024 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to fry stocking/natural reproduction. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). The 2024 fall daytime electrofishing survey was conducted at three stations for a total of 30 minutes. Water levels were high. Submergent vegetation was sparse (i.e., sago pondweed). Water clarity was poor (<2 feet) due to a blue-green algae bloom. Water temperature was at 78 F. A light north wind with cloudy conditions were present during the survey. We observed abundant numbers of YOY Largemouth Bass, YOY Yellow Perch, adult Common Carp and Bigmouth Buffalo in the 2024 fall daytime electrofishing survey. Moderate numbers of Northern Pike are also present in Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is a large (1,023 acres), shallow (9 feet maximum depth), turbid, periodically aerated and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. A significant winterkill of Walleye and Common Carp with a lesser degree of Northern Pike and Yellow Perch occurred during the 2022-23 winter. Many of the dead fish were observed in the access bay adjacent to the Ella Outlet. The surface aerators were run the entire 2022-23 winter (Northeast side of Elizabeth), but the fish kill occurred primarily on the northwest side of the lake. Lake Ella also experienced a significant winterkill of Walleye and Common Carp. The Elizabeth ice out trapnetting catch (9 single frame sets during late April of 2023) consisted of numerous adult Northern Pike and Black Bullhead in addition to low numbers of adult Common Carp, Walleye and Black Crappie. Poor conditions such as high snowfall, long winter duration, low water and high aquatic vegetation contributed to the winterkill severity in many local lakes during the 2022-23 winter. The aeration system did provide a refuge for some gamefish to survive in Elizabeth. A moderate size Cormorant rookery is located on one of the smaller islands.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye natural reproduction in Elizabeth is sporadic during most years based on previous surveys. Although, adequate windswept shoal water substrates for good Walleye spawning habitat are present in Elizabeth. Walleye egg take had periodically occurred on Elizabeth for statewide quotas from 2011-2022. Elizabeth contributed 30+ quarts of Walleye eggs in 2014 and 2018-2022. The highest amount of Walleye eggs taken was in 2021 (160 quarts). Walleye fry (0.3-1.0 million) had been stocked generally every other year from 1983 to 2013 in Elizabeth. Only Spicer Strain Walleye have been stocked in Elizabeth since 2005. Approximately 1.0 million Walleye fry were stocked in 2013 and 2014 (part of a 10% return for Walleye egg take). No Walleye fry were stocked in 2015. Approximately 820,000 fry were stocked in 2016. There were about 500,000 Spicer strain Walleye fry stocked in 2017. There were 205,000 Walleye fry stocked in Elizabeth during 2018 (part of egg take return). In 2019, 252,00 Walleye fry were stocked in Elizabeth. No Walleye fry were stocked or eggs taken in 2020 due to Covid. About 500,000 Walleye fry were stocked in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Both Walleye fry (350,890 fish) and fingerlings (2,254 fish, 322 pounds) were stocked in 2024.
Moderate young of year "YOY" Walleye numbers were collected in both 2024 (18.00 YOY/hour, 5.30 inches) and 2023 (16.80 YOY/hour, 5.66 inches) daytime electrofishing surveys. Abundant YOY (92.00 YOY/hour, 6.02 inches) were captured in a 2022 daytime electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye are probably more numerous than documented in 2022-2024 due to daytime electrofishing being less effective than nighttime electrofishing for catching YOY Walleye. A fall electrofishing survey was not conducted in Elizabeth during 2021. Low YOY Walleye numbers (1.00 YOY/hour, 5.63 inches) due to natural reproduction were captured in 2020 fall night electrofishing survey. Abundant YOY (80.00 YOY/hour, 6.52 inches) and Yearling Walleye numbers (24.00 fish/hour, 10.64 inches) were captured in the 2019 fall night electrofishing survey. Moderate YOY Walleye numbers (52.00 YOY/hour, 6.78 inches) were captured in the 2018 fall night electrofishing survey. Low YOY Walleye numbers (30.00 YOY/hour, 6.44 inches average) were captured in the 2017 fall night electrofishing survey. Yearling Walleye numbers captured were also low (4.00 fish/hour, 10.39 inches average) in 2017. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (77.42 YOY/hour, 6.34 inches) were captured in 2016 fall night electrofishing survey.
Adult Walleye were low (3.67 fish/gillnet, 3.16 pounds, and 20.8 inches) in the most recent 2022 June gillnet and trapnet survey. The 2018 year class comprised 41% of the 2022 survey catch. However, Walleye numbers are reduced as of 2023 due to the recent winterkill. A partial winterkill of mostly Common Carp with lower numbers of Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie occurred due to high snowfall accumulations resulting in low oxygen levels in late February of 2019. However, we caught abundant numbers of Walleye and other gamefish during our April Walleye egg takes in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Oxygen levels were low in February of 2022 even with the aeration system running, but no winterkill was observed. The Walleye spawning population consisted mostly of females in the 2022 egg take netting. Walleye hatch percentage was close to 69% from Elizabeth eggs due in part to ideal water temperatures (44-50 F) during the 2022 spring egg take.
The Elizabeth fishery will be surveyed in the 2026 summer for all fish species. Walleye fry are scheduled to be stocked annually (up to 500,000 fish). Fall electrofishing surveys will be periodically conducted during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of the stockings.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Elizabeth (Main Lake) fishing reports
Recent reports on Elizabeth (Main Lake) from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Elizabeth Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Elizabeth (Main Lake) depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ella Lake · 153 ac · 1.3 mi
- Carrie Lake · 89 ac · 1.7 mi
- Minnetaga Lake · 791 ac · 3.1 mi
- Long Lake · 783 ac · 7.4 mi
- Hope Lake · 274 ac · 7.6 mi
- Lillian Lake · 1,151 ac · 7.7 mi
- Diamond Lake · 1,610 ac · 8.3 mi
- Wakanda Lake · 1,760 ac · 8.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Elizabeth (Main Lake)?
Elizabeth (Main Lake) reaches 9 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Elizabeth (Main Lake)?
Elizabeth (Main Lake) covers 1,024 acres with about 9.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Elizabeth (Main Lake)?
DNR Secchi readings on Elizabeth (Main Lake) average 3.3 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Elizabeth (Main Lake)?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Elizabeth (Main Lake) stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Elizabeth (Main Lake) have a public access?
Yes. Elizabeth (Main Lake) has one public access site: Elizabeth Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Elizabeth (Main Lake)?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 31"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2016.
When was Elizabeth (Main Lake) last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Elizabeth (Main Lake) in 2024, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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