Minnesota · Sherburne County
Elk Lake Fishing guide
Elk Lake covers 357 acres in Sherburne County, Minnesota, reaching 9 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 4.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 times, most recently in 2019, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets. That survey is 7 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.2per gill net19"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 32 fish
2019Lengths measured · 76 fish
2009Lengths measured · 50 fish
1999Lengths measured · 22 fish
1993Largemouth bassFair numbers30.9per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 14 fish
2019Lengths measured · 3 fish
2009Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
1999Lengths measured · 5 fish
1993Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassFair numbers18.1per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 42 fish
2019Lengths measured · 7 fish
2009Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeFair numbers7per gill net22"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 45 fish
2019Lengths measured · 69 fish
2009Lengths measured · 24 fish
1999Lengths measured · 13 fish
1993BluegillLast stocked 2025Just a few8.8per trap net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 83 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 83 fish
2019Lengths measured · 36 fish
2009Lengths measured · 18 fish
1999Lengths measured · 4 fish
1993Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieFair numbers11.8per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 264 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 264 fish
2019Lengths measured · 11 fish
2009Lengths measured · 37 fish
1999Lengths measured · 65 fish
1993Yellow perchExcellent numbers15.2per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 90 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 90 fish
2019Lengths measured · 39 fish
2009Lengths measured · 9 fish
1999Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
1993Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No 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 Elk Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. 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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 22" | 15" | 19" |
| 2009 | 29" | 3" | 8" |
| 1999 | 26" | 4" | — |
| 1993 | 28" | 2" | — |
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:
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
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 | Bluegill Sunfish | 500 adults |
| 2025 | Walleye | 60,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2019 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Elk Lake was conducted on July 29th, 2019 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine. Nearshore sampling captured 26 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, Logperch, Smallmouth Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from the week of June 24th, 2019 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g. Iowa Darter, Logperch, Smallmouth Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Read the full DNR narrative
The FIBI score for Elk Lake is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar shallow lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Mississippi River (St. Cloud) Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Elk Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Elk 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
- Elk Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Elk Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Rush Lake · 161 ac · 1.5 mi
- Briggs Lake · 404 ac · 2 mi
- Camp Lake · 82 ac · 2.2 mi
- Julia Lake · 155 ac · 2.6 mi
- Clear Lake · 113 ac · 5.1 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 108 ac · 5.6 mi
- Round Lake · 36 ac · 5.7 mi
- Long Lake · 174 ac · 6.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Elk Lake?
Elk Lake reaches 9 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 5.4 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Elk Lake?
Elk Lake covers 357 acres with about 3.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Elk Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Elk Lake average 4.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Elk Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2019) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Elk Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked bluegill sunfish and walleye in 2025.
Does Elk Lake have a public access?
Yes. Elk Lake has one public access site: Elk Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Elk Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Elk Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Elk Lake in 2019, the most recent of 7 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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