Minnesota · Washington County
Elmo Lake Fishing guide
Elmo Lake is a 257-acre lake in Washington County, Minnesota, reaching 140 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 18.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers9per gill net21"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 60 fish
2025Lengths measured · 79 fish
2018Lengths measured · 22 fish
2012Lengths measured · 29 fish
2010BluegillJust a few12.8per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 118 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 118 fish
2025Lengths measured · 200 fish
2018Lengths measured · 5 fish
2012Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2010CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net10"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 13 fish
2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2018Lengths measured · 12 fish
2012Lengths measured · 8 fish
2010Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Last recorded in the 2001 survey and not seen since.
Last recorded in the 2006 survey and not seen since.
Last recorded in the 2006 survey and not seen since.
Present and managed by the DNR.
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 Elmo Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 18.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 140 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 18.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 140 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36" | — | — |
| 2018 | 38" | — | — |
| 2012 | 37" | — | — |
| 2010 | 36" | 14" | — |
| 2009 | 37" | — | — |
| 2008 | 37" | 12" | — |
| 2006 | 41" | 14" | — |
| 2001 | 31" | 18" | — |
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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 | Tiger Muskellunge | 257 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Tiger Muskellunge | 128 fingerlings · 129 yearlings |
| 2021 | Tiger Muskellunge | 365 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Tiger Muskellunge | 365 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lake Elmo was conducted on August 6, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations. One station was not seined due to dense vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured fifteen species of fish, including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Pugnose Shiner, and Smallmouth Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a June 2025 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based index of biological integrity (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., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Lake Elmo is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that is above the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Lake Elmo is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Lower St. Croix River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Lake Elmo by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Elmo Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Elmo 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
- Lake Elmo (trailer launch)
- Elmo Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Elmo Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Jane Lake · 158 ac · 2.8 mi
- Olson Lake · 87 ac · 3.5 mi
- DeMontreville Lake · 157 ac · 3.7 mi
- Powers Lake · 58 ac · 4.1 mi
- Battle Creek Lake · 106 ac · 5 mi
- Tanners Lake · 74 ac · 5.1 mi
- Lily Lake · 44 ac · 5.4 mi
- Colby Lake · 71 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Elmo Lake?
Elmo Lake reaches 140 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 31 ft; about 17% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Elmo Lake?
Elmo Lake covers 257 acres with about 4.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Elmo Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Elmo Lake average 18.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Elmo Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, tiger muskellunge.
Is Elmo Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked tiger muskellunge in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2019.
Does Elmo Lake have a public access?
Yes. Elmo Lake has 2 public access sites, including Lake Elmo (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Elmo Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 36"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2001.
When was Elmo Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Elmo Lake in 2025, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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