Minnesota · Grant County
Lower Elk Lake Fishing guide
Lower Elk Lake sits in Grant County, Minnesota, and covers 131 acres, reaching 13 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassLast stocked 2019Fair numbers21.3per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 111 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 72 fish
2022Lengths measured · 39 fish
2022Lengths measured · 25 fish
2010Lengths measured · 21 fish
2005Northern pikeJust a few2per gill net26"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 10 fish
2022Lengths measured · 6 fish
2022Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2010Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2005Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillLast stocked 2019Just a few4.3per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 122 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 88 fish
2022Lengths measured · 34 fish
2022Lengths measured · 40 fish
2010Lengths measured · 65 fish
2005CrappieLast stocked 2019Just a few9.4per trap net3"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 105 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 30 fish
2022Lengths measured · 75 fish
2022Lengths measured · 2 fish
2019Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 45 fish
2005Yellow perchLast stocked 2019One of the best around35per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 271 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 30 fish
2023Lengths measured · 170 fish
2022Lengths measured · 71 fish
2022Lengths measured · 6 fish
2019Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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 Lower Elk Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 13-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 2 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 13-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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18" | 21" | 29" |
| 2010 | 18" | 27" | 24" |
| 2005 | 16" | 26" | 30" |
| 2001 | 5" | 25" | 25" |
| 1997 | — | 24" | 31" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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
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 | 65,500 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 131,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 131,000 fry |
| 2019 | Black Crappie | 19 adults |
| 2019 | Bluegill Sunfish | 40 adults |
| 2019 | Largemouth Bass | 15 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 131,000 fry |
| 2019 | Yellow Perch | 51 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 131,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2022-2023 winter. Trap netting results indicated winterkill severity was high. Only two species (Black Bullhead and Yellow Perch) were captured. Due to frequency of winterkill on this basin, future management will focus on maintaining a Walleye/Yellow Perch fishery. Walleye fry were stocked in spring 2023.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lower Elk Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lower 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
- DNR access
DNR bathymetry
Lower Elk Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Elk Lake · 207 ac · 1.2 mi
- Red Rock Lake · 904 ac · 3.5 mi
- Thompson Lake · 154 ac · 3.7 mi
- Barrett Lake · 530 ac · 6.5 mi
- Long Lake · 202 ac · 8.4 mi
- Lake Oscar · 997 ac · 8.7 mi
- Freeborn Lake · 248 ac · 9.1 mi
- Gilbert Lake · 202 ac · 10.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lower Elk Lake?
Lower Elk Lake reaches 13 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 12 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lower Elk Lake?
Lower Elk Lake covers 131 acres with about 2.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lower Elk Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lower Elk Lake average 2 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lower Elk Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lower Elk Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Lower Elk Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lower Elk Lake has one public access site: DNR access.
How big do largemouth bass get in Lower Elk Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Lower Elk Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lower Elk Lake in 2023, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Lower Elk Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Lower Elk Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report