Elk

Elk Lake is a 303-acre lake, located within Itasca State Park about 30 miles southwest of Bemidji, MN. A targeted survey was completed on Elk Lake by Bemidji Area Fisheries staff during July of 2025 to assess the nearshore fish community and overall health of the lake. In this survey, 10 nearshore sites (100-foot) were evenly spaced along the lakeshore to sample a variety of aquatic habitat types and collect a representative sample of the nearshore fish community. Depending on the habitat conditions at each site, backpack electrofishing and shoreline seining were attempted where possible. Shoreline seining and backpack electrofishing were completed at all 10 sites. A total of 21 species of fish were sampled, which included six species (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) that are intolerant to disturbance and poor water quality. Nearshore fish community data was analyzed with information collected from the standard survey completed in 2025 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) score to measure the biological condition and overall health of Elk Lake. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and healthy habitat (e.g. Blackchin Shiner, Tullibee (cisco), Least Darter, Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, Green Sunfish). The combination of fish species present may identify stressors negatively affecting the lake environment. The FIBI score is composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics to indicate the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website (www.mndnr.gov). Results of this survey indicate Elk Lake is in exceptional health with a FIBI score well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. In coordination with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, data from this survey will contribute towards the assessment of the Mississippi River (Headwaters) Watershed with biological information about the health of the fish community.

Elk Lake is a 303 acre lake with a maximum depth of 93 feet located in Itasca State Park in southern Clearwater County. The lake is accessible via Wilderness Drive and the boat launch area has room for 3-4 vehicles with trailers. Elk drains into Lake Itasca via Chambers Creek. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Muskellunge, but Northern Pike are also of special interest. Walleye are commonly sought by anglers fishing Elk Lake. Walleye fingerlings are stocked on alternate years and stocking success is monitored by periodic surveys, the most recent being in 2025. A total of 28 Walleyes were captured in gill nets and aging of the fish captured indicated that natural reproduction is also contributing to the fishery. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 8 to over 25 inches and averaged just under 17 inches. The average weight per Walleye was just under 2 pounds. First stocked in 1982, Muskellunge are another very popular game fish in Elk Lake. Musky lengths have been observed near 50 inches in the most recent targeted assessment which was last completed in 2019. One large fish exceeding 52 inches was captured in the 2025 standard survey. Northern Pike are fairly abundant in Elk Lake. A total of 48 were captured in the 2025 survey with the largest pike exceeding 35 inches. The average length was 25.5 inches and nearly 38% of all pike captured exceeded the 22-26" north-central pike zone protected slot. Bluegill are very abundant but generally not large enough to be pursued by anglers. During the survey, 202 were captured in near-shore trap nets with lengths averaging under 6 inches. Only two Bluegills were captured with lengths exceeding 8 inches. Largemouth Bass abundance has accelerated in recent years. Targeted efforts in the spring captured 97 in an hour of electrofishing compared to only 22 in 2022. The largest bass was 17.5 inches of length and the average length was just under 10 inches. Yellow Perch are one of the most abundant fish species in the lake and are also a very important food source for Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Muskellunge. Lengths of perch captured in gill nets averaged just over 7 inches and some fish were found up to 10 inches. Tullibee (Cisco) are also present in Elk but generally not represented well in summer surveys. However, 15 were captured during the 2025 survey with lengths exceeding 14 inches. Tullibee are an important forage species to the Elk Lake food web because large predator fish rely on them as a quality source of nutrients. Other species observed in the 2022 survey include Black Crappie, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and a variety of sunfish. Elk Lake is one of 25 "sentinel lakes" located around Minnesota for the Sustaining Lakes in a Changing Environment (SLICE) project. The project is designed to help scientists understand, predict, and respond to outcomes of major drivers of change (e.g. development, agriculture, invasive species, climate change) on lake habitats and fish populations.

A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on Elk Lake on July 31, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 23 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 76.3 feet, which was below the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 4°C (39.2°F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are favorable for Cisco. Dissolved oxygen concentrations below the thermocline indicate that suitable oxythermal habitat for Cisco was available across a range of depths at the time of sampling during the summer of 2023. Data collected in 1998-2020 further indicate suitable oxythermal habitat across years, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2020. When adequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are not squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore do not experience higher levels of stress.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Muskellunge, Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie in Elk. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Elk. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Elk has a maximum depth of 93 feet and a mean depth of 32 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Elk is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Elk in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.