Elk

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community on Elk Lake was conducted on August 14, 2017 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten stations with one site sampled from the boat. Soft sediments with abundant emergent vegetation in deep water prevented the use of seines at one sampling site. Nearshore sampling captured 10 native species of fish including Johnny Darter, Spotfin Shiner, and Largemouth Bass. Data from this targeted nearshore survey is combined with data from a standard gill and trap netting survey in July 2017 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) score that describes the overall health of the lake. 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. 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. The FIBI score for Elk Lake based on this survey is just below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar 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. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Little Elk Lake is a 353-acre general development lake located three miles northwest of Zimmerman in northeastern Sherburne County. A small dam is located at the outlet on the south end of the lake adjacent to the public access. Little Elk Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average summer water clarity of about three feet. A standard summer survey was conducted in 2017 to monitor changes in the fishery from the last survey completed in 2012. In addition to the summer survey, a targeted Bluegill assessment was conducted in June and an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) survey was conducted in August. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation covered two percent of the lake and six percent of the shoreline in July, consisting primarily of cattail and yellow waterlily. Submerged vegetation was not surveyed this year, but coontail and flat-stemmed pondweed were the dominant species found in 2012. In 2009, the stocking strategy changed to strictly fingerling stocking every other year, after repeated fry stocking attempts produced poor results. The catch for Walleye in 2017 was higher than 2012 and was within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Walleye ranged from 12 to 26 inches with an average length of 18 inches. Eight year classes were represented and 71% of the catch were four years old or younger. These year classes coincided with fingerling stocking done in 2013 and yearling stocking in 2015. The gill net catch for Northern Pike was similar to recent surveys and was within the expected range for the lake class. Northern Pike ranged from 15 to 31 inches with an average length and weight of 23 inches and 3 pounds. Forty three percent of the pike sampled were longer than 24.0 inches four percent were longer than 30 inches. Largemouth were sampled by day-time electrofishing on May 30, 2017. A total of 56 Largemouth Bass were collected in 1.67 hours of on-time equating to a catch rate of 33.5/hour. This is lower than the Sauk Rapids area average of 43.3/hour. Largemouth Bass ranged from 5 to 19 inches with an average length of 11 inches. The catch of Yellow Perch was similar to 2012 and below the expected range of values. Yellow Perch ranged in length from 5 to 8 inches with an average length of 7 inches. The trap net catch of Bluegill was lower than 2012, but still above the range of expected values for lakes similar to Little Elk. Bluegill ranged in length from 3 to 9 inches with an average length of six inches. The catch for Black Crappie was higher than 2012 and within the range of expected values for the lake class. Black Crappie were abundant and small with an average length of six inches. Other species sampled during the survey included: Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.

A targeted Bluegill assessment was conducted on Little Elk Lake from June 6 7, 2017. Targeted surveys using trap nets around spawning time can give a more accurate picture of Bluegill size structure than standard surveys conducted later in the summer. A total of 671 Bluegill were caught; lengths ranged from 3.5 to 9.3 inches with an average length of 6.7 inches. The size structure of a fish population is typically described using terms such as Proportional Stock Density (PSD) and Relative Stock Density (RSD). For Bluegill, PSD is the percentage of fish longer than three inches that are also longer than six inches. RSD 8 is the percentage of fish longer than three inches that are also longer than eight inches. Little Elk Lake PSD was 95 and RSD 8 was 1. So 95% of Bluegill were six inches or longer and 1% were eight inches or longer. These results seem better than average for overall size, but poor for larger Bluegill. Recent targeted Bluegill surveys in the Sauk Rapids Area have found a PSD range from 26 to 95 and an RSD 8 range from 0 to 54. Bluegill in the standard survey in late July were smaller; mean length was 6.2 inches, PSD was 77, and RSD-8 was 0. Pumpkinseed (n=10) and Hybrid Sunfish (n=4) were caught in low numbers. A total of 588 Black Crappie were also caught; lengths ranged from 5.9 to 12.4 inches with an average length of 7.5 inches. Black Crappie likely finished spawning in May and were not targeted in the current survey. Bluegill grow slowly in the Sauk Rapids Area, taking up to eight years to reach eight inches. Anglers are encouraged to limit their harvest of larger Bluegill (> 8 inches) and keep smaller fish for a meal. This can help prevent stunted populations of small fish and keep larger Bluegill in the system.

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

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Elk. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Elk has a maximum depth of 15 feet and a mean depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Elk is from 2017. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Elk has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.