Lower Elk Lake
Grant County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 26004600
DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Lower Elk Lake since 2017, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (65,500 fish).
- Lower Elk Lake has 10 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): walleye (6), black crappie (1), bluegill sunfish (1), largemouth bass (1), and 1 more species.
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 589,500 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 13 ft, mean depth 12 ft; surface area 131 acres, 131 littoral acres, 2.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 2.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Grant County, nearest town Hoffman; DNR lake number (DOW) 26004600.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey (get source); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | fry | 65,500 | 0.6 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 131,000 | 1.1 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 131,000 | 1.2 |
| 2019 | Black Crappie | adults | 19 | 9.5 |
| 2019 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 40 | 13.3 |
| 2019 | Largemouth Bass | adults | 15 | 15.0 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fry | 131,000 | 1.1 |
| 2019 | Yellow Perch | adults | 51 | 10.2 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 100,000 | 0.9 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 31,000 | 0.3 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bullhead | Single-frame trap nets | 95.00 | 285 | 0.02 |
| Yellow perch | Single-frame trap nets | 1.33 | 4 | 0.17 |
| Yellow perch | 3/8-in trap nets | 13.00 | 26 | 0.04 |
| Black bullhead | 3/8-in trap nets | 12.00 | 24 | 0.29 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
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.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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