Fishing at Elbow Lake, Pine County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Pine County end of Minnesota holds Elbow Lake. Land around it is pine and birch. At about 98 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 1.4 miles of margin, front to back. It ranks high for size among our Pine County listings. Sandstone lies 6.3 miles from the water. After that come Hinckley at 11 miles and Moose Lake at 23 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Elbow Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Pine County cover northern pike, bluegill and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Elbow Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 7°F in January up to 68°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Elbow Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Charlie Bear Lake is 0.6 miles off. Treat access at Elbow Lake as something to verify.