Fishing at Elk Lake, Douglas County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Within Douglas County, Minnesota, you have Elk Lake. It stands 1,407 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 88 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The perimeter runs near 5.2 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Alexandria lies 7.3 miles from the water. Fargo is the closest city, 89 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Elk Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Douglas County include largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Elk Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 70°F and January near 8°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Elk Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Lake Williams, 1.9 miles away. None of that is settled for Elk Lake in what we hold.