Lake Elizabeth Fishing near Atwater, Minnesota

• Overview

  Meeker County, Minnesota, is where Lake Elizabeth sits. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. It measures some 1,065 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Meeker County list. Atwater sits 5.3 miles from the bank. Minneapolis is the closest city, 75 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lake Elizabeth

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Meeker County cover largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, common carp and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Anyone new to Lake Elizabeth should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. On average, early April opens the water and late November closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Lake Elizabeth fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Johnson Lake, 1.2 miles out. Ask locally about Lake Elizabeth if anything is unclear.