Elbow Lake

How big is Elbow Lake?

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What kind of fish can you catch in Elbow Lake?

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This survey was completed in 2015 to assess the current condition of the fish population within Elbow Lake. During this assessment, gill nets, trap nets, and electrofishing were used. Aquatic vegetation and non-game fish were also assessed in 2015, although data from those assessments are not included with this report. Elbow Lake continues to support a diverse fishery containing several popular gamefish and panfish species including Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Tullibee (Cisco).

Although Walleye abundance is currently low for this lake, the average size of Walleyes is respectable. Walleyes sampled in 2015 averaged 19.3 inches and 2.8 pounds. Elbow Lake is stocked with Walleye fingerlings in odd-numbered years and stocking rates were doubled beginning in 2011. Success of this higher level of stocking will be assessed with results of this and future assessments. Natural reproduction of Walleyes does occur within Elbow Lake, although most Walleyes sampled during the 2015 effort were stocked fish.

The Northern Pike catch rate in 2015 decreased slightly from the 2012 assessment. The catch rate in 2015 was 7.2 per gill net, which is still above the normal rate for Elbow Lake (6.3 per gill net). Average size of Northern Pike sampled was 23.2 inches, and Pike averaged about 3.1 pounds each. Sampled pike were generally young (most fish were between three and five years old) with good growth rates.

Test net catches of Bluegill increased from the previous assessment, and are currently above the historical average for Elbow Lake (24.2 per trap net). The Bluegill catch rate in 2015 was 42.3 per trap net and fish had an average size of 4.7 inches. The maximum size of Bluegill caught was 8.1 inches, but few fish were found to be this size. Bluegill growth rates were slower than normal, taking about eight years to grow a seven-inch bluegill in Elbow Lake.

Black Crappie catch rates decreased in 2015, following a record high peak in the population in 2012, but are still within the normal range for similar lakes. Sampled crappies ranged between 6.0 inches and 11.8 inches, averaging just over eight inches.

Largemouth Bass were also sampled, with fish primarily between 13 inches and 17 inches long. Other sampled fish species included Bowfin, Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Green, Hybrid and Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Cisco, and White Sucker. Of these, only Cisco were more abundant than expected for other similar lakes. Cisco ranged from 7.3 to 15.0 inches with a mean of 9.8 inches. Minnow traps were also set in an attempt to sample Rusty Crayfish, a known invasive species within Elbow Lake. Four Rusty Crayfish were sampled, but the population is believed to be lower than previously observed in Elbow Lake.

Shoreline owners are encouraged to use good land stewardship practices to protect the aquatic habitat within Elbow Lake. Shoreline buffer zones of native vegetation are especially helpful for reducing erosion. Aquatic vegetation should be left intact as much as possible, preserving spawning and rearing habitats, and reducing shoreline erosion while absorbing nutrients and pollutants. Anglers are encouraged to release medium and larger fish and keep smaller ones for eating to sustain balanced fish populations.

What is the average air temp for Elbow Lake?

Are there any state parks near Elbow Lake?