Elk Lake fishing

Fishing at Elk Lake has Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 4 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn for Lake Trout, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout.

Last stocked

April 14, 2026

Plants on record

190

Since 1979

Species recorded

3

Surface acres

8,051.9

Access and facts

Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, dock

3 DNR-listed boating access sites serve the lake, the largest with 1 launch lane. 1 toilet on site.

Sources: access , shore_notes , facilities , fishing_notes

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How Elk Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of April. In 2026 it was April 14, 2026, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 9 years between 1979 and 2026.

About 236 reported fish per acre, 4th most of 5 lakes in Antrim County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Torch Lake (8 mi) and Lake Bellaire (9.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Torch Lake is also stocked with Lake Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout and Lake Bellaire is also stocked with Brown Trout.

Fish at Elk Lake

Fishing Elk Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 100 of 190 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and one more.

Around the dates Elk Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 53.2°F in May, 41.6°F in April, 64.1°F in June, 33°F in March. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout 100 plants
Plants
100 of 190
Last stocked
March 28, 2018

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Brown Trout 78 plants
Plants
78 of 190
Last stocked
April 14, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Lake Trout 12 plants
Plants
12 of 190
Last stocked
April 26, 1983

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Fishing Elk Lake

Elk Lake is located in Antrim and Grand Traverse counties in Northern Michigan. It is a popular lake for fishing, featuring lake trout, rock bass, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, ciscoes, brown trout, rainbow trout, and whitefish. The lake has a maximum depth of 192 ft (59 m), making it Michigan's second deepest after Torch Lake. Elk Lake flows through Elk River into the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay at Elk Rapids.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 20,0001979
  • 75,0001980
  • 60,0001981
  • 60,0001982
  • 60,0001983
  • 29,1001984
  • 60,0001985
  • 60,0001986
  • 59,9471987
  • 58,0001988
  • 60,0001989
  • 60,0001990
  • 54,2101991
  • 59,3001992
  • 55,6241993
  • 66,1201994
  • 72,2211995
  • 64,9151996
  • 68,1931997
  • 29,3101998
  • 29,4001999
  • 59,9632000
  • 31,0002001
  • 43,0002002
  • 34,5602003
  • 42,9722004
  • 43,0002005
  • 33,5922006
  • 37,4182007
  • 41,9992008
  • 47,7002018
  • 39,9892019
  • 52,9932020
  • 39,5852021
  • 39,0352022
  • 35,9992023
  • 37,2002024
  • 40,0002025
  • 37,5952026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 190 plants Showing 190 plants

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 14, 2026 Brown Trout 12,533 – report
April 14, 2026 Brown Trout 12,534 – report
April 14, 2026 Brown Trout 12,528 – report
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 13,000 – report
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 9,000 – report
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 9,000 – report
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 1,098 – report
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 7,902 – report
April 15, 2024 Brown Trout 7,410 – report
April 15, 2024 Brown Trout 11,190 – report
April 15, 2024 Brown Trout 7,410 – report
April 15, 2024 Brown Trout 11,190 – report
April 20, 2023 Brown Trout 11,784 – report
April 20, 2023 Brown Trout 12,431 – report
April 20, 2023 Brown Trout 11,784 – report
May 13, 2022 Brown Trout 11,900 – report
April 18, 2022 Brown Trout 27,135 – report
April 22, 2021 Brown Trout 10,535 – report
April 7, 2021 Brown Trout 29,050 – report
May 29, 2020 Brown Trout 8,998 – report
May 14, 2020 Brown Trout 9,000 – report
April 24, 2020 Brown Trout 34,995 – report
April 29, 2019 Brown Trout 19,994 – report
April 4, 2019 Brown Trout 9,995 – report
April 4, 2019 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
December 19, 2018 Brown Trout 40,000 – report
March 28, 2018 Rainbow Trout 7,700 – report
May 8, 2008 Rainbow Trout 10,500 – report
May 8, 2008 Rainbow Trout 10,499 – report
May 7, 2008 Rainbow Trout 10,500 – report
May 7, 2008 Rainbow Trout 10,500 – report
May 3, 2007 Rainbow Trout 7,959 – report
May 3, 2007 Rainbow Trout 7,959 – report
May 2, 2007 Rainbow Trout 10,750 – report
May 2, 2007 Rainbow Trout 10,750 – report
May 4, 2006 Rainbow Trout 4,797 – report
May 4, 2006 Rainbow Trout 4,795 – report
May 3, 2006 Rainbow Trout 12,000 – report
May 3, 2006 Rainbow Trout 12,000 – report
May 4, 2005 Rainbow Trout 10,750 – report
May 4, 2005 Rainbow Trout 10,750 – report
May 3, 2005 Rainbow Trout 10,750 – report
May 3, 2005 Rainbow Trout 10,750 – report
May 3, 2004 Rainbow Trout 15,955 – report
May 3, 2004 Rainbow Trout 8,848 – report
May 3, 2004 Rainbow Trout 5,520 – report
May 3, 2004 Rainbow Trout 12,649 – report
April 22, 2003 Rainbow Trout 11,520 – report
April 18, 2003 Rainbow Trout 11,520 – report
April 18, 2003 Rainbow Trout 11,520 – report
May 9, 2002 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 12, 2002 Rainbow Trout 11,000 – report
April 11, 2002 Rainbow Trout 11,000 – report
April 10, 2002 Rainbow Trout 11,000 – report
April 17, 2001 Rainbow Trout 8,000 – report
April 17, 2001 Rainbow Trout 13,000 – report
April 17, 2001 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 1, 2000 Brown Trout 2,675 – report
May 1, 2000 Brown Trout 3,608 – report
April 27, 2000 Brown Trout 14,980 – report
April 25, 2000 Rainbow Trout 8,000 – report
March 28, 2000 Rainbow Trout 10,700 – report
March 14, 2000 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
March 14, 2000 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 7, 1999 Rainbow Trout 9,800 – report
April 6, 1999 Rainbow Trout 9,800 – report
April 6, 1999 Rainbow Trout 9,800 – report
May 4, 1998 Rainbow Trout 9,770 – report
May 4, 1998 Rainbow Trout 9,770 – report
April 16, 1998 Rainbow Trout 9,770 – report
May 8, 1997 Brown Trout 2,200 – report
May 8, 1997 Brown Trout 11,300 – report
May 5, 1997 Rainbow Trout 4,700 – report
May 1, 1997 Brown Trout 11,300 – report
May 1, 1997 Brown Trout 11,293 – report
May 1, 1997 Rainbow Trout 6,000 – report
April 25, 1997 Rainbow Trout 10,700 – report
April 24, 1997 Rainbow Trout 10,700 – report
June 25, 1996 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
June 25, 1996 Rainbow Trout 2,000 – report
May 9, 1996 Rainbow Trout 10,697 – report
May 9, 1996 Rainbow Trout 10,696 – report
May 9, 1996 Brown Trout 9,447 – report
May 1, 1996 Brown Trout 9,700 – report
April 30, 1996 Rainbow Trout 10,700 – report
April 29, 1996 Brown Trout 9,675 – report
June 8, 1995 Brown Trout 600 – report
June 8, 1995 Brown Trout 600 – report
June 8, 1995 Brown Trout 600 – report
April 28, 1995 Rainbow Trout 11,100 – report
April 27, 1995 Rainbow Trout 11,098 – report
April 27, 1995 Brown Trout 8,927 – report
April 24, 1995 Brown Trout 9,400 – report
April 24, 1995 Brown Trout 9,398 – report
April 17, 1995 Brown Trout 9,398 – report
April 14, 1995 Rainbow Trout 11,100 – report
May 24, 1994 Brown Trout 10,725 – report
May 23, 1994 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 23, 1994 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 19, 1994 Rainbow Trout 11,800 – report
May 18, 1994 Rainbow Trout 11,796 – report
April 27, 1994 Rainbow Trout 11,799 – report
May 26, 1993 Brown Trout 1,028 – report
May 12, 1993 Rainbow Trout 9,998 – report
May 12, 1993 Rainbow Trout 9,998 – report
May 3, 1993 Rainbow Trout 4,900 – report
April 28, 1993 Brown Trout 9,700 – report
April 27, 1993 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 27, 1993 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 7, 1992 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 6, 1992 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 6, 1992 Brown Trout 3,100 – report
May 1, 1992 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 1, 1992 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 1, 1992 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 29, 1992 Brown Trout 6,200 – report
May 16, 1991 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 16, 1991 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 16, 1991 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 18, 1991 Rainbow Trout 6,210 – report
April 18, 1991 Rainbow Trout 9,000 – report
April 18, 1991 Rainbow Trout 9,000 – report
June 11, 1990 Brown Trout 1,500 – report
May 8, 1990 Brown Trout 9,500 – report
May 2, 1990 Brown Trout 9,500 – report
May 2, 1990 Brown Trout 9,500 – report
April 24, 1990 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 19, 1990 Rainbow Trout 5,839 – report
April 18, 1990 Rainbow Trout 4,161 – report
April 18, 1990 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 25, 1989 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 25, 1989 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 23, 1989 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 17, 1989 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 12, 1989 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 2, 1989 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 6, 1988 Brown Trout 8,000 – report
April 29, 1988 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 21, 1988 Rainbow Trout 9,000 – report
April 21, 1988 Rainbow Trout 9,000 – report
April 19, 1988 Brown Trout 4,000 – report
April 14, 1988 Brown Trout 9,000 – report
April 14, 1988 Brown Trout 9,000 – report
May 18, 1987 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 13, 1987 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 27, 1987 Brown Trout 3,008 – report
April 23, 1987 Brown Trout 6,939 – report
April 13, 1987 Rainbow Trout 14,808 – report
April 7, 1987 Rainbow Trout 5,192 – report
April 7, 1987 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 7, 1986 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 23, 1986 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 23, 1986 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 5, 1986 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 5, 1986 Rainbow Trout 20,000 – report
May 16, 1985 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 16, 1985 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 10, 1985 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
May 10, 1985 Brown Trout 10,000 – report
April 19, 1985 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 19, 1985 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 7, 1984 Rainbow Trout 5,800 – report
May 7, 1984 Rainbow Trout 3,230 – report
May 7, 1984 Rainbow Trout 8,750 – report
May 4, 1984 Rainbow Trout 11,320 – report
May 6, 1983 Rainbow Trout 4,435 – report
May 6, 1983 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 26, 1983 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 26, 1983 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 26, 1983 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 5, 1983 Rainbow Trout 4,035 – report
April 5, 1983 Rainbow Trout 11,530 – report
May 12, 1982 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 11, 1982 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 10, 1982 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
May 3, 1982 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
May 3, 1982 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
May 3, 1982 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 30, 1981 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 30, 1981 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 30, 1981 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
April 30, 1981 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 30, 1981 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
April 30, 1981 Rainbow Trout 10,000 – report
June 25, 1980 Rainbow Trout 12,136 – report
May 28, 1980 Rainbow Trout 9,120 – report
May 28, 1980 Rainbow Trout 23,744 – report
May 6, 1980 Lake Trout 30,000 – report
May 24, 1979 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
May 24, 1979 Lake Trout 10,000 – report
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Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes