Elk Lake fishing

Elk Lake fishing is stocked with Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout on a natural lake. 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.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
April 14, 2026
· Brown Trout
Plants on record
190
Since 1979
Species recorded
3
Surface acres
8,051.9

Fish at Elk Lake

3 stocked · 0 confirmed present

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 Stocked · 100 plants · last March 28, 2018 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked March 28, 2018 · 100 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 78 plants · last April 14, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 14, 2026 · 78 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Lake Trout Stocked · 12 plants · last April 26, 1983 Best: dawn

Last stocked April 26, 1983 · 12 plants

Best: dawn

Lake Trout species guide

How Elk Lake is stocked

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

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

Fish stocked in 1979

20,000

Fish stocked in 1980

75,000

Fish stocked in 1981

60,000

Fish stocked in 1982

60,000

Fish stocked in 1983

60,000

Fish stocked in 1984

29,100

Fish stocked in 1985

60,000

Fish stocked in 1986

60,000

Fish stocked in 1987

59,947

Fish stocked in 1988

58,000

Fish stocked in 1989

60,000

Fish stocked in 1990

60,000

Fish stocked in 1991

54,210

Fish stocked in 1992

59,300

Fish stocked in 1993

55,624

Fish stocked in 1994

66,120

Fish stocked in 1995

72,221

Fish stocked in 1996

64,915

Fish stocked in 1997

68,193

Fish stocked in 1998

29,310

Fish stocked in 1999

29,400

Fish stocked in 2000

59,963

Fish stocked in 2001

31,000

Fish stocked in 2002

43,000

Fish stocked in 2003

34,560

Fish stocked in 2004

42,972

Fish stocked in 2005

43,000

Fish stocked in 2006

33,592

Fish stocked in 2007

37,418

Fish stocked in 2008

41,999

Fish stocked in 2018

47,700

Fish stocked in 2019

39,989

Fish stocked in 2020

52,993

Fish stocked in 2021

39,585

Fish stocked in 2022

39,035

Fish stocked in 2023

35,999

Fish stocked in 2024

37,200

Fish stocked in 2025

40,000

Fish stocked in 2026

37,595

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 14, 2026Brown Trout12,533–report
April 14, 2026Brown Trout12,534–report
April 14, 2026Brown Trout12,528–report
May 5, 2025Brown Trout13,000–report
May 5, 2025Brown Trout9,000–report
May 5, 2025Brown Trout9,000–report
May 5, 2025Brown Trout1,098–report
May 5, 2025Brown Trout7,902–report
April 15, 2024Brown Trout7,410–report
April 15, 2024Brown Trout11,190–report
April 15, 2024Brown Trout7,410–report
April 15, 2024Brown Trout11,190–report
April 20, 2023Brown Trout11,784–report
April 20, 2023Brown Trout12,431–report
April 20, 2023Brown Trout11,784–report
May 13, 2022Brown Trout11,900–report
April 18, 2022Brown Trout27,135–report
April 22, 2021Brown Trout10,535–report
April 7, 2021Brown Trout29,050–report
May 29, 2020Brown Trout8,998–report
May 14, 2020Brown Trout9,000–report
April 24, 2020Brown Trout34,995–report
April 29, 2019Brown Trout19,994–report
April 4, 2019Brown Trout9,995–report
April 4, 2019Brown Trout10,000–report
December 19, 2018Brown Trout40,000–report
March 28, 2018Rainbow Trout7,700–report
May 8, 2008Rainbow Trout10,500–report
May 8, 2008Rainbow Trout10,499–report
May 7, 2008Rainbow Trout10,500–report
May 7, 2008Rainbow Trout10,500–report
May 3, 2007Rainbow Trout7,959–report
May 3, 2007Rainbow Trout7,959–report
May 2, 2007Rainbow Trout10,750–report
May 2, 2007Rainbow Trout10,750–report
May 4, 2006Rainbow Trout4,795–report
May 4, 2006Rainbow Trout4,797–report
May 3, 2006Rainbow Trout12,000–report
May 3, 2006Rainbow Trout12,000–report
May 4, 2005Rainbow Trout10,750–report
May 4, 2005Rainbow Trout10,750–report
May 3, 2005Rainbow Trout10,750–report
May 3, 2005Rainbow Trout10,750–report
May 3, 2004Rainbow Trout15,955–report
May 3, 2004Rainbow Trout8,848–report
May 3, 2004Rainbow Trout5,520–report
May 3, 2004Rainbow Trout12,649–report
April 22, 2003Rainbow Trout11,520–report
April 18, 2003Rainbow Trout11,520–report
April 18, 2003Rainbow Trout11,520–report
May 9, 2002Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 12, 2002Rainbow Trout11,000–report
April 11, 2002Rainbow Trout11,000–report
April 10, 2002Rainbow Trout11,000–report
April 17, 2001Rainbow Trout8,000–report
April 17, 2001Rainbow Trout13,000–report
April 17, 2001Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 1, 2000Brown Trout2,675–report
May 1, 2000Brown Trout3,608–report
April 27, 2000Brown Trout14,980–report
April 25, 2000Rainbow Trout8,000–report
March 28, 2000Rainbow Trout10,700–report
March 14, 2000Rainbow Trout10,000–report
March 14, 2000Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 7, 1999Rainbow Trout9,800–report
April 6, 1999Rainbow Trout9,800–report
April 6, 1999Rainbow Trout9,800–report
May 4, 1998Rainbow Trout9,770–report
May 4, 1998Rainbow Trout9,770–report
April 16, 1998Rainbow Trout9,770–report
May 8, 1997Brown Trout2,200–report
May 8, 1997Brown Trout11,300–report
May 5, 1997Rainbow Trout4,700–report
May 1, 1997Brown Trout11,300–report
May 1, 1997Brown Trout11,293–report
May 1, 1997Rainbow Trout6,000–report
April 25, 1997Rainbow Trout10,700–report
April 24, 1997Rainbow Trout10,700–report
June 25, 1996Rainbow Trout2,000–report
June 25, 1996Rainbow Trout2,000–report
May 9, 1996Rainbow Trout10,697–report
May 9, 1996Rainbow Trout10,696–report
May 9, 1996Brown Trout9,447–report
May 1, 1996Brown Trout9,700–report
April 30, 1996Rainbow Trout10,700–report
April 29, 1996Brown Trout9,675–report
June 8, 1995Brown Trout600–report
June 8, 1995Brown Trout600–report
June 8, 1995Brown Trout600–report
April 28, 1995Rainbow Trout11,100–report
April 27, 1995Rainbow Trout11,098–report
April 27, 1995Brown Trout8,927–report
April 24, 1995Brown Trout9,400–report
April 24, 1995Brown Trout9,398–report
April 17, 1995Brown Trout9,398–report
April 14, 1995Rainbow Trout11,100–report
May 24, 1994Brown Trout10,725–report
May 23, 1994Brown Trout10,000–report
May 23, 1994Brown Trout10,000–report
May 19, 1994Rainbow Trout11,800–report
May 18, 1994Rainbow Trout11,796–report
April 27, 1994Rainbow Trout11,799–report
May 26, 1993Brown Trout1,028–report
May 12, 1993Rainbow Trout9,998–report
May 12, 1993Rainbow Trout9,998–report
May 3, 1993Rainbow Trout4,900–report
April 28, 1993Brown Trout9,700–report
April 27, 1993Brown Trout10,000–report
April 27, 1993Brown Trout10,000–report
May 7, 1992Brown Trout10,000–report
May 6, 1992Brown Trout10,000–report
May 6, 1992Brown Trout3,100–report
May 1, 1992Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 1, 1992Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 1, 1992Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 29, 1992Brown Trout6,200–report
May 16, 1991Brown Trout10,000–report
May 16, 1991Brown Trout10,000–report
May 16, 1991Brown Trout10,000–report
April 18, 1991Rainbow Trout6,210–report
April 18, 1991Rainbow Trout9,000–report
April 18, 1991Rainbow Trout9,000–report
June 11, 1990Brown Trout1,500–report
May 8, 1990Brown Trout9,500–report
May 2, 1990Brown Trout9,500–report
May 2, 1990Brown Trout9,500–report
April 24, 1990Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 19, 1990Rainbow Trout5,839–report
April 18, 1990Rainbow Trout4,161–report
April 18, 1990Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 25, 1989Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 25, 1989Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 23, 1989Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 17, 1989Brown Trout10,000–report
May 12, 1989Brown Trout10,000–report
May 2, 1989Brown Trout10,000–report
May 6, 1988Brown Trout8,000–report
April 29, 1988Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 21, 1988Rainbow Trout9,000–report
April 21, 1988Rainbow Trout9,000–report
April 19, 1988Brown Trout4,000–report
April 14, 1988Brown Trout9,000–report
April 14, 1988Brown Trout9,000–report
May 18, 1987Brown Trout10,000–report
May 13, 1987Brown Trout10,000–report
April 27, 1987Brown Trout3,008–report
April 23, 1987Brown Trout6,939–report
April 13, 1987Rainbow Trout14,808–report
April 7, 1987Rainbow Trout5,192–report
April 7, 1987Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 7, 1986Brown Trout10,000–report
April 23, 1986Brown Trout10,000–report
April 23, 1986Brown Trout10,000–report
April 5, 1986Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 5, 1986Rainbow Trout20,000–report
May 16, 1985Brown Trout10,000–report
May 16, 1985Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 10, 1985Brown Trout10,000–report
May 10, 1985Brown Trout10,000–report
April 19, 1985Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 19, 1985Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 7, 1984Rainbow Trout5,800–report
May 7, 1984Rainbow Trout3,230–report
May 7, 1984Rainbow Trout8,750–report
May 4, 1984Rainbow Trout11,320–report
May 6, 1983Rainbow Trout4,435–report
May 6, 1983Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 26, 1983Lake Trout10,000–report
April 26, 1983Lake Trout10,000–report
April 26, 1983Lake Trout10,000–report
April 5, 1983Rainbow Trout4,035–report
April 5, 1983Rainbow Trout11,530–report
May 12, 1982Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 11, 1982Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 10, 1982Rainbow Trout10,000–report
May 3, 1982Lake Trout10,000–report
May 3, 1982Lake Trout10,000–report
May 3, 1982Lake Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1981Lake Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1981Lake Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1981Lake Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1981Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1981Rainbow Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1981Rainbow Trout10,000–report
June 25, 1980Rainbow Trout12,136–report
May 28, 1980Rainbow Trout9,120–report
May 28, 1980Rainbow Trout23,744–report
May 6, 1980Lake Trout30,000–report
May 24, 1979Lake Trout10,000–report
May 24, 1979Lake Trout10,000–report

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Elk Rapids, MI
Facilities
restrooms, dock

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.

Nearest lakes

Lake Skegemog 4.2 mi last stocked November 8, 2023 Torch Lake 8 mi last stocked May 12, 2026 Lake Bellaire 9.8 mi last stocked June 23, 2026 Guernsey Lake 10.6 mi last stocked April 28, 2025 Intermediate Lake 13.6 mi last stocked June 3, 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Elk Lake?

Fishing Elk Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 100 of 190 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked March 28, 2018. Brown Trout was last stocked April 14, 2026. Lake Trout was last stocked April 26, 1983.

When is Elk Lake stocked?

Last stocked April 14, 2026. It is stocked about 4 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. About 236 reported fish per acre, 4th most of 5 lakes in Antrim County with both a fish count and a surface area. No plants recorded in 9 years between 1979 and 2026.

How do you get on Elk Lake?

The nearest town is Elk Rapids, MI. Facilities include restrooms and dock.

Which lakes near Elk Lake were stocked more recently?

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.

Sources (7) +