Elbow Lake
Elbow Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 994.71 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Max depth
- 76 ft
- Area
- 995 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Becker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Elbow Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Elbow Lake is a 995-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 76 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Elbow Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-06-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Elbow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elbow Lake in Becker County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Elbow Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 76 ft |
| Surface Area | 995 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 20% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elbow Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 23.46 | — |
| Bluegill | 17.26 | 0.15 lb |
| BNS | 17.13 | — |
| BKF | 12.53 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 11.61 | 0.2 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.57 | 0.83 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-08-21 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Elbow Lake was conducted August 22nd - 23rd, 2024, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries Staff. Data was collected from 14 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, 3 were sampled with a 50-foot seine and 3…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elbow Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElbowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Elbow (1026)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ElbowFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ElbowPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.071 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (40 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-26 (2012) | 2020-04-26 (2020) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-09 (2019) | 2006-12-08 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-07
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Elbow Lake
What is the water quality grade for Elbow Lake?
- Elbow Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 994.71 acres.
Is Elbow Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Elbow Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Elbow Lake?
- Elbow Lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet. The lake covers 994.71 acres.
What fish are in Elbow Lake?
- Fish species found in Elbow Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Elbow Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Elbow Lake thaw?
- Elbow Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Explore Elbow Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
70 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX46 samples · 2024 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate