Elbow Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
The LakeGrade rubric puts Elbow Lake at a C: clarity at 7.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 49 signal an intermediate trophic state.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. The lake's 60 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. At 1,695 acres, Elbow Lake is one of the larger lakes in St. Louis County, with 27.8 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Elbow Lake sits at rank 99 of 187 in St. Louis County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Elbow Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Elbow Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.7K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 27.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Elbow Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Elbow Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Elbow Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.031 m/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #99 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Elbow Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Elbow Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 18.38 | 0.44 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.29 | 0.25 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.39 | 2.32 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.88 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 1.75 | 1.76 lb |
| LKW | 1.53 | 3.3 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.
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
White Sucker
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-08-20 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Elbow Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elbow Lake. 4 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElbowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Elbow (1970)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
EPA Impairment Status
Elbow Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0744-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-09-20
Monitoring stations: 1