Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 372.93 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 373 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Elliot Lake is a 373-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Elliot Lake ranks #36 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Elliot Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 20.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Elliot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elliot Lake in St. Louis 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.
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Water Temperature
Elliot Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elliot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Average Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 373 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Elliot LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elliot Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 15.94 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.82 | 0.31 lb |
| BNS | 13.67 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.98 | 1.28 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.98 | 1.02 lb |
| JND | 4.70 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2018-07-30 survey
Elliot is a 373-acre lake with 100% littoral area and a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake is located near Central Lakes, MN and has a state owned, back in access on the west side of the lake. Elliot was last surveyed in 2011. Elliot was surveyed during the summer of 2018 to update information about fish populations.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elliot Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElliotFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Elliot (1791)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ElliotPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Elliot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Elliot Lake?
- Elliot Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 372.93 acres.
Is Elliot Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Elliot Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Elliot Lake?
- Elliot Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elliot Lake?
- Elliot Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 372.93 acres.
What fish are in Elliot Lake?
- Fish species found in Elliot Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Elliot Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Elliot Lake?
- Elliot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elliot Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Elliot Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory