← Antrim County

Elk Lake

πŸ“ Antrim County, Michigan

Deep clear lake connected to Torch Lake. World-class smallmouth and lake trout. Part of the Chain of Lakes.

7,793
Acres
197 ft
Max depth
43
Fish species
1
Boat launches
βœ“
Public access
Conditions today C 54/100 Average conditions Last stocked Apr 14, 2026 Brown Trout, 203 days ago Keeper size (estimated) Brown Trout Stocked fish likely at keeper size by now Access 1 boat launch Public access

πŸ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Elk Lake looks for the day you pick (today by default), from 0 to 100. It adds up five things: how recently the lake was stocked, the moon phase, the season, how many game and panfish species live here (such as atlantic salmon, lake trout and smallmouth bass), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

C
54/100
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Conditions score

Average conditions, fish are catchable but may be selective.

🎣 Stocking
Last stocked Apr 14, 2026
Last: Apr 14, 2026
🌘 Moon Phase
Waning Crescent
Feeding bonus
πŸƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
🐟 Species
12 game/panfish species: outstanding variety
Game & panfish
πŸ“ Lake Size
7,793 acres. Great Lake/large reservoir
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Elk Lake Today

Fall fish at Elk Lake are feeding heavily before winter. Match the forage: shad, crawfish, and perch patterns work well.

πŸ“Š Fishing Pressure

Fishing pressure is our estimate of how busy Elk Lake is likely to be today. It looks at the day of the week, the time of year, and whether the lake has been stocked recently, because fresh stockings tend to draw anglers. Lower pressure usually means more room to work the water for atlantic salmon, lake trout and smallmouth bass.

Very Low estimated pressure today
Popular stocking lake

Very little activity expected. A great time to have the lake to yourself.

Estimate based on day of week, season, and recent stocking. Not a live crowd count.

🐟 Fish Species in Elk Lake

Atlantic Salmon Good
Salmo salar
Lake Trout Excellent
Salvelinus namaycush
Smallmouth Bass Excellent
Micropterus dolomieu
Brown Trout Good
Salmo trutta
Northern Pike Good
Esox lucius
Rainbow Trout Good
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Walleye Good
Sander vitreus
Yellow Perch Good
Perca flavescens
Gizzard Shad Good
Dorosoma cepedianum
Golden Shiner Good
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Lake Herring Good
Coregonus artedi
Rock Bass Good
Ambloplites rupestris
Bluntnose Minnow Good
Pimephales notatus
Brook Silverside Good
Labidesthes sicculus
Brook Stickleback Good
Culaea inconstans
Central Mudminnow Good
Umbra limi
Common Shiner Good
Luxilus cornutus
Deepwater Sculpin Good
Myoxocephalus thompsonii
Emerald Shiner Good
Notropis atherinoides
Fathead Minnow Good
Pimephales promelas
Finescale Dace Good
Phoxinus neogaeus
Golden Redhorse Good
Moxostoma erythrurum
Goldfish Good
Carassius auratus
Lake Chub Good
Couesius plumbeus
Least Darter Good
Etheostoma microperca
Longnose Sucker Good
Catostomus catostomus
Mimic Shiner Good
Notropis volucellus
Mottled Sculpin Good
Cottus bairdii
Ninespine Stickleback Good
Pungitius pungitius
Northern Pearl Dace Good
Margariscus nachtriebi
Northern Redbelly Dace Good
Phoxinus eos
Quillback Good
Carpiodes cyprinus
Sand Shiner Good
Notropis stramineus
Shorthead Redhorse Good
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Silver Redhorse Good
Moxostoma anisurum
Slimy Sculpin Good
Cottus cognatus
Spoonhead Sculpin Good
Cottus ricei
Spotfin Shiner Good
Cyprinella spiloptera
Spottail Shiner Good
Notropis hudsonius
Threespine Stickleback Good
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Trout-Perch Good
Percopsis omiscomaycus
Western Banded Killifish Good
Fundulus diaphanus
White Sucker Good
Catostomus commersonii
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πŸ“… Best Time to Fish Elk Lake

Combined bite activity across all 43 species in this lake.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

πŸ“ Fishing Regulations

Statewide general rules for the species found here. Individual waters can have exceptions (special size limits, closed seasons, trout lake types), so check this lake's listing in the official DNR Fishing Guide before heading out.
SpeciesMin sizeDaily limit
Smallmouth Bass14"5 bass combined
Brown Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Northern Pike24"2
Rainbow Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Walleye15"5
Yellow PerchNone25
Lake HerringNone5 inland (with whitefish)
Rock BassNone25 sunfish combined
πŸ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
23 Stocking events
330,712 Fish stocked
2 Species
203d Since last stock
385d Longest gap
Rainbow Trout 7,700
Brown Trout 323,012
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
Mar '18
Dec '18
Apr '19
Apr '20
May '20
Apr '21
Apr '22
May '22
Apr '23
Apr '24
May '25
Apr '26

πŸ“‹ Elk Lake Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Apr 14, 2026 Brown Trout 12,528 7.3"
Apr 14, 2026 Brown Trout 12,534 7.3"
Apr 14, 2026 Brown Trout 12,533 7.3"
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 7,902 7.7"
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 1,098 7.7"
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 9,000 7.4"
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 13,000 7.7"
Apr 15, 2024 Brown Trout 11,190 6.9"
Apr 15, 2024 Brown Trout 7,410 5.2"
Apr 20, 2023 Brown Trout 11,784 6.6"
Apr 20, 2023 Brown Trout 12,431 4.9"
May 13, 2022 Brown Trout 11,900 7.4"
Apr 18, 2022 Brown Trout 27,135 4.9"
Apr 22, 2021 Brown Trout 10,535 4.8"
Apr 7, 2021 Brown Trout 29,050 4.6"
May 29, 2020 Brown Trout 8,998 8.0"
May 14, 2020 Brown Trout 9,000 5.5"
Apr 24, 2020 Brown Trout 34,995 4.6"
Apr 29, 2019 Brown Trout 19,994 5.1"
Apr 4, 2019 Brown Trout 10,000 7.3"
Apr 4, 2019 Brown Trout 9,995 7.3"
Dec 19, 2018 Brown Trout 40,000 4.1"
Mar 28, 2018 Rainbow Trout 7,700 7.9"
Jun 6, 2013 Brown Trout 158 2.5"
Jun 6, 2012 Brown Trout 56 3.0"
Showing 25 of 152 stocking records, newest first

* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.

πŸ“… Stocking Forecast

Based on 152 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: Apr.
Peak Stocking Months
May Apr Jun
Most Stocked Species
Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Lake Trout

* Forecast is based on historical DNR data and is not a guarantee of future stocking.

βš“ Elk Lake Boat Launches (1)

One public access site is listed for Elk Lake. Select a launch for details. Details come from the Michigan DNR boating access data and can change, so check posted signs on site. See all Antrim County boat launches.

Elk Lake Paved ramp Fee required 1 trailer lane 12 parking
Amenities
Vault toilet, Boating pier, AIS signage, Accessible pier, Accessible restrooms
Hours
04:00-23:00
Phone
231-922-5270
Record updated
April 2026
Full details πŸ—Ί Directions

πŸ’‘ Angler Tips for Elk Lake

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🌀 Current Elk Lake Weather Conditions

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