Minnesota · Beltrami County
Gull Lake Fishing guide
Gull Lake covers 2,256 acres in Beltrami County, Minnesota, reaching 23 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.5per gill net16"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 71 fish
2020Lengths measured · 38 fish
2014Lengths measured · 71 fish
2009Lengths measured · 38 fish
2004Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Gull Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 83% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 83% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 26" | 19" | 28" |
| 2014 | 24" | 17" | 35" |
| 2009 | 22" | 19" | 35" |
| 2004 | 22" | 19" | 30" |
| 1999 | 26" | 18" | 33" |
| 1994 | 25" | 17" | 31" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Swim Jig + Paddletail Trailer
3.5–4.5" paddletail trailer on a bullet-nosed swim jig
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,843,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 935,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,872,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 939,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,870,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,860,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 951,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,177,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,894,415 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Gull Lake was conducted on July 12-14, 2021, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 24 sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 10 stations, a 15-foot seine was used at eight stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at six stations. Nearshore sampling captured 16 species of fish including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Rock bass) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (Black Bullhead).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (Black Bullhead). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Read the full DNR narrative
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Gull Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River-Headwaters Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Gull Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Gull Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Gull Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Gull Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sandy Lake · 261 ac · 3.6 mi
- Medicine Lake · 461 ac · 4 mi
- Three Island Lake · 730 ac · 5 mi
- Black Lake · 271 ac · 5.1 mi
- Turtle River Lake · 1,740 ac · 6.5 mi
- Beltrami Lake · 726 ac · 6.6 mi
- Blackduck Lake · 2,711 ac · 6.7 mi
- Turtle Lake · 1,607 ac · 7.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Gull Lake?
Gull Lake reaches 23 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 10 ft; about 83% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Gull Lake?
Gull Lake covers 2,256 acres with about 12.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Gull Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Gull Lake average 9.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Gull Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Gull Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Gull Lake have a public access?
Yes. Gull Lake has one public access site: Gull Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Gull Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Gull Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Gull Lake in 2021, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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