Minnesota · Aitkin County
Gun Lake Fishing guide
Gun Lake is a 712-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota, reaching 44 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2per gill net14"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 54 fish
2023Lengths measured · 4 fish
2019Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassJust a few10.5per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
2019Northern pikeJust a few4.8per gill net23"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 84 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2025Lengths measured · 72 fish
2023Lengths measured · 20 fish
2019Lengths measured · 88 fish
2019BluegillJust a few8.8per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 251 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 83 fish
2025Lengths measured · 168 fish
2023Lengths measured · 195 fish
2019Lengths measured · 138 fish
2019CrappieJust a few1.2per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 285 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 20 fish
2025Lengths measured · 265 fish
2023Lengths measured · 382 fish
2019Lengths measured · 208 fish
2019Yellow perchGood numbers7.9per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 118 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 16 fish
2025Lengths measured · 102 fish
2023Lengths measured · 4 fish
2019Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 74 fish
2019Rates 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 Gun 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. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12" | 5" | — |
| 2023 | 25" | 18" | 13" |
| 2019 | 28" | 19" | — |
| 2016 | 24" | 17" | — |
| 2013 | 22" | 15" | — |
| 2011 | 25" | 14" | — |
| 2008 | 24" | 16" | — |
| 2003 | 28" | 15" | — |
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 · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
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 | 300,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 2,364 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 3,396 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 3,146 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 2,526 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 2,350 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 3,876 fingerlings · 31 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 3,358 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,538 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 480,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Fall night electrofishing was conducted on 9/17/2025 to monitor the success of Walleye fry stocking on Gun Lake. Walleye fry were stocked annually from 2011 to 2016, however these stocking events resulted in poor year class strength indexes. Due to poor fry survival and recruitment, annual fingerling stocking resumed from 2017 to 2024. Walleye fry were stocked in 2025 instead of fingerlings due to budget limitations, expectations of finglerling shortfall, and because of improvement seen in recent White Sucker reproduction. White Suckers have a similar early life history and habitat to Walleye and so if they could survive from egg to adult, then maybe Walleye could too, once again.
The total sample time was 51 minutes with 5 Walleye sampled, but no fish were young-of-year (YOY) or yearling Walleye. All fish sampled were determined to be age 2 and likely from the 2023 fingerling stocked year class. If fry stocking continues in Gun Lake, fall electrofishing should continue as staff time permits to determine the effectiveness of the restarted fry stocking strategy.
Read the full DNR narrative
Gun Lake has not been previously been fall electrofished for Walleye and so a spring electrofishing survey will be conducted to follow up and confirm these results.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Gun Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Gun 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
- Gun Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Gun Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Wilkins Lake · 349 ac · 1.3 mi
- Fleming Lake · 319 ac · 1.8 mi
- French Lake · 149 ac · 1.8 mi
- Turner Lake · 63 ac · 6.3 mi
- Portage Lake · 372 ac · 6.5 mi
- Rock Lake · 342 ac · 6.8 mi
- Round Lake · 185 ac · 7 mi
- Bass Lake · 57 ac · 7.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Gun Lake?
Gun Lake reaches 44 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 18 ft; about 41% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Gun Lake?
Gun Lake covers 712 acres with about 8.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Gun Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Gun Lake average 6.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Gun Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Gun Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Gun Lake have a public access?
Yes. Gun Lake has one public access site: Gun Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Gun Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2003.
When was Gun Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Gun Lake in 2025, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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