Gull Lake Fishing Guide
Brainerd lakes area has so many quality lakes to choose from, sometimes it is difficult to decide which one to fish. You can’t go wrong with Gull lake. Todd Andrist is your go to Gull lake fishing guide. We can arrange to meet at the lake access, or pick up at your hotel, resort, or dock.
Gull Lake Fishing Guide Data
Gull Lake, at 9,418 acres, is one of the largest and most popular lakes in the Brainerd area. The lake is heavily developed with 27.8 homes/cabins per shoreline mile and 19 resorts of various types and sizes as of 1996. The maximum depth is 80′ and about 30% of the lake is 15′ deep or less. Shallow water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel, although areas of rubble and boulder are also common. The aquatic plant community is quite diverse with 35 species present and is critical to maintaining healthy fish populations. Emergent plants such as bulrush are important for shoreline protection, maintaining water quality, and provide essential spawning habitat for bass and panfish species. Submerged plants provide food and cover needed by fish and other aquatic species.
The 2007 walleye catch of 8.5/gill net is the highest to date on Gull lake. Average length and weight were 14.6″ and 1.3 lbs. Twelve different year classes were represented with age 2 and age 4 (2005 and 2003 year classes, respectively) accounting for 59% of the gill net catch. These 2 year classes have accounted for much of the angler harvest in 2006 and 2007.
Northern pike abundance was typical of past catches at 4.1/gill net in 2007. Average length and weight were also similar at 25.8″ and 4.0 lbs. The 2004 and 2003 year classes (age 3 and 4) were the strongest, accounting for 57% of all northern pike sampled. These fish measured approximately 19″ to 27″. Tullibee and yellow perch are important forage species for the lake’s game fish.
The yellow perch catch was lower than past catches on Gull lake, but at 18.3/gill net was still average when compared to similar lakes. Tullibee abundance was also the lowest to date at 0.5/gill net. A lack of thermal habitat in 2007 resulted in large die offs of tullibee and is likely responsible at least in part for the recent decline in tullibee abundance.