The first lake of the Visit Brainerd Lake Profiles is one of the largest and most popular lakes in the area: Gull Lake! Gull Lake is over 10,000 acres, has a maximum depth of 80 feet and water clarity of about 15 feet. Common target species of fish include walleyes, largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappies, sunfish, and tullibees (cisco); and also included are muskies, fish of 10,000 casts! Gull Lake is the site of the annual Brainerd Ice Fishing Extravaganza, a charitable ice fishing contest hosted by Jaycees Brainerd. 20,000 ice fishing holes are drilled into the ice on Gull Lake for the event each year! Gull Lake is the largest member of a chain of lakes (Gull Lake Chain), which span a collection of eight connected lakes and two bays: Gull Lake, Upper Gull Lake, Nisswa Lake, Roy Lake, Margaret Lake, Spider Lake, Spring Lake, Love Lake, Round Lake, Bass Lake, Steamboat Bay, and Wilson’s Bay. The chain collectively covers 13,000 acres.
Status of the Fishery excerpt from the MN Department of Natural Resources (7/15/2019):
-Walleye fry are stocked annually in Gull Lake (2,825,000/year). Size was nice with an average length of 17.3″ (fish over 30″ are caught on Gull Lake every year!)
-Northern pike were sampled in average numbers at 6.4/gill net. Size was good with an average of 3.8 lbs and 25.6″. Northern pike up to 38.0″ were captured.
-Black crappies were sampled in average numbers in trap nets at 0.9/net. Average length was 9.3″.
-Bluegills were sampled in average numbers at 38.4/ trap net. Most were on the small side, with an average length of 4.7″.
-Yellow perch and tullibee (cisco) are important prey for predator species such as walleye and northern pike. Yellow perch were sampled in average numbers at 5.6/gill net. Most were small with an average length of 6.7″. Tullibee (cisco) were also sampled in average numbers at 2.7/gill net. Average length was 14.1″.
Gull Lake is a great lake to target multiple species of fish whether under the ice or in a boat! Due to the great water clarity, swimming and recreational opportunities exist around the entire lake; as well as phenomenal restaurants and lodging! Gull Lake is one more reason to get out and enjoy the outdoors and yet another reason to “Visit Brainerd!” Happy Hawg Hunting!
