Ray

Ray is a small 136 acre lake that is part of the Gull Chain of Lakes and can be accessed through channels from Upper Gull Lake and Spider Lake. Ray receives plenty of recreational traffic as boats navigate between Gull and Nisswa Lakes. A special regulation enacted in 2024 requires the immediate release of all Northern Pike between 30 and 40 inches, with a possession limit of two fish and only one allowed over 40 inches on the Gull Chain of Lakes. A standard survey using gill nets and trap nets was conducted in June 2025 to assess fish populations and provide angler information. Anglers looking to get a meal of panfish should be able to accomplish that on Ray, while those looking for trophy panfish should look elsewhere. The Bluegill trap net catch was a little below average for the lake. Fish ranged in length from 3.2 to 8.0 inches with an average of 6.4 inches. Bluegill at least 7 inches in length made up 30% of the sample. Growth was slow compared to similar lakes with Bluegills reaching 6 inches at age 6. Black Crappies were sampled in below average numbers in trap nets and in above average numbers in gill nets. Fish ranged in length from 6.4 to 11.0 inches with 56% at least 8 inches in length. The Northern Pike gill net catch was above average for the lake. Fish ranged in length from 13.4 to 29.3 inches with an average of 20.3 inches. Anglers wishing to harvest will find plenty of opportunity on Ray since no Northern Pike were sampled in the protected slot. Electrofishing, the preferred method for sampling Largemouth Bass, was not completed in 2025. Anglers can expect a chance at some decent fish based on what was caught in the summer netting. Fish ranging from 6.3 to 18.7 inches were sampled, with 83% measuring at least 12 inches. Other species sampled in the latest survey included Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.

Ray Lake is a 143 acre lake, with a maximum depth of 27', located 13 miles northwest of Brainerd in Cass County. Ray is located in the Crow Wing River watershed. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Ten 100' long sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lakeshore. Each station was then sampled by backpack electrofishing, and if conditions allowed with a 15' or 50' 1/8th inch seine. The survey took place on June 21, 2019, with all 10 stations sampled by backpack electrofishing. The 50' 1/8th inch seine was used at 2 stations and the 15' 1/8th inch seine was used at an additional 3 stations. Heavy vegetation and/or soft bottom prevented the use of seines at the other 5 sampling sites. Nineteen species were sampled, including 6 species that are intolerant of habitat disturbance: banded killifish, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, mimic shiner, pugnose shiner, and rock bass. This nearshore survey will be used along with the gill net and trap net survey conducted on June 17-19, 2019 to calculate a Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health by the types of fish species present and comparing it to what is expected for this type of lake.

Ray is a small 136 acre lake that can be accessed through a channel from Upper Gull Lake. During the summer, motorized boat travel in much of the lake is limited due to abundant aquatic vegetation. The primary management species on Ray is bluegill. The 2019 catch rate dropped to 11.5/trap net from 29.4 in 2013. Size seemed to have dropped too, with a mean length of 6.1" versus 6.6" in 2013 and 28% of the fish were 7" or larger. The other fish that showed some promise to anglers was walleye. The catch per net of 1.7 was average when compared to similar lakes, but the highest to date in Ray. Average length was 20" and all of the fish were over 15". Walleye are not stocked directly into Ray, but connected Gull Lake receives 2,825,000 fry annually and fingerlings were also stocked in Gull in 2018. Northern pike were caught in average numbers (7.3/gill net), but average size in gill nets was only 18.9" and only one fish sampled in a trap net was over the 22"-26" protected slot. Lakes in this part of the state have a northern pike regulation enacted in 2018: possession limit of 10 with not more than 2 over 26". All from 22"-26" must be immediately released. Please refer to the current Minnesota Fishing Regulations for additional information. Other fish caught included black crappie, northern pike, largemouth bass, common carp, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, bowfin (dogfish), rock bass, and hybrid sunfish.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rock Bass, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, and Black Crappie in Ray. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Ray. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Ray has a maximum depth of 27 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ray is from 2025.

Yes — Ray has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.