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MN Fish Finder

Sea Gull

Cook County
Near Grand Marais
DOW: 16062900
WalleyeGood · 64Lake TroutGood · 57Northern PikeGood · 52

A 3,958-acre lake near Grand Marais in Cook County — best known for walleye and trout. Last surveyed 2024.

Fish Species (8)

Walleye

Good · 64

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight
2.27 lbs

Catch rate: 1.4 per gill net · typical 0.6–9.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable walleye67% keeper-size (15"+)
10–14" · 33%Largest sampled 30"

Size from the Jun 2024 survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 24, 20240.3317.8"6.09 lbs
Jun 24, 20243.0017.8"2.29 lbs
Jun 14, 20214.0016.1"2.01 lbs

Lake Trout

Good · 57

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight
1.07 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 0.8–4.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable lake trout25% keeper-size (22"+)
14–21" · 75%Largest sampled 24"

Size from the Jun 2024 survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 24, 20241.7517.4"2.16 lbs
Jun 14, 20211.0016.1"1.88 lbs
Jun 18, 20180.5817.9"2.29 lbs

Northern Pike

Good · 52

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight
2.91 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.3–1 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike19% keeper-size (24"+)
14–23" · 81%Largest sampled 28"

Size from the Jun 2024 survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 24, 20240.1921.1"1.90 lbs
Jun 24, 20241.1721.1"2.36 lbs
Jun 14, 20210.5021.5"1.03 lbs

Black Crappie

Average · 41

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2024

Avg Size
9.7"
Avg Weight
0.65 lbs

Catch rate: 0.19 per trap net · typical 1.1 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 24, 20240.199.7"0.65 lbs
Jun 14, 20210.258.0"0.32 lbs
Jun 18, 20180.085.0"0.10 lbs

Yellow Perch

Average · 26

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1988

Last surveyed 1988 — treat with caution

Avg Weight
0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 0.04 per gill net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 11, 19940.097.0"0.18 lbs
Jul 11, 19880.04-0.13 lbs

Green Sunfish

Poor · 24

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2021

Avg Size
4.0"
Avg Weight
0.06 lbs

Catch rate: 0.06 per trap net · typical 0.1–0.8 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 14, 20210.064.0"0.06 lbs
Jun 18, 20180.065.0"0.09 lbs
Jun 30, 20030.114.0"0.07 lbs

Smallmouth Bass

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2024

Avg Size
14.3"
Avg Weight
1.92 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 24, 20240.2514.3"1.92 lbs
Jun 14, 20210.3312.8"1.42 lbs
Jun 18, 20180.4213.3"1.90 lbs
Other species in this lake (1)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Good · 57

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight
2.54 lbs

Catch rate: 1.9 per gill net · typical 1.7–5 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jun 24, 20241.1720.4"3.85 lbs
Jun 24, 20240.1220.4"5.90 lbs
Jun 14, 20212.5019.3"3.49 lbs

Biologist Notes

August 8, 2024Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Sea Gull Lake on August 8th, 2024, to evaluate the quantit…

Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Sea Gull Lake on August 8th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 88.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 45.9 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L at 88.6 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 42.6 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 7.2 degrees C (45.0 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 1977 and 2018 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 1977. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

August 8, 2024Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Sea Gull Lake on August 8th, 2024, to evaluate the quantit…

Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Sea Gull Lake on August 8th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 88.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 45.9 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L at 88.6 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 42.6 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 7.2 degrees C (45.0 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 1977 and 2018 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 1977. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

August 8, 2024Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Sea Gull Lake on August 8th, 2024, to evaluate the quantit…

Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Sea Gull Lake on August 8th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 88.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 45.9 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L at 88.6 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 42.6 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 7.2 degrees C (45.0 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 1977 and 2018 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 1977. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Sea Gull?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch in Sea Gull. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Sea Gull?

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

How deep is Sea Gull?

Sea Gull has a maximum depth of 145 feet and a mean depth of 36 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Sea Gull last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sea Gull is from 2024.

Does Sea Gull have any invasive species?

Yes — Sea Gull has confirmed spiny waterflea. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.

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Lake Details

Surface Area
3,957.72 acres
Max Depth
145 ft
Mean Depth
36 ft
Shoreline
74.97 mi
Public Access
Yes
View on DNR LakeFinder

Invasive Species Alert

  • spiny waterflea

Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to prevent spread.

Location

48.1335°N, 90.9240°W

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