Gull

Gull Lake lies on the Sea Gull River between Sea Gull Lake (upstream) and Saganaga Lake (downstream), and was last surveyed in 1998. Movement of fish between Saganaga and Gull Lakes occurs regularly, while a barrier falls blocks movement of fish (and other organisms) from Gull Lake to Sea Gull Lake. This standard survey was scheduled to assess attainment of goals for Walleye and Northern Pike in Gull Lake, and as part of the evaluation of a special Walleye regulation implemented on all three lakes in 2016. That regulation reduced the Walleye bag limit to three fish, with one fish over 20 inches allowed in possession, and established a minimum size limit of 17 inches in an effort to address a decline in Walleye recruitment in this system. Fair numbers of Walleye were found in 2017, but most were small. Although the catch was low for a lake of this type, it was similar to past catches in this lake, and met the goal for Walleye established in the current (2008) lake management plan (a minimum gill net catch of 1.6 fish/set, with no size goal set). Only five year classes contributed to the 2017 catch, with the strongest apparently produced in 2015 and 2014. The 2014 year class may have been supplemented by Walleye fry stocking done in Saganaga Lake that year, but the 2015 year class had been produced naturally. Growth of young Walleye had apparently been slow. Fish reached a mean length of 9.1 inches at the end of their third year, compared to an area average of 10.5 inches. The Walleye special regulation implemented on this lake in 2016 has not been in place long enough to have much influence on the lake's Walleye population. This survey yielded some information on the potential strength of a couple recent year classes. Future surveys will help us determine whether the minimum size limit improves recruitment from these year classes. The 2017 Northern Pike gill net catch also met the long range goal for the species in the 2008 management plan, and the size goal in that plan (some fish over 25 inches present) was met by the capture of two larger fish in gill nets. Although the gill net catch was low for a lake of this type, it was similar to catches seen in this lake in the past, which have never exceeded 1.7 fish/set. Several year classes, including fish as old as ten years, contributed to the Northern Pike catch, although none of those year classes appeared to have been strong. Growth of young fish had apparently been slow; three-year-old fish reached a average length of 15.8 inches at the end of their third year, compared to an area average of 18.2 inches. Walleye and Northern Pike had to compete with Black Crappie and Smallmouth Bass for what appeared to have been a very small Yellow Perch forage base. The Yellow Perch gill net catch was low for a lake of this type, and for this lake historically. Only a handful of young-of-year (YOY) Yellow Perch were taken in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets. Black Crappie were sampled for the first time in Gull Lake in 2017, after appearing a few years earlier in Sea Gull and Saganaga Lakes. The trap net catch was high for a lake of this type, but most of the fish taken were small (under eight inches in length). Only three year classes contributed to the 2017 catch. At least one angling party reported some success fishing for crappie on Gull Lake over the winter of 2018. Gull Lake continued to support average numbers of Smallmouth Bass in 2017. The catch included mostly larger fish, suggesting recent recruitment may have been low. However, the catch of YOY Smallmouth Bass in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets was above normal for a lake of this type, creating the possibility of a stronger year class coming from 2017. Bluegill were first sampled in Gull Lake in 1993, although none were found in the next (1998) survey. In 2017 only 0.25-in-mesh trap nets captured the species, and all fish taken were very small (YOY or one-year-old fish). As yet there have been no reports of Bluegill being taken by anglers in this lake. Cisco have not usually been found in lakes of this type, but have often been taken in Gull Lake, where they appeared to have been fairly abundant in 2017. A few Lake Whitefish were also present. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements done as part of this survey suggested that cold-water habitat for both species might be limited, with tolerable conditions found only across a narrow range of depths. Both species could provide high-quality forage for Northern Pike and the larger Walleye sometimes found in this lake. Gull Lake supported an unsually diverse (for this area) fish community in 2017, with 12 species taken in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets. The catch in that gear included species not usually found in this area, like Tadpole Madtoms and Spottail Shiners.

The 1998 walleye catch, while not very high for lakes of this class, was one of the higher catches observed in this lake, historically. Several walleye year classes, all produced naturally, were included in the catch, although none were particularly strong. Walleye growth had been slow, probably due to the lack of yellow perch and competition with lake whitefish and northern cisco. Most of the walleye collected in 1998 had been feeding on insects.Northern pike were relatively abundant, and several larger fish were observed. Northern pike as old as nine years were taken - unusually old fish for lakes in this area. Northern pike growth had been somewhat faster than average, probably because of the availability of a northern cisco forage base.Smallmouth bass were also taken in 1998, in average numbers and size. Lake whitefish were very abundant, both for lakes of this class, and for this lake, historically.

Gull Lake supported good numbers of small to medium-sized walleye, most (if not all) of which were produced naturally. The lake also supported a fair number of good-sized northern pike, and a small number of smallmouth bass. Bluegill were found in the lake for the first time, but they appeared to be very low in number.

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

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

Gull has a maximum depth of 40 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Gull is from 2017. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Gull in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.