Gegoka

Gegoka Lake is a shallow lake with bog colored water located five miles northwest of Isabella within the Superior National Forest. There is a public water access with earthen boat ramp off State Highway 1. Historically, the lake has supported a Northern Pike fishery with modest size structure and a low-density Walleye fishery. The results of the 2025 standard fisheries survey confirm the lake still maintains similar opportunities for these species, but the current fish community also includes fishable populations of Black Crappie and Bluegill. Adult Bluegill were stocked into the lake in 2000 and have subsequently established a small population sustained through natural reproduction. The catch from the 2025 survey included individuals from the eight most recent year classes that ranged in size from 0.9 to 8.4 inches long. Survey results indicate the lake currently supports a small population of Bluegill with modest harvest opportunities. Black Crappie have established a naturalized population over the last decade since migrating into the lake from adjacent waterbodies. The 2025 catch ranged from young of the year fish measuring less than two inches long to adult fish greater than thirteen inches in length. Based on survey data, the current population should provide anglers with good opportunities to catch and harvest crappie.

Gegoka Lake is 145 acres, has a maximum depth of 10 feet, and is located approximately 5 miles northwest of Isabella, MN. There is a gravel back-in access on the south shore of the lake with parking for several vehicles off of State Highway 1. There are no facilities available at the access location. The 2018 standard survey was conducted to monitor the fish community in Gegoka Lake. Walleye catch was near average relative to similar lakes in northeastern Minnesota. The average size was 18.9 inches and 2.5 pounds, with 69% of the catch over 18.0 inches long. The largest Walleye sampled was 24.4 inches long and weighed 5.2 pounds. Natural reproduction success may be sporadic with noticeable gaps in year classes but growth was average for the area. The Northern Pike catch in 2018 was average compared to similar lakes in the area and within the historical catch for the lake. The size of Northern Pike in gill nets was small with the average length of 15.7 inches and 0.8 pounds. Northern Pike caught in trap nets were larger with two individuals over 30 inches, the largest being 37.6 inches. Growth of Northern Pike was average and five year classes were present in the catch. Bluegill and Black Crappie lakes in the Finland Area tend to have small populations of fast growing fish that occasionally produce a strong year class. Spawning habitat in Gegoka Lake is fair and the cool climate of northeastern Minnesota may limit their successful natural reproduction. Bluegill were captured within the normal range for similar lakes and exhibited above average growth for the area. Bluegill had an average size of 6.9 inches, but none of the catch was over 8 inches. The 2018 survey was the first to sample Black Crappie in Gegoka Lake. Eight young of the year Black Crappie averaging 1.8 inches were sampled. It is not known how Black Crappie got to Gegoka Lake, but it is possible they may have migrated upstream from Flat Horn Lake via Weiss Creek. Yellow Perch were sampled at average numbers relative to similar lakes in the area, but were the lowest in the last five surveys. Yellow Perch had an average length of 7.50 inches and 45% of the catch was over 9 inches. Natural reproduction is successful in maintaining the population and growth of perch was average compared to the Finland area. Largemouth Bass are also present in Gegoka Lake. Standard sampling gear does not sample adult Largemouth Bass well; and the 2018 survey only caught 17 small bass, the largest being 3.7 inches. There have been angler reports of 14 inch Largemouth Bass being caught on the lake. White Sucker were sampled in above average numbers relative to similar lakes and size averaged 16.0 inches and 1.8 pounds. Pumpkinseed and Golden Shiner were also sampled with the survey gear. Gegoka Lake has a decent Walleye population and a Northern Pike population that can produce some fish over 30 inches. There is a small Bluegill population that can produce some nice fish. A Black Crappie population is still establishing in the lake and may be of interest to anglers in coming years. Gegoka Lake offers a scenic setting for visitors to the lake and there are only a few cabins along the shoreline. There are miles of hiking/cross country ski trails near the lake that provide additional recreational opportunities.

Gegoka Lake is a 145 acre, 100% littoral lake with a maximum depth of 10 feet. There is a back-in gravel ramp at the public access, with parking, off of State Highway 1 at the small bay in the middle of the south shore. There are no facilities available at this location. Gegoka Lake is a soft-water lake with a clean gravel band near shore around the southern half of the lake and muck substrate over much of the lake. Aquatic vegetation is common, with wild rice beds in the northern half of the lake that at times are suitable for recreational harvest. Vegetation was growing to a depth of 8 feet in the brown bog-stained water. There are two small inlets entering Gegoka Lake, the outlet flows from the north end into Flathorn Lake. The walleye numbers were well above average in the 2011 for this lake class. The average size of the walleye sampled was also above average for the lake class at 1.6 pound (16.1 inches); the largest walleye was 26.6 inches (6.6 pounds). Forty-six percent of the walleye sampled were greater than 17 inches. Walleye reproduction appears to be sporadic with only two year-classes identified in the aged walleye sample. Walleye stocking was discontinued in 1999 when multiple investigations showed no correlation between stocking and strong walleye year-classes. The northern pike sample was above average for the lake class in 2011. The average weight of northern pike in the 2011 sample was 2.6 pounds the largest 35.5 inches (12.3 pounds) with five northern pike over 30 inches sampled. Northern pike reproduction was fairly consistent indicating good numbers of northern pike should be available to the angler in the future. A minor portion of the northern pike sampled had Neascus (black spot) parasites. Yellow perch were sampled in above average numbers for the lake class in 2011 which has historically been the case in Gegoka Lake. The mean weight in 2011 was 0.2 pound (7.4 inches), the largest yellow perch sampled in any gear in 2011 measured 11.8 inches with thirty-one percent of the total catch greater than eight inches. Yellow perch natural reproduction appears to be sufficient to provide a forage base for the predator populations and a quality yellow perch fishery to the angler. Many of the yellow perch had Neascus (black spot) and a lesser number had yellow grub parasites, or both. Bluegills were stocked in Gegoka Lake in 2000 in an attempt to establish a self-sustaining panfish population in the Isabella area. The early results were impressive with fast growing bluegill attaining nearly 8 inch in four years, with fish over 10 inches sampled. Natural reproduction appeared to be lacking in early assessments with gaps between weak year-classes in the small bluegill population. Three bluegills were sampled in Gegoka Lake in 2011, representing two different year-classes. The average weight of bluegill sampled was 1.0 pound (9.7 inches) the largest bluegill was 10.4 inches (1.3 pounds). Natural reproduction again appeared to be the limiting factor in developing a quality bluegill fishery. A larger population of pumpkinseed sunfish exists in Gegoka Lake; however, the average size is much smaller than the bluegill. Largemouth bass are also present in Gegoka Lake, with low numbers of small fish often collected in investigations. The standard gear used in lake surveys does not sample the largemouth bass adults well. Anglers previously reported that largemouth bass over 4 pounds were caught in Gegoka Lake, but the catches were incidental, while fishing for other species.

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

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

Gegoka has a maximum depth of 10 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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