Gilstad Lake near Bemidji: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Gilstad Lake falls inside Beltrami County. It lies 1,312 feet above sea level. Roughly 252 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. A shoreline of some 3.0 miles keeps the choices simple. It ranks high for size among our Beltrami County listings. The nearest town is Bemidji, 21 miles away. Redby lies 23 miles off, Red Lake another 27 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gilstad Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Beltrami County records list walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass and white sucker among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Gilstad Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 3°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Gilstad Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Little Gilstad Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Gilstad Lake.