Gull Lake near Bemidji: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Beltrami County, Gull Lake is a Minnesota water. It lies 1,365 feet above sea level. At some 3.5 sq miles it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 12 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Few waters listed in Beltrami County are bigger. 15 miles away sits Bemidji, the nearest town. After that come Redby at 17 miles and Red Lake at 20 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Gull Lake

  The charted maximum sits at about 33 feet. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Beltrami County, recorded fish include walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Gull Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 3°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Gull Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Loon Lake at 2.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Gull Lake.