Gull Lake in Cass County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Cass County, Minnesota, this is Gull Lake. The water sits 1,181 feet up. Around 15.5 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The bank runs about 63 miles in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cass County list. The nearest town is East Gull Lake, 2.7 miles away. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 114 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Gull Lake

  Sounding records show water to about 91 feet. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Open biodiversity records for Cass County list largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, walleye and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work Gull Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 8°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Gull Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Agate Lake, 1.2 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Gull Lake.