Fishing the Gull Lake Chain

Fishing on the versatile Gull Lake Chain

By Jon Stolski It’s an excellent choice to catch your favorite fish

The Gull Lake Chain is arguably one of the most versatile chains of lakes, not only in central Minnesota, but anywhere in our state.

Recreating on the lake is popular, but from a fishing standpoint it has great populations of nearly all the game species of fish found in our lakes. Even the mighty musky has some representation.

Most fishermen focus on walleye, bass, northern pike and panfish when they target Gull.

Muskies, although once native to the lake, are now being stocked on an every other year basis, with fishable populations in the near future.

A true “mixed bag” can be caught on Gull Lake almost any time of the year. So, whatever your favorite fish to catch, the Gull Chain is an excellent choice for a good day on the water.

Walleye

The Minnesota state fish can be found in Gull in quantity and size. Early in the season, from fishing opener in mid-May to the middle of June, is a great time to target “eyes” on Gull.

Focus on the many points and flats on the north end. I always start shallow (6-12 feet) and work my way deeper. Like many of our lakes with zebra mussels present, the water has become extraordinarily clear.

Years ago, backtrolling with a leech or shiner was the ticket. Find a point where the wind was blowing in and eventually you’d catch fish.

Now, fishing right under the boat is not productive. I like to use a jig and minnow or jig and leech during this time, casting out away from the boat and starting out with a very slow retrieve back. Use your trolling motor and keep moving until you catch one.

Note the depth and location, and odds are the fish will be in that depth in other locations as well.

With a late ice year like this one, the weeds will be slow to grow, so the fish will be searching the shallows for food. If you see big schools of minnows, odds are you are in the right area.

As the summer goes on, from the middle of June to the first few weeks of August, I start to change my approach. Now, the key to finding the walleyes is finding the nice “green” weed beds, particularly cabbage weeds. The walleyes on Gull love cabbage weeds.

The big stands of cabbage are usually growing in 8-16 feet of water, and when you see the “red tops” sticking up out of the water or right to the surface, you are in a great spot. You can still pitch out a jig and minnow or jig and plastic.

I like paddle tails, but my current favorite presentation is either slow trolling a small spinner and nightcrawler with a small bullet weight, once again trying to keep your bait away from the boat. Or, using a slip bobber and a leech, casting out away from the boat. Focus on the “pockets” or openings in the weeds and there usually are walleye cruising around.

These fish will hang around this cover most of the summer, using the weeds for cover and as an ambush area. It is common to catch other species - bass, perch, panfish - while using this technique, so you will have plenty of action.

As the nights start to cool, usually by mid-August and through the rest of the fall, my focus starts to turn deeper. Fish off the weedline, typically in 20-32 feet of water or more and you will find fish.

Now I tend to use a Lindy rig and a

Dan Borgeson, left, and Jordan Borgeson show their catch of crappies on the Gull Lake Chain.

Contributed photo

Check Us Out On Facebook

FOR MASS SCHEDULES & UPCOMING EVENTS VISIT

www.crosslakecatholic.com 218-692-3731 All Visitors Welcome

“I’m very fortunate to spend most of my summer days on the water, and the Gull Chain is by far one of my favorites!”

Jon Stolski

redtail chub as my main presentation. Use your electronics to search for fish in some of the same locations you caught them earlier in the season, just out a little deeper.

I usually drive around until I spot some fish, then drop down on them. In the deeper water, backtrolling slowly is now the way to go. If you don’t get a bite in 15 minutes or so and are still seeing fish on your electronics, move off of those fish and look for another school. Mark the area with your GPS and you can come back to them. They might be in the right mood to bite.

Any time during the open water season can be productive on Gull. There are many big fish on Gull, so practicing selective harvest is encouraged. Enjoy some time on Gull this summer and you might just come home with a walleye dinner..

Bass

Bass fishing on the Gull Lake Chain is very good. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are present. While the largemouth population is much higher, every year more and more “smallies” are showing up.

Early in the season the shallow parts, almost throughout the entire chain, will hold bass. Fishing is good In the upper parts of the chain in lakes like Spider, Nisswa and Roy. Top water baits, like frogs, are great fun early in the year. Casting spinnerbaits or swim jigs in 2-6 feet, once again around the new weed growth, can produce fish.

As the weeds start to grow, usually by midJune, the fishing just gets better and better. Now using a plastic worm or crankbait, fishing in about 12-18 feet of water, will catch fish. The same cabbage weeds that hold walleye will hold nice populations of bass.

By late summer, the fish will drop a little deeper and using a Texas rig or deeper diving crankbait should put fish in the boat.

The quality of the bass on Gull is amazing. It is not uncommon to catch fish over a 3 pound average and fish over 5 pounds are often reeled in. Many bass tournaments are held on Gull Lake each summer and the size and numbers of fish are impressive.

Northern pike

If “pike” are your favorite fish to catch, the Gull chain can be the place to be. Historically, Gull has produced some really big pike over the years (over 40 inches). In recent years, it seems like the number of these big “toothy” critters is down.

However, there definitely seems to be a good population of quality sized pike 25-32 inches. From the mid-May opener into the first few weeks of June, casting a white spinnerbait or a Jig and a minnow will produce some good pike. Since pike are some of the first to spawn every year, even with a late ice out, these fish should be active and looking for food.

I usually focus on weeds (even if they are from last year) in the 6-12 foot range. The pike are roamers this time of year and you could catch them in a variety of places and depths. Mid-summer the bigger pike tend to move a little deeper and trolling bigger baits will work. I also like to use a Jig and sucker combo, casting out and letting my bait fall to the bottom and slowly bringing it back.

Catching a “bonus” big walleye or bass may also happen this time of year.

As with all of our species, practicing selective harvest is important. All pike on Gull between 22-26 inches must be released.

Those 21-inchers are good to eat and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages you to harvest these fish with liberal limits on the “smaller” pike. The fish over 26 inches are some of our best spawners, so keeping these on a limited basis is really important to maintain a quality fishery.

Panfish

The “panfishing” primarily includes crappies and sunfish on Gull and is also excellent. Early in the season, in fact right after the ice goes out, these fish are really the target of many anglers.

The shallow bays and channels found throughout the chain will hold crappies and sunnies. These fish will often be together in the warmest water you can find, and they are hungry.

When the water finally starts to warm up, mid-60s and higher, they will spawn and slowly start to move out to deeper water. Until at least mid-June, fishing in 8 feet or less will be the ticket.

Using small jigs tipped with a plastic or crappie minnow will help you to catch fish. This is the time of year to use a bobber and make long casts away from the boat, as the clear water (thanks to zebra mussels) keeps the fish a little spooky.

Once the water warms into that 70-plus degree range the fish will relate more to the deeper weeds, 10-16 feet. Trolling or casting a small beetle spin or jig with a plastic trailer can catch you some supper.

By the end of summer, these fish might even be deeper and using a slip bobber and a small panfish sized leech will be productive.

The Gull Chain of Lakes has something for everyone. I’m very fortunate to spend most of my summer days on the water, and the Gull Chain is by far one of my favorites!

JON STOLSKI is a full-time fishing guide for the Nisswa Guides League. He has been a guide for more than 30 years and enjoys the thrill of catching all the species in our lakes. Jon can be reached at S and W Bait and Tackle at 218-963-2547 or 218-839-9684.

air bladder.

Prime fishing times for walleyes are low light periods whether that be overcast, early in the morning or at sundown.

Popular techniques for fishing walleyes on the chain include trolling, jigging, rigging and bobber fishing with a leech.

Northern pike

The most plentiful game fish in the Whitefish Chain is the northern pike. They are literally located everywhere.

Although there are many smaller fish, there are several giant fish up to 20 pounds as well.

Anglers are encouraged to harvest up to 10 pike under 22 inches. All pike between 22-26 inches must be released.

Pike can be found at all depths; however, the majority of pike usually relate to weedlines in the 9- to 18-foot range. It is not uncommon to catch pike consistently all day.

Techniques for catching pike on the chain include casting crankbaits or spinner baits, pitching jigs, rigging or trolling. Many times the larger pike will relate to the deep water in the basin once water temperatures get warm.

Bass

The bass fishing on the chain is somewhat underrated. The eastern part of the chain tends to be shallower with more weeds, and this is what the largemouth bass related to a good portion of the year.

A starting point for largemouth is Rush, Cross, Dagget and Little Pine. There are several bass tournaments held on the chain each year that produce large bags.

Casting spinnerbaits or plastics is probably the most popular way to catch bass on the chain.

The secret fish on the chain is the smallmouth bass. They can be difficult to pattern and locate on a consistent basis because their population is fairly small.

However, when an angler finds them, they are massive more times than not. Several smallmouth in the 18- to 22-inch range are caught every year on the chain. Many anglers actually accidently catch smallmouth while fishing for walleye or northerns.

Other species

The last three species located in the chain are the burbot, lake trout and whitefish. These species of fish are not as populated in the chain and their locations are more limited.

They all prefer deep and cold water. Those two factors should help anglers narrow down their search for these three species.

Fishing tips

A couple of tips for fishing the Whitefish Chain. 1. Cover water until you find active/ biting fish. Just because you can’t get them to bite in one place doesn’t mean another school of fish in a different location isn’t biting. 2. Attempt to fish a variety of depths until success is found. Some days fish are very specific to depth and locations; other days they tend to be less specific. 3. Try different lures or types of live bait. Color and the action of a bait/ lure can be the key to success. Also experiment with different types of live bait if it is available, including night crawlers, leeches or minnows.

I always prefer to fish spots where there are not a lot of other fishing boats or boat traffic. I’m a firm believer that if you can find less pressured fish, it will usually equate to better fishing. Fish absolutely get educated when heavily pressured and know when they are being fished.

If you are one of 10 boats fishing a spot, your chances of catching fish are divided by 10; whereas if you have a spot to yourself, the bounty is yours.

Anglers should remember to care for any fish that is intended to be released. Keep them out of the water for as little time as possible, get them unhooked, snap a picture and release them quickly, especially if the water is warm.

If any angler is looking to keep fish for a meal, remember to practice selective harvest. It is preferred to release the larger fish, which are usually females, to ensure those fish are able to reproduce and sustain future fish populations.

A picture of a smiling angler and a beautiful fish will provide great memories for years to come and will give another angler the same chance.

NATE BLASING is a member of the S&W/Nisswa Guides League.

“And we’re hoping to see more this summer.”

The team is updating educational displays to have more information about common loons and their biology, as well as more information about a research project that’s underway; banding common loons; the importance of lead-free tackle; and information on birds and birdwatching.

“So they should see some updated displays in here,” Bartolotta said.

At the Cross Lake Recreation Area, sidewalks and public docks were installed and a shoreline restoration project was completed. Outdoor exhibits are planned there.

This spring, a Loons and Lakes StewardShip Program was set to launch with the purchase of a 31-foot triton boat thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Crosslake Ideal Lions Club. An additional $4,000 grant from the Land & Waters Preservation Trust enabled the loon center to buy water testing equipment, sample kits and safety and mooring equipment.

“It’s going to be hands-on, immersive and enjoyable to all ages,” Bartolotta said, where people will “learn to be good stewards of our loons and lakes.”

The daily two-hour guided boat trip will run mid-May through mid-September with a Minnesota Master Naturalist. Those who embark will learn about the research project, freshwater ecology and water quality testing, and will use equipment to observe loons from a safe distance.

They’ll learn about a loon’s physical and behavioral characteristics, shoreland management and watershed conservation.

“Hopefully they will see the loons with colored bands on their legs,” Bartolotta said.

Nine loons on Cross Lake were banded last summer; and 78 loons, including 48 adults, were banded across 60 lakes. Those include the Whitefish Chain of Lakes and surrounding lakes south and east of the chain. A research team headed by Walter Piper, of Chapman University, will go out weekly once again to document when loons arrive, nest and renest, when and where chicks hatch and more.

The loon center also acquired approximately six acres of land with more than 2,500 feet of shoreline in Fifty Lakes to protect critical loon nesting habitat with funding from the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund.

Another goal is to get people involved in the Loon Research Ambassador Program, which offers three tiers of sponsorship.

Loon Champions ($2,500 donation) and Loon Guardians ($1,000 donation) are taking part in the research project by sponsoring one of the 48 adult loons banded last year. They’ll meet Piper, get a private loon watching tour, be recognized at the loon center and more.

Loon Ambassadors ($25 donation) sponsor a symbolic loon and receive a special edition sticker and Loon Research Ambassador certificate. This sponsorship level is still open.

In the fall, plans are to offer a nonmotorized paddle event, where people can use canoes, kayaks or paddle boards to learn more about habitat on the water.

Loon center staff also hope to offer a nice receptacle for people to drop their lead tackle as part of Minnesota’s Get the Lead Out campaign. There’s currently a drop-off box at The Nest for lead, which is harmful to

It’s a known fact that fencing increases security. It’s also known that fencing increases value. For us at Oberg Fence, we look at fencing as functionality-driven and aesthetically pleasing.

Chain Link, Wood, Farm Fencing, Ornamental Fence & other style!

23251 Co Rd 12 Deerwood, Minnesota 56444-6174 1-800-755-3118 | 218-534-3118 | www.obergfence.com

Shoreline Rip Rap Boulder Retaining Walls Lawn Seeding Excavating Needs

Since 1991

Lakes Area Creative Waterfront & Landscape Solutions 218.820.1519 • www.ryantreeandlandscape.com

loons who ingest it from the lake bottoms.

Bartolotta hopes to increase outreach for educational programs to summer camps, lake associations and area school groups.

Funding

The center’s first funds came in the form of a $4 million Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources state grant, along with other miscellaneous individual donations.

The loon center signed a lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - a $2.6 million in-kind contribution - for a 25-year no-fee lease; signed an agreement with the Brainerd/Crosslake Chamber of Commerce to operate and maintain the loon center; and signed an agreement for the city to be the center’s fiscal agent.

Local taxpayer dollars will not fund the loon center.

Most recently, the Crosslake City Council signed a resolution in support of the National Loon Center's nearly $8 million state bonding bill request, championed by state Sen. Carrie Ruud and state Rep. Dale Lueck, and a $3.5 million federal congressionally directed spending request shared with U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.

Other local fundraisers include receiving proceeds from a 2022 calendar featuring loon photos by Mark Ellis, and proceeds from sales of Loon Platoon beer made at the Snarky Loon in Jenkins.

Loon center origins

The Crosslakers formed in 2017 after the Minnesota Design Team visited Crosslake a year earlier to help determine how the community envisioned its future and what steps could be taken to realize that vision.

Among the Crosslakers’ focus was the idea for a National Loon Center, so a foundation was formed with a board of directors with the initial goals to find a site for the loon center and then raise funds to build it.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to have a facility that’s dedicated to this,” said John Forney, National Loon Center Foundation board president.

Forney was part of the Crosslakers’ Water Quality Group, which secured a grant to fix runoff near Manhattan Beach Lodge.

That group then turned its attention to loon habitat and the National Loon Center.

“It will just continue to grow in various ways,” Forney said of educational programs and the loon center.

The foundation aims to restore and protect loon breeding habitats, enhance responsible recreation and serve as a national leader in advancing loon and freshwater research and education.

“The loon center, to me, it touches all five of the points in the Crosslake comprehensive plan,” Forney said, calling the Minnesota Design Team a gift to the community and an amazing resource.

“I think the whole thing continues to be a good deal for everybody,” he said.

NANCY VOGT is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. She may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com.

Open To The Public To Rent! Ope pe CURLING CLUB BUILDING

at the Fairgrounds

More than a County Fair… Space available for your special event: Wedding av vai a lable for yo y ur special a event: WedSpace

✓ Anniversary Parties ✓ Family Reunions ✓ Birthday Parties ✓ Graduation Parties ✓ ✓ Class Reunions ✓ Benefits

A Anniversary Par ryPartie ties s ✓ Auctions

Family Reunions ✓ Craft Shows ✓ Bi Birthd thday P Par i ✓ Business Picnics We are a Concert Venue too! W C t V t !

Boat, Classic Car and RV Storage available Early Fall thru Spring.

CAMPING AVAILABLE FOR ALL EVENTS! Call the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds at 218-829-6680 or Gary Doucette at 218-838-9671 for more information or to reserve a date for your event. 2000 13th Street S.E., Brainerd, MN 56401 Brainerd, MN 56401

www.crowwingcountyfair.com

Ca 2022 FAIR DATES: AUGUST 2-6

all the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds at 218-829-668

Mark Ellis bought this cabin on a small lake in northern Crow Wing County that his grandparents owned when he was young.

Contributed photo

“I’ve seen the whole gamut from overwhelming beauty to heartbreaking tragedy. I’ve witnessed juvenile loons literally leaving the lake on their inaugural southern migration when I’m out there on that morning,” he said. “I must admit I get super emotional to see that after following them grow all summer, from literally a puff ball to powerfully taking off and flying out of sight at season’s end.”

He uses a 12-foot 1965 Alumacraft with a small motor to find the loons on the lake.

“They know me. I know how close I can get with the ones I know. I can tell if they don’t like it and I don’t go closer, and often they come closer to me,” he said.

Loons return right when the lake’s ice goes out.

“As I spent time and they got more comfortable with me is when I saw their stories unfold,” Ellis said, later adding, “It’s really a struggle to have successful loons on any lake. So much can happen and I’ve seen nearly everything.”

That includes seeing an eagle nearly swoop to a nest only to see the loon rear up face to face with the eagle to scare it off, as well as a brutal and fatal battle between two male loons when an intruder showed up.

“I couldn’t believe the loons did that and that they are so powerfully brutal,” Ellis said.

The Fourth of July holiday is a dangerous time for loons on any lake because of boat traffic and activity, often at a time right after loon chicks hatch. Ellis spends a lot of time on the lake then, shadowing and shielding a loon family as much as possible.

“People may not see the small chicks, and for two to three days they can’t dive,” he said.

One such weekend he saw a chick floating next to a parent, who stayed with the dead baby for two hours.

“It was horrible and the adult was calling nonstop the whole time,” Ellis said.

He marvels at the dedication that loon parents show.

“They’ll literally risk their lives for the babies. They continually feed, protect and teach them as they grow,” he said, noting he witnesses this over three months each summer when successful hatches happen.

Ellis acknowledged that most people don’t intentionally hurt loons. But people need to realize if they drive a boat too close to a nest the waves could be enough to chill the eggs so they don’t hatch. If people go on shore near a nest the parents might leave and not return. If they aren’t alert and drive a boat over a baby loon, the chick will die.

If loons ingest one lead sinker from the bottom of the lake, they likely won’t survive because the lead dissolves in their stomach.

“No one wants to do these things of course,” Ellis said.

This summer, Ellis hopes to see successful chicks. He plans to make a 2023 calendar to sell with proceeds again benefiting the National Loon Center.

4450 Main St., Pequot Lakes www.footaids.com

(218)568-6690 1-800-797-8447

We feature the best in today’s footwear at the best prices. OVER 10,000 PAIR IN STOCK!

Lynco Ready-Made Orthotic Systems New Balance Clarks Aetrex SAS Minnetonka Klogs Birkenstock Merrell Red Wing Naot Vionic Rockport Halflinger InStride Drew Propet Old Friend Spenco

NANCY VOGT is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. She may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com.

The Kennedy Mine was named after S.A. Kennedy, president of Rogers Brown Ore Co. The first shipment of ore was transported by train in 1911.

Contributed photo

Zontelli brothers standing in front of mining equipment.

That photo features a large hill created by the mining operation that is still part of Red Rider’s landscape.

“Some of the old buildings, pillars and water tunnels from the mining operation can still be found here,” Vern said.

Red Rider is able to combine the mining history with the current popular attractions - like the many miles of expanding bike riding trails, plus quality trout fishing in the mine pits. The trails are easy to access from Red Rider by taking a short ride down an access trail to connect to the Cuyuna Recreational trails.

“Our business is controlled by the bike trail,” Vern said. “There’s no way we would have (a resort) without the bike trail. That’s why we fill up on the weekends in the summer. The bike trail is the (tourism) driver for this town.”

Winter activities include ice fishing for trout, snowshoeing and riding fat tire bikes on the groomed trails.

“Summer and winter fishing are great since the DNR stocks 6,500 rainbow trout every year,” Vern said of Manuel, which reaches water depths of 160 feet. “There are a couple other resorts (around the mine pits), but we’re the only resort on a designated trout lake.”

Manuel is 35 acres in size and is a nonmotorized lake.

“It’s great for kayaking and paddleboarding,” Vern said. “The water is so clear in the summer. We have a 50-foot floating dock, and you can see the fish swimming.”

There is a Department of Natural Resources access located on the other side of the mine pit, which has a gradual slope to the lake and a more gradual decline into the water and is ideal for kids to swim.

PETE MOHS is publisher of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River and the Brainerd Dispatch daily newspaper. He may be reached at 218-855-5855 or pete.mohs@brainerddispatch.com.

CLARK LAKE CONT...

Clark Lake is named for Col. Freeman Thorp’s son, Clark.

homesteaded for him. Though he saw the land during late fall, he died Jan. 6, 1896, in the Thorp family’s original log home called “Clarkhaven.”

Thorp petitioned the Legislature to change the name of Upper Fish Trap Lake to Clark Lake in his son’s honor.

When Thorp and his family first settled here, he turned a series of buildings that the railroad had left into an interesting, quaint home.

In 1908, Thorp built “The Castle” overlooking Clark Lake but also with a view of Lake Hubert from the back side. It was also named “Clarkhaven” and had 12 rooms, was made of cement block forms right on the property and was not particularly good looking.

Due to poor construction of the masonry, it was not sound and had to be taken down in 1941 before it fell down.

All that remains on the property today is the little Thorp-Heald Cemetery, which can be seen from East Clark Lake Road, just off Crow Wing County Road 13.

Heald is Sarah Thorp’s married name, and the Healds were early owners of Minnewawa Lodge.

Minnewawa Lodge on Clark Lake is considered by many as the oldest American plan lodge in Minnesota.

This property was home to the Minnesota Hockey Camps for more than 40 years before recently selling. A new resort - Nature LInk Resort - is now being constructed there.

The property sits at the convergence of the two parts of Clark Lake with a picturesque island just off the shore.

The island is named Shekinah, claimed by Ben Heald as an Indian word meaning “Land of Shadows.” In its early years. Minnewawa Lodge was a rehearsal area for a Shakespeare repertoire theater company from New York. Plays there for the general public became quite popular in the area.

Because of its proximity to the railroad, this whole area became popular with summer homeowners. The lower portion of Clark Lake was particularly popular with Brainerd residents since they could get on the train conveniently in Brainerd, get off at Lake Hubert, and then easily walk to their cabins.

In fact, you can still catch a glimpse of these larger cottages along the Hubert and CLark lake shores near the original location of the Lake Hubert Depot.

DICK CARLSON, Nisswa Area Historical Society historian, has owned property on Clark Lake since 1961. He and his parents each built a cabin on property they bought together, eventually moving to Nisswa permanently.