Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake
Brainerd (East Gull Lake)
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Gull Lake covers about 9,900 acres north of Brainerd, the largest lake in the Gull Chain, which adds Upper Gull, Round, Margaret, Roy, Love, Spider, Bass and Nisswa lakes for about 13,000 acres in all. Big family resorts such as Grand View Lodge, Cragun's and Madden's line its shores alongside small cabin resorts.
Walleye, bass and pike draw most anglers, and many guides out of Nisswa and Brainerd fish Gull as one of several Brainerd Lakes.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Pick East Gull for the big family resorts and the Corps campground, or the Nisswa side to be near town.
6 places to stay
East Gull Lake & the south shore
Cragun's, Madden's and the resorts on the south-east shore near the Corps of Engineers dam and campground.
Gull Four Seasons Resort
Brainerd (East Gull Lake)
From $659–$5,615 / week · 2026
Gull Lake Beach Resorts
Nisswa (East Side Beach)
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Gull Lake Recreation Area (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
East Gull Lake
From $32–$50 / night · 2026
Gull Lake Resort
East Gull Lake
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Madden's on Gull Lake
Brainerd (Pine Beach)
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10 places to stay
Nisswa & the north-west shore
Grand View Lodge, Quarterdeck and the cabin resorts toward Nisswa, Round Lake and the narrows.
Causeway on Gull Resort
Nisswa (Lake Shore)
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Grand View Lodge
Nisswa
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Holiday Resort on Gull Lake Narrows
Lake Shore
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Lost Lake Lodge
Lake Shore (Nisswa mailing address)
From $200–$400 / night · year not stated
Lykins Pinehurst Resort
Lake Shore
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Point Narrows Resort
Nisswa
From $1,330–$1,885 / week · 2026
Quarterdeck Resort
Nisswa
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Samara Point Resort on Gull Lake
Nisswa
From $175 / night · 2025
Sandy Beach Resort
Lake Shore
From $831–$4,668 / week · 2026
Sebago Resort
Nisswa (Round Lake)
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1 place to stay
The rest of the chain
Roy, Margaret, Spider, Bass and the other connected lakes, quieter and mostly private shoreline.
True North
Nisswa (Roy Lake)
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II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $500–$880 | $850 | $350–$480 | $450 | 6 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boggs Fishing AdventuresBreezy Point | $850 | $450 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, muskie, northern pike, sunfish, walleye |
| Brainerd Guide Service (Blong's)Brainerd | $880 | $480 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, bass, muskie, northern pike, panfish, crappie, smallmouth bass |
| FishTraxx Guide ServiceNisswa | $880 | $480 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye |
| Lucky Lynch's Guide ServiceBreezy Point | $500 | $350 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, northern pike, yellow perch |
| Nisswa Guides LeagueBrainerd | $800 | $450 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, crappie, bass, panfish, northern pike, muskie |
| Walleyedan's Guide ServiceLake Shore | $850 | $450 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, muskie, northern pike, bass, crappie, bluegill |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Ice Guys, FishTraxx and Walleyedan's rent fish houses or run fish-house service, and Cragun's publishes its own ice-house rates.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd Guide Service (Blong's)Brainerd | Yes | Overnight 1pm-11am $500, max 4 adults (2021-22 season rates) | |
| Cragun's Resort on Gull LakeBrainerd (East Gull Lake) | 6-hole house $90/4 hr, $150/8 hr; 8-hole house $110/4 hr, $180/8 hr (page undated, site (c) 2026) | – | Houses a short walk from the resort |
| FishTraxx Guide ServiceNisswa | 2026: 10 hr $400, 5 hr $300, tax included | 2026: Fri-Sat $495/night; Sun-Thu call for price | Ice Castle Trophy Hunter 8x17, sleeps 4-6; holes drilled, heat on; guides can escort to houses |
| Grand View LodgeNisswa | Yes | – | |
| Ice GuysBrainerd | $300 full day (10 hr, 8am-6pm) plus tax; year not stated | $400 overnight (22 hr) plus tax, 2-night minimum on weekends; year not stated | Glacier 8x17 and 8x26 and Team Lodge 8x26 houses; transport not stated |
| Minnesota Recreational Rentals (IceFishMN)Brainerd | – | Yes | ice roads maintained when conditions allow |
| Quarterdeck ResortNisswa | Yes | – | |
| Walleyedan's Guide ServiceLake Shore | Winter fish house service (bait, rods, electronics, cook top incl.): 3 hr $300 / 6 hr $400 / 12 hr $500; year not stated | Yes | SnoBear $150/hour, 2-hr minimum, 1-4 people |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye, sauger and pike seasons open.
- May 23Bass harvest opens.
- June 6 – November 30Muskie season.
- February 28, 2027Walleye, sauger, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 1, 2027Every fish house must be off the ice by midnight.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations.
V. Field notes
The chain by numbers
- Gull Lake is about 9,947 acres, up to 80 feet deep and about 30 feet on average.
- The Gull Chain covers about 13,000 acres; sources count eight to ten lakes depending on whether Nisswa Lake and the bays are included.
- The Corps of Engineers dam at the south end holds the chain's level, and the Corps runs the Gull Lake Recreation Area campground beside it.
VI. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Covers the Gull Lake Chain: Gull, Upper Gull, Margaret, Ray, Love, Nisswa, Roy and Round lakes.
- Walleye and sauger season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 6 combined, only one walleye over 20 inches.
- Northern pike (Gull Chain special regulation): release every pike from 30 through 40 inches; 2 in possession, only one over 40.
- Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only from March 1 to May 22, then 6 combined bass from May 23, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Smallmouth go back to catch-and-release from September 14.
- Muskie: June 6 – November 30, 1 fish, 54-inch minimum.
- Crappie 10, sunfish 20, perch 20 a day and 40 in possession.
- Fish houses must be off the ice by midnight on March 1, 2027.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (inland seasons and the Gull Lake Chain special regulation). Rules change each March; check before you fish.
VII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost on Gull Lake?
A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $500–$880 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person, and usually include bait and gas.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: The island in East Gull Lake, Minnesota, James Postema, CC BY 4.0; Grand View Lodge, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0; Nisswa Depot, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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