Gull Lake Fishing
A 2,047-acre Michigan lake in Kalamazoo County, trout lake Type E.
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A first look at Gull Lake
Gull Lake spreads across 2,047 acres in Kalamazoo County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. Under a mile separates Gull Lake from South Gull Lake. On the Lower Peninsula, it belongs to the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit. Ecoregion Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains; basin Southeastern Lake Michigan.
Species found since 1970 include blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead and green sunfish. The shore holds 1 public launch. EGLE satellite clarity: about 12.4 feet (2023). The MDNR names it a Family Friendly Fishing water.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species anglers find in Gull Lake
MDNR sources behind the Gull Lake list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Survey history for Gull Lake
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 8 | 1924 to 1996 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 8 | 1924 to 1996 |
| Largemouth bass | 8 | 1935 to 1996 |
| Blackchin shiner | 6 | 1934 to 1996 |
| Iowa darter | 6 | 1924 to 1996 |
| Blacknose shiner | 5 | 1924 to 1996 |
| Pumpkinseed | 5 | 1935 to 1996 |
| Green sunfish | 4 | 1934 to 1996 |
| Johnny darter | 4 | 1934 to 1996 |
| Rock bass | 4 | 1935 to 1996 |
| Yellow perch | 3 | 1935 to 1996 |
| Brown bullhead | 2 | 1993 to 1996 |
| Northern logperch | 8 | 1924 to 1993 |
| Rainbow darter | 7 | 1924 to 1993 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Trout rules by Type at Gull Lake
| Rule | Value for Gull Lake |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Type E Non Designated |
| Fishing season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Possession season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Daily possession | Three (3) trout and Atlantic salmon, combined and zero (0) Arctic Grayling. |
| Tackle | All types of natural bait and artificial lures may be used. |
| Minimum sizes | brook 15", brown 15", rainbow 15", splake 15", lake trout 15", Chinook 10", coho 10", pink 10", Atlantic 15" |
For trout, Gull Lake is a Type E lake; the table repeats the MDNR entry.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Lake Regulation Types layer and 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 42-65.
Public launches on Gull Lake
- Prairieville Township Park4 lanes, 70 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Prairieville Township
Shore and pier access at Gull Lake
- Gull Lake fishing site, Prairievillebank fishing area, Dawn until dusk
Launch sites a short tow from Gull Lake
- Sherman Lake Boat AccessSherman Lake, 3 miles south
- Lower Crooked Lake Boat AccessLower Crooked Lake, 6 miles northwest
- Kalamazoo River Boat AccessKalamazoo River, 6 miles southeast
- Jackson Hole Lake Boat AccessJackson Hole Lake, 6 miles southeast
- Whitford-Lawler Lake Boat AccessWhitford-Lawler Lake, 7 miles southeast
- Fine Lake Boat AccessFine Lake, 7 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
How clear Gull Lake runs
The Gull Lake clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 1.65 micrograms per liter.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
Harvest rules on Gull Lake
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout and salmon (lake Type E) | 3; minimum brook 15", brown/rainbow/splake 15", lake trout 15", Chinook/coho/pink 10", Atlantic 15" | Open all year |
These are the Lower Peninsula inland rows that cover Gull Lake.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Competitive fishing on Gull Lake
The Gull Lake event page lists registered dates, organizers and results.
Sizing up Gull Lake against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gull Lake | 2,047 | 1 | 12.4 | 24 | |
| Wintergreen Lake | 1 mile east | 36 | 0 | 8.9 | 1 |
| Sherman Lake | 4 miles south | 148 | 1 | 14.3 | 4 |
| Crooked Lake, Lower | 6 miles northwest | 433 | 1 | 6.9 | 0 |
| Crooked Lake, Barry County | 6 miles north | 645 | 1 | 9.4 | 0 |
| Whitford Lake | 7 miles southeast | 20 | 1 | 10.1 | 4 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Close by Gull Lake
Neighboring lakes to Gull Lake
- Wintergreen Lake1 mile east
- Sherman Lake4 miles south
- Crooked Lake, Lower6 miles northwest
- Crooked Lake, Barry County6 miles north
- Whitford Lake7 miles southeast
Live bait and lures near Gull Lake
- Pheasant Tail Groupbait and tackle shop, Richland, 1 mile
- Gull Lake Marine Richlandmarina, Richland, 2 miles
- Gull Lake Marine Baysidemarina, Richland, 2 miles
- Mar-Bil Marinemarina, Plainwell, 9 miles
- Eastwood Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Kalamazoo, 9 miles
- Smitty's Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Battle Creek, 10 miles
Guided trips on Gull Lake
- Fishin 4 Trophies Charterscharter, Wyoming, (616) 318-0102
- reel down outfitterscharter, hastings, (616) 914-7416
Overnight stops close to Gull Lake
- South Gull Lakeunder a mile
- Hickory Corners3 miles
- Richland3 miles
Where Gull Lake sits by county
- Kalamazoo Countyseat: Kalamazoo
A Piscifun setup for a day on Gull Lake
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Fish an angler meets at Gull Lake
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Gull Lake questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Gull Lake?
Find it in Kalamazoo County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, under a mile from South Gull Lake.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Gull Lake?
About 2,047 acres.
How many public launches reach Gull Lake?
1 public launch; Prairieville Township Park is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Gull Lake?
Records show blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, green sunfish and iowa darter.
Which limits apply on Gull Lake?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Gull Lake?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
How deep does sunlight reach in Gull Lake?
EGLE estimated 12.4 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Gull Lake?
Try Pheasant Tail Group, roughly 1 mile off.
Which trout lake Type is Gull Lake?
Type E (type e non designated): Three (3) trout and Atlantic salmon, combined and zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season january 1st to december 31st.
Haul the boat to Gull Lake
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.