Fall is a productive time to fish Gull Lake walleyes. Ask any fishing guide in Brainerd, Minnesota; "When is the best time to fish Gull Lake?" and they answer fall. Gull Lake's deep-water bait fish, primarily ciscoes, spawn in the fall. Brainerd fishing guides target large shallow water flats at this time. These are prime spawning locations for ciscoes. Walleyes love them. Brainerd fishing guides take advantage of these spawn migrations.
Walleyes are attracted to spawning ciscoes in the fall. The ciscoes spawn in shallow water at night and drop to deep water at sunrise. Gull Lake walleyes will position themselves on these migration routes. Brainerd fishing guides search the edges with electronics. Not all edges will hold walleyes. Key water depths are 32 to 42 feet. Wind direction and its duration are important factors. Most Brainerd fishing guides will search out windblown edges before looking elsewhere. Points and inside corners are key locations. The number of walleyes which can hold in a small area is mindboggling at times. Boat location is important. Marker buoys are often used by fishing guides in Brainerd, Minnesota. Twenty to thirty feet can be the difference between a walleye limit and just a few fish. Brainerd fishing guides are known for their ability to hover a boat in all types of conditions.
Gull Lake Walleye
A large creek chub fished on a lindy rig is a deadly combination in the fall. The rig was invented by several famous fishing guides in Brainerd, Minnesota. It uses a #2 bait hook tied to a 30 inch line tied to a swivel. The swivel keeps a sliding sinker from touching the hook. Most Brainerd fishing guides will use a 3 to 4 inch red tail chub for bait. Good sinkers weights are 1/2oz to 3/4oz depending on wind. Drop the sinker to the bottom and the reel it up 6 to 12 inches. Never let the sinker rest of the bottom. Brainerd fishing guides typically use 7 to 7 1/2 foot spinning reels for this presentation. Drop the rod tip when a bite is detected and then count slowly to three. Reel up any slack and then set the hook with a long deliberate sweep of the fishing pole.