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Calling All Winter Anglers . . .

CALLING ALL WINTER 2018-2019 ANGLERS:  As winter approaches, the DNR and the GLQO are working together to gather valuable information from ice fishermen this season.  To that end, I’ve attached a Volunteer Fisheries Survey Form, which we are hopeful will be completed by all of you, even if you come up empty handed!  The information gathered will help to (a) identify if any smelt are being caught, (b) determine if the steelhead are beginning to recruit to the fishery, and (c) gather information on lake trout and northern pike size and harvest. continue reading →

2019 CLMP Reports Are Available Here

For a decade, GLQO volunteers have been monitoring Gull Lake and Little Long Lake.  Each spring, within two weeks of “ice out” until early in September, they head out in the boat to gather data that helps determine the quality of the lakes.  They measure the following: * Transparency which is a simple indicator of lake quality * Total Phosphorus to determine available nutrients * Chlorophyll a to determine the algae level which indicates food availability * Dissolved Oxygen an essential ingredient to support fish and vegetation * Temperature Read the reports here:…continue reading →

Support the Mission of the Gull Lake Dam Association

At the GLQO Annual Welcome to Summer Party, we heard from Jeff Price, board member at large of the Gull Lake Dam Association. He imparted some extremely valuable information...especially that the current dam has outlived its expected useful lifetime. Please take time to learn more about this critical infrastructure that has served Gull Lake residents and visitors since 1880. Read more: Gull Lake Association Presentationcontinue reading →

July 2017 Water Quality Update: Gull Lake

By Mike Gallagher, Water Quality Chair Clarity      15 feet Surface Temp   77.36 Temp at 100 feet  48.56 Thermocline    30-35 feet Dissolved Oxygen at Surface    8.49 mg/l Dissolved Oxygen at Bottom    4.36 mg/l Max Dissolved Oxygen is 10.88 mg/l at 40 feet The clarity for this time of the summer is normal for Gull Lake.  The lake always gets less clear at the end of July.  We could see down to 26' two weeks ago but only 15' today. The thermocline is the depth where the temp of the…continue reading →
Swimmer’s Itch and How to Avoid It

Swimmer’s Itch and How to Avoid It

Fortunately, there seem to be few reported cases of swimmer's itch in Gull Lake these days, but I remember well when our sons were little how they would occasionally get it when swimming at the pagoda at the Biological Station. Swimmers itch is a problem in many Michigan lakes in the summer and it is definitely painful (but not dangerous). As the picture to the right shows, swimmer's itch appears as a series of red welts that itch like mosquito bites. Often the welts appear in a line near the waistband or straps…continue reading →
Gull Lake Smelt Die-Off

Gull Lake Smelt Die-Off

Over the past weekend (June 11th and 12th), you may have noticed an extraordinarily large number of dead smelt in Gull Lake.  Based upon conversations with local anglers and with the DNR, we understand that the most likely cause of the smelt die-off was thermal stress as Saturday was one of the hottest days of the year.  The appearance of the dead fish supports this conclusion due to the absence of hemorrhages or other signs of disease.  Most of the smelt were similar in size and presumably were schooling together in the same type of…continue reading →
Gull Lake Ice Cover History

Gull Lake Ice Cover History

Many of us enjoyed the mild winter. When the ice goes off Gull Lake early, like it did this year, we might wonder how the ice cover duration compared to previous years. Did you know that Gull Lake residents have been keeping track of freezing and thawing dates for almost 100 years! (more…)