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Michigan Department of Natural Resources Barry County (T1N, R9W, Sections 31, 36) Kalamazoo County (T1N, R9-10W, Sections 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 20, 1, 2, 12) Surveyed June 1993 James L. Dexter, Jr. Environment Gull Lake is one of only a few lakes in southern Michigan that could
be classified as a mesotrophic, perhaps slightly oligotrophic lake. Born
of glacial origin about 14,000 years ago, the lake lies mostly in northern
Kalamazoo County. Gull Lake is located just 2 miles from Richland, and
about 6 miles south of Delton. The population center of Kalamazoo is about
11 miles to the southwest of the lake. The land surrounding the lake is mostly well-drained loamy sand formed
from glacial outwash. The topography ranges from nearly level farmland
to steep hills (usually associated with small wetland systems). Land use
in the watershed includes farming (corn, wheat, and hay), woodlots, and
residential areas. The drainage area of the lake is relatively small (17,000 acres) compared
to the size of the lake (2,030 acres). The watershed is in the Kalamazoo
River basin, which drains into Lake Michigan. The outlet (Gull Lake outlet
or Gull Creek) is at the south end of the lake. A control structure was
built on the outlet in the mid-1800s to provide power for a grist mill
and to control lake level. At present, the lake has no legally established
lake level and is maintained about 8 feet above its original level. Each
fall the lake is drawn down 8-10 inches to prevent ice damage to the shoreline.
Lake levels are raised back to normal at ice out. This practice of seasonal
alteration of water level has been occurring since at least 1935. A number of inlets exist, all of which are quite small. Prairieville
Creek, a designated trout stream, drains into the north end of the lake
and is the largest inlet (approximately 5-10 ft3/s). A water
budget analysis of Gull Lake was completed in 1977, and indicated that
this creek provides 21% of the annual water budget. Along the west shore,
Long, Miller, and Grass lakes drain into Gull Lake. Wintergreen Lake drains
into Gull Lake on the east shore. Numerous springs are located along the
shores. The long axis of Gull Lake extends in a northwest-southeast direction.
The lake is over 4 miles long and more than 1 mile wide for most of its
length. Mapped in 1941 by the Institute for Fisheries Research, several
deep depressions exist in the lake. The deepest (110 feet) is located
almost exactly in the middle of the lake. Another depression (108 feet)
is located at the north end of the lake. One large island exists toward
the southern end. This island used to be a peninsula before the dam structure
was installed. Two sunken islands, locally known as the "Hogs backs",
are present in the middle of the lake. Both are about 20 feet underwater. The shoal areas of Gull Lake cover approximately 30% of the total surface
area. Composed primarily of sand, gravel, and rubble, the shoal areas
less than 10 feet deep are kept clean by strong wave action. Marl extends
from the edge of the sand/gravel areas to about the 30-foot contour. The
rest of the lake bottom is largely a mixture of marl and pulpy peat. The water quality of Gull Lake is excellent. A sewage system was completed
around the lake in 1983. Water clarity, and perhaps quality, has improved
considerably since that time. The water of Gull Lake is clear, although
from a distance it appears to be emerald green due to the suspension of
marl in the water column. Secchi disk readings in May of 1989 were as
deep as 40 feet. A water chemistry survey in August of 1993 found Secchi
disk readings of 10 feet. Dissolved oxygen levels were at least 5 ppm
down to 42 feet. Water temperatures ranged from 77° at the surface
to 48° at the bottom, with a thermocline from 30 to 44 feet. Alkalinities
ranged from 133 to 168 ppm (hard) and pH readings were alkaline (8.6-8.8).
These values are similar to those found in the 1940s. Many years of limnology
records and profiles, some years extending over several months, are on
record at Michigan State University (MSU), Kellogg Biological Station. In 1941, Perry and Brown (1942) observed Gull Lake was "well supplied
with submergent vegetation from the edge of the sand and gravel shoals
to depths as great as 40 feet". They identified 24 aquatic plant species.
Today, I would rank the overall aquatic plant community as "sparse" rather
than "well-supplied", but have not examined it closely. Biologists (state and university) have collected 55 species of fish from
Gull Lake (Appendix 1). At least 10 species have been introduced. Gull
Lake probably has one of the most diverse fish communities found in any
inland lake in Michigan. The earliest fish surveys were made in the 1930s and 1940s, primarily
with seines. Collected were a variety of forage species including several
shiner and minnow species, four darter species, brook silverside, and
mottled sculpin (Appendix 1). Common gamefish species at that time were
largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, bluegill, and
cisco (now believed to be extinct). Northern pike and walleye were considered
much less common. Walleye were introduced by private citizens only once
in the late 1920s. Local anglers considered that stocking to be very unsuccessful. The fish community present today is probably little changed from that
of 60 years ago except for the addition of some species by stocking. In
addition to those fish listed above, landlocked Atlantic salmon, rainbow
trout, lake trout, brown trout, splake, and smelt, have been added at
one time or another (Appendix 2). Presently, only rainbow trout are stocked
yearly. Brown trout, although not stocked since 1964, are still occasionally
captured. Atlantic salmon are still captured also, but stocking was discontinued
in 1992 due to consistent hatchery rearing problems. A fair number of
lake trout persist even though they have not been stocked since 1982. The last smelt run was observed in 1983. We have reinstituted stocking
of smelt, starting in 1991, to try to reestablish this population. Appendix
2 lists stocking efforts to date. It should also be noted at this point
that Latta (1995) suggested that some smelt introductions may have extirpated
lake herring. Other lakes in Michigan, notably Higgins Lake, however,
maintain good populations of both smelt and lake herring today. The last comprehensive fish survey was in 1989 (Dexter 1991a). Recent
activities have included yearly monitoring of smelt runs and collecting
of fall Atlantic salmon broodstock. In the mid 1970s, the Division's primary
involvement with Gull Lake was in assisting MSU with studies. The majority
of the work by Division biologists was accomplished in the first half
of this century. The most recent survey, in 1993, was conducted in response to numerous
complaints by anglers regarding poor bluegill and yellow perch fishing
and recruitment rates. Anglers felt that stocked Atlantic salmon had decimated
recruitment of these two species, claiming that hardly any small fish
had been caught for the last 2 years. Indeed, adult salmon population
estimates for fall 1991 were very high at about 7/acre (Dexter 1992). In 1993, we sampled fish with 6' x 3' x 1.5" mesh standard trap nets,
125' six-panel experimental gill nets, and AC boat electroshocking. For
some unknown reason, we could not draw or stun fish with DC current the
night we sampled. Similar to the 1989 survey, rock bass dominated the catch by number,
but not by weight (Table 1). Our survey period happened to coincide with
tremendous longnose gar and bowfin pre-spawn movements. These two species
accounted for over 63% of the total catch by weight. All game fish collected were quite large in size, although none were
taken in large quantities. Rock bass up to 12 inches were collected, as
well as bluegill and pumpkinseed over 8 inches, yellow perch over 14 inches,
northern pike over 36 inches, and trout and salmon over 20 inches. Growth
rates of game fish collected in 1993 were very poor, however (Table 2).
Yellow perch, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass were all growing below
state average rates. In 1989, they were growing at state average rates.
Bluegill growth had also declined, from 0.6" above state average in 1989
to 0.2" below state average in 1993. Northern pike had also experienced
declining growth rates, from 1.9" above average to 0.2" above average.
Only rainbow trout exhibited excellent growth, being a full 3 inches above
the state average rate. Growth rates of most game species in 1993 more
closely resembled the 1976 samples collected by MSU (Dexter 1991). A couple of theories can be advanced at this point regarding declining
growth rates. Anglers have been discussing over the past 3-4 years the
disappearance of traditional weed beds. While I cannot document this,
if it is true, it could relate to installation of a sewage line around
the lake in the early 1980s. This action probably reduced runoff, lowered
phosphorus levels in the lake, and shifted the ecological classification
of the lake towards oligotrophy. Another theory anglers have proposed
is that the Atlantic salmon are so active that they constantly chase schools
of bluegill and perch around, impairing their growth. It is quite hard
to discern at this point the actual cause of declining growth rates. The age composition of the game fish is interesting (Table 3). Age I
fish were under-represented for all species except rainbow trout and perhaps
perch. In part, this was because some young fish were too small to net
and too deep to electroshock. However, we should have been able to collect
some age I bluegill and largemouth bass. The preceeding summer, 1992,
was one of the coolest in recorded history. From across the state came
reports of many waters where bluegill had not attempted to spawn that
year. Lack of age I bluegill in our sample may, likewise, indicate recruitment
failure of that year class. The remainder of the bluegill and largemouth
bass age frequency appears normal. Yellow perch show good recruitment
of age I fish, but very poor recruitment rates for the 1990 and 1991 year
classes. Perch frequently have variable recruitment levels, similar to
walleye, so this really is not a concern. (Note: perch recruitment exploded
in 1993, 1994, and 1995 at Gull Lake, based on personal observation with
lights at night). Northern pike were also missing a couple of year classes.
To our knowledge, there is no reproduction of pike within Gull Lake; all
pike come from tributary lakes. These lakes have excellent recruitment,
and many fry travel downstream to Gull Lake. Both black bass species appear
to have a high mortality rate after age IV. This is indicative of either
high harvest rates, high natural mortality, or our failure to collect
them. The clear, cool environment of Gull Lake would seem to offer better habitat
for smallmouth bass than for largemouth bass. However, the largemouth
bass is the more abundant species according to fish surveys. Studies by
graduate students have noted that smallmouth bass reproduction is impaired
by heavy infestations of the bass tapeworm, Proteocephalus ambloplitis.
Records dating back 50 years indicated that most smallmouth bass are infected. The bluegill population suffered a mortality of unknown magnitude in
1991-1993 due to spring die offs. Substantial numbers of large bluegills
(7-10 inches) died each year. In 1991 other species of fish were also
observed. A similar mortality was reported at some northern Indiana lakes.
The mortality was not sudden, but occurred over a 2-3 week period each
year between ice-out and the end of April, with sick fish taking several
days to die. Ten dying individuals were collected in 1993 for pathological
examination. Nothing could be found to identify the cause of the mortality
(Hnath 1993). We received several reports each year of "many large" dead
and dying bluegill covering the bottom of the Bible Conference Bay, and
along the north and east shores of the lake (prevailing wind side). Because
the 1991 kill involved several other species (rock bass, large- and smallmouth
bass, and pumpkinseed) and coincided with a period of rapid water warm
up, we attributed that die-off to natural causes. Currently, a good fishery exists for most game species. Large bluegills,
abundant and large rock bass, and yellow perch are the mainstay of the
fishery. Northern pike, although not extremely abundant, grow to a very
large size and are caught primarily by ice anglers. Each winter, at least
a couple of pike over 20 pounds are landed. The largemouth bass population
in the lake is very good. The bass populations support one or more organized
bass tournaments every week, from the end of May through October. Rainbow trout have provided an excellent year-around fishery ever since
stocking rates were increased in 1991 (Appendix 2). We have heard that
rainbows as large as 20 pounds have been landed. Although we collected
no lake trout in 1993, we did collect 14 in the fall of 1989. Many lake
trout were caught by anglers in the fall of 1993 and, especially, in 1994,
at the access site at the north end. The fall of 1994 was a strange period, as thousands of rainbows and many
lake trout remained in water 2-4 feet deep right at the access site next
to the inlet creek. These fish provided fantastic fishing during September,
October, and November. We suspect that they were there in such numbers
due to oxygen depletion below a depth of 35 feet in September. Many rainbows
and a few lake trout have appeared in this area each year since 1989 or
so, while Atlantic salmon were congregating to spawn. But by 1994 most
of the Atlantic salmon were gone, so we don't believe these trout were
"following the salmon". To further confuse things, in 1995 the oxygen
depletion of the Lake was just as bad as 1994, but no trout showed up
on the north end. It appears from angler reports and our fall 1995 netting
that the entire 1995 rainbow stocking disappeared. (Similarly, the 1995
rainbow stocking in Higgins Lake was reported to be a total failure). Since 1992 Gull Lake has been stocked with Eagle Lake strain rainbow
trout. Age analysis from fall salmon broodstock collections show these
rainbows to be exceptionally fast growers, with many individuals reaching
20" by the end of their second year. All stockings of this strain, except
in 1995, have provided a fabulous fishery. Landlocked Atlantic salmon were reintroduced to Gull Lake in 1986 (Dexter
1991b). This fishery quickly peaked in 1991 and then fell steadily to
its current very low level. Atlantics were stocked as spring yearlings
in 1986-1990, then as fingerlings in 1990-1992. This change came about
because the hatcheries had a difficult time keeping yearlings free of
the disease furunculosis. By stocking at an earlier age, they avoided
the disease problem. But because of the high numbers of predators in Gull
Lake, survival of small fall fingerlings was poor and the adult population
quickly dwindled. Management of the Atlantic salmon was also difficult. They are very susceptible
to angling, grow fast (when not overcrowded) and live 6-8 years. In 1989
the size limit on Atlantics was 18" with a possession limit of 2. This
was changed in 1991 to 25" and a possession limit of 1. This change had
the effect of stockpiling too many salmon, and growth rates dropped. In
1994 the size limit was reduced to 20" with a 1 fish possession. These
constant management changes, all reflecting the biology of what was happening
with salmon growth and abundance, did not sit very well with most anglers. It is known that rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, smelt, suckers, and
perhaps brown trout all utilize Prairieville Creek as a spawning site.
Rainbow trout reproduction is quite successful, as indicated by the healthy
resident population of small rainbows in the creek. A few naturally produced
salmon have also been found in the creek (Dexter 1991c). Smelt sustained
themselves for 3 decades by spawning in and near Prairieville Creek. The last documented run of smelt in Prairieville Creek was in 1983. During
the late 1970s there was a huge die-off of smelt in the spring. Apparently,
they never fully recovered and had slowly disappeared from the lake by
1984. Since 1991, smelt have been stocked in an attempt to regain the
fishery they once provided. Stocking efforts have included to the transfer
of adults from New Buffalo (Lake Michigan) and AuGres (Lake Huron), and
the transplanting of eggs to Prairieville Creek from Lake Leelanau (Appendix
2). Spot-check gill netting in August of 1995 verified survival of significant
numbers of adult smelt (37 adults were collected in 12 vertical gill net
lifts). We expect the first run of these smelt to Prairieville Creek in
1996, and will most likely stock adults one more time in 1996. In addition,
a sediment basin will be installed in Prairieville Creek in 1996 to facilitate
sediment removal and successful smelt spawning in the lower 100 yards
of the creek. Creel surveys were conducted at Gull Lake during June-August 1986, and
January-September 1987 (Dexter 1991). Basically, bluegill, rock bass,
largemouth bass, and yellow perch sustain the fishery, providing over
80% of the harvest. Catch rates ranged from a high of 0.492/hour for bluegill
to a low of 0.001/hour for rainbow trout in 1987 (no rainbows were stocked
in 1987 due to the Atlantic Salmon program). Highlights of the 1987 survey
included: 1) over 64,000 angler hours expended; 2) over 63,000 fish harvested;
and 3) during January and February, over 1,150 illegally kept Atlantic
salmon were recorded, along with 13,583 Atlantics caught and released
(only 25,556 Atlantics were stocked in 1986). Currently, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources manages the coldwater
fishery more intensively than the warmwater fishery. Rainbow trout are
stocked each year as spring yearlings at about 12/acre. Regulations for
rainbow trout are typical (year-round season, five trout/day possession
limit, and 10-inch minimum size limit). Atlantic salmon are still present,
and there is some natural reproduction occurring. Salmon regulations were
discussed previously. Stocking of Atlantic salmon will probably not be
resumed anytime soon, as the majority of the public really didn't like
them much. Smelt will be stocked one additional time in 1996. Changes in water quality parameters are currently being investigated
by MSU. A study is in progress assessing changes in the phytoplankton
and zooplankton communities due to the installation of the sewage system. Since the last status report, we have reached 3 of our 4 management goals.
A trophy landlocked salmon fishery was developed (and has since collapsed),
we expanded the trout fishery to almost unbelievable proportions, and
we are re-introducing smelt to regain a winter fishery. Our last goal
of maintaining good growth rates for warmwater fish was not achieved;
however, good fishing for those species still exists. Our expectations for this fishery are many-fold. With coldwater species,
we expect rainbows to provide the bulk of the fishery, with an occasional
lake trout and salmon added in. We hope that the smelt population will
regain its former status and become self-sufficient. Bass fishing has
significantly improved since 1993 when the 14" size limit was instituted
(as reported to us by several anglers). We expect this fishery to remain
good for many years to come. Perch, bluegill and northern pike fishing
are hard to predict, as their recruitment lately has been variable. The
large year classes of small perch recently observed by myself and other
anglers, indicates good recruitment is occurring, and will result in high
catches of small perch for the near future. Gull Lake will continue to be one of southern Michigan's best fisheries
for years to come. There are few lakes in the state that can compare with
it. Our major goal will be to maintain the excellent health of the fish
community and the environment. Minor goals over the next several years
include: full restoration of the smelt population, stable recruitment
of Eagle Lake strain rainbow trout, possible reintroduction of lake trout
at low levels (1-2/acre), and maintenance of the warmwater fishery. Obstacles
to attainment of these goals include failure of the proposed sediment
basin to increase suitable spawning substrate for smelt in the lower creek,
failure to develop a sustainable smelt population, and a possible continued
decline in growth of warmwater species due to unknown factors. Without
a sustainable smelt population we will not restock lake trout. We also
view the increased recruitment of northern pike from tributary lakes to
be a detriment to the rainbow fishery, as the pike appear to prey heavily
on them. At this time we do not have a sense for what the angling public
values more, pike or trout. This may need to be investigated in the future.
Also, zebra mussels were discovered in the lake in 1994 and were fully
established by fall of 1995. Future impacts to the aquatic community from
zebra mussels are unknown at this time. Carbine, W. F. 1941. A sixth examination of Michigan lakes in which plantings
of the Great Lakes emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) have been made.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Department of Conservation,
Fisheries Research Report 715, Ann Arbor. Dexter, J.L., Jr. 1991a. Gull Lake. Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
Status of the Fishery Resource Report 91-4, Lansing. Dexter,J.L., Jr., 1991b. Gull Lake as a Broodstock Source for Landlocked
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar), Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
Fisheries Technical Report 91-8, Ann Arbor. Dexter, J. L., Jr. , 1991c. Prarieville Creek. Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, Status of the Fishery Resource Report 91-7, Lansing. Dexter, J.L., Jr. 1992. 1992 Progress Report - Gull Lake Landlocked Atlantic
Salmon Broodstock Collection. Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
Fisheries Division, Plainwell. Hnath, J. 1993. Laboratory Report N-9-93. Unpublished file data, Fish
Health Laboratory, Mattawan. Latta, W.C. 1995. Distribution and abundance of the lake herring (coregonusartedi)
in Michigan. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division
Research Report No. 2014. Ann Arbor Perry, L. E., and C. J. D. Brown. 1942. A fisheries survey of Gull Lake,
Kalamazoo and Barry counties. Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
Department of Conservation, Fisheries Research Report 725, Ann Arbor. Tague, D. F. and G. H. Lauff. Gull Lake - past, present, future. Michigan
State University, W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Battle Creek. Report completed: March 5, 1996 Table 1. - Number, weight, and length (inches) of fish collected
from Gull Lake with trap nets, gill nets, and AC boomshocker June 3 -
June 18, 1993.
1Note some fish were measured to 0.1 inch, others to inch
group: e.g., "5"=5.0 to 5.9 inches, "12"=12.0 to 12.9 inches, etc. Table 2. - Average weighted total length (inches) at age, and
growth relative to the state average, for fish sampled from Gull Lake
with trap nets, gill nets, and AC boomshocker, June 3 - June 18, 1993.
Number of fish aged is given in parentheses.
1Mean growth index is the average deviation from the state
average length at age Table 3. - Estimated age frequency (percent) of fish caught from
Gull Lake with trap nets, gill nets, and AC boomshocker, June 3 - June
18, 1993.
Appendix 1.-Referenced taxonomic list of Gull Lake fish.
1Reference sources: Compiled by: W. C. Johnson, Kellogg Biological Station. Appendix 2. - Fish stocked in Gull Lake1. (A=adult,
f=fingerling, ff=fall fingerling, no designation=yearling).
1Additional stocking: Bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch-1930's
and 1940's; emerald shiners-1933 and 1934 (160,000); smelt-1950-1953;
splake-1965; brown trout-1964 and 1966. Barry County (T1N, R9W, Sections 31, 36) Kalamazoo County (T1N, R9-10W, Sections 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 20, 1, 2, 12) Management Plan based on Status of the Fishery Resource Report 96 -7, 1996. James L. Dexter, Jr. The management goals for Gull Lake are three-fold. The first and primary
goal is to sustain the current health of the fishery and the lake environment.
This will hopefully be accomplished by careful fish management and watershed
initiatives in the local community. Our second goal is to restore the
smelt population to a self-sustaining level that is fishable. This will
be accomplished by two objectives: (a) stocking of adults through 1996
at the rate of 50,000-100,000/year; and (b) digging a sediment basin in
the lower end of Prairieville Creek in winter 1996 to remove sediments
from spawning substrate in the lower 100 yards of creek before it enters
the lake. Goal number three will be to reinstate lake trout stockings
at the rate of 1-2/acre, if the smelt become established.
Last Update: 08/05/02
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