Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 14, 2008
Species recorded at Gale Lake
7 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Gale Lake
No stocking record for Gale Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 14, 2008 caught 4.00 northern pike per gill net at Gale Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Gale Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-07-14 (Standard Survey).
2 surveys on file · most recent 2008-07-14 (Standard Survey)
18 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 6.21 | 3–9 in 2008-07-14 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.02 | 3–8 in 2008-07-14 | 0.1 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.42 | 10–27 in 2008-07-14 | 1.77 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.13 | 7–12 in 2008-07-14 | 0.48 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.13 | 1.04 lb | |
| Yellow Perch | 0.63 | 5–6 in 2008-07-14 | 0.15 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2008-07-14 survey
Gale Lake is located 9 miles southeast of Bigfork, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 73 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. Gale Lake is in ecological lake class #28. Other area lakes in this class include Arrowhead, Batson and Raddison Lakes. Gale Lake has no developed public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gale Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GaleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Gale (0721)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Gale Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 14, 2008 caught 4.00 northern pike per gill net at Gale Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–27 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 7 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Gale Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Gale Lake is dated July 14, 2008. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Gale Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Gale Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Gale Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Gale Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class: a lake with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Gale Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Gale Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Gale Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Gale Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.