Gilbert Lake on the north side of Brainerd, Minnesota, USA
The Gilbert Lake Association is a group of lake residents interested in the wise recreational use of this natural resource while preserving water quality. Gilbert Lake covers 357 acres with 7.13 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 45 feet. There is a public landing on the north side of the lake on Gilbert Lake Road. Fish include Northern Pike, Blue Gill, Bass, and Crappie. Everyone is urged to use the lake in a responsible way, including cleaning boats and trailers to prevent the spread of invasive species. In summer, Thank You to those who have been going at a moderate speed through the narrows of Lake One. That helps keep the shoreline intact while reducing noise.
May 23, 2023: I fished the channel for panfish two weeks apart and enjoyed. On the first night, a red fishing boat drove extremely fast and on a morning a black speedboat was doing the same.
During these times on the first occasion there were approximately six boats when the red boat went through causing a large wake. The black ski boat was creating the large wake until he saw us in the middle of the channel heading to the dock. He then slowed down however the large wakes were already hitting the shore.
During the spawning time there are large numbers of fish nests in the channel. During spawning and general boating excursions there is shoreline damage overtime.
A suggestion is to create a no wake zone in the channel by the public landing to protect both concerns.
Respectfully,
Brian
During these times on the first occasion there were approximately six boats when the red boat went through causing a large wake. The black ski boat was creating the large wake until he saw us in the middle of the channel heading to the dock. He then slowed down however the large wakes were already hitting the shore.
During the spawning time there are large numbers of fish nests in the channel. During spawning and general boating excursions there is shoreline damage overtime.
A suggestion is to create a no wake zone in the channel by the public landing to protect both concerns.
Respectfully,
Brian
The annual Gilbert Lake Association membership meeting was Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Details
There are no strangers here, only neighbors you haven't met
Recent News Stories:
![]() June 6, 2023:
Sign Board Repaired |
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![]() April 28, 2023:
Public Landing Open |
![]() April 25, 2023:
Bear Tracks |
![]() April 17, 2023
Ducks on the Water |
![]() Feb. 2, 2023:
Ground Hog Day |
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![]() November 24, 2022:
Lake Ice |
![]() November 17, 2022:
Results of Sampling |
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![]() July 4, 2022:
Third Annual Gilbert Lake Boat Parade |
![]() July 2, 2022:
Third Annual Gilbert Lake Triathlon |

August 1, 2022: Water ski found on the north side of Gilbert One. Text Karen Hietpas at 218-838-2709 to claim.
2022 University of Minnesota researchers studied waves created by recreational boats.
- When researchers compared the wake waves of the four boats during their most typical mode of operations, the data indicated that wakesurf boats require distances greater than 500 feet from the shoreline/docks and other boats (or the distance of a little less than 1.5 football fields) to decrease their wake wave characteristics to levels similar to the non-wakesurf boats.
- When researchers compared the wake waves of the four boats under conditions that generated the largest wake wave, the data indicated that wakesurf boats require distances greater than 425 feet from the shoreline/docks and other boats to decrease their wake wave characteristics to levels similar to the non-wakesurf boats.
- In both modes of operation, the suggested distance from shoreline/docks for wakesurf boats is more than twice the distance of the 200 feet currently recommended by Minnesota guidelines for common recreational boats.
- More details at: https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/university-minnesota-researchers-study-waves-created-recreational-boats
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/12wktMHnakKH6KaJF20OXJcfat_1k2nLy/edit
- https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/226190/BoatGeneratedWakeWaveReport_Feb12022_Final.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- https://mnlakesandrivers.org/
![]() May 12, 2022:
Annual Membership Meeting |
![]() May 10, 2022:
Gilbert, We Have a Bog Problem |
![]() May 4, 2022:
Boats Appear on Gilbert Lake |
December 25, 2021 email: Thank you so much to the families that have groomed the trail around the lake (Englestads and Lelwicas). I just returned from a bike ride on the path and I think it would be good to review some guidelines to help maintain the groomed trail.
The trail is intended for NON-MOTORIZED use. Please don’t use it for your 4 wheeler or snowmobile. Likewise, being aware of where the path is and not parking a fish house in the middle of it would be helpful. The groomers did a good job of picking a path that shouldn’t interfere with fishing locations. Walking on the path creates divots that skiers, bikers have to avoid. Please don’t use the groomed path for walking unless you are wearing snowshoes.
Bikers and those on snowshoes, please try to avoid the groomed ski tracks to preserve their use for classic skiers.
We will further preserve the groomed trail if we avoid its use when the temperature jumps above freezing.
Thanks to everyone for helping us use our valuable resource to its full capacity.
Sincerely, Greg Whiteman
The trail is intended for NON-MOTORIZED use. Please don’t use it for your 4 wheeler or snowmobile. Likewise, being aware of where the path is and not parking a fish house in the middle of it would be helpful. The groomers did a good job of picking a path that shouldn’t interfere with fishing locations. Walking on the path creates divots that skiers, bikers have to avoid. Please don’t use the groomed path for walking unless you are wearing snowshoes.
Bikers and those on snowshoes, please try to avoid the groomed ski tracks to preserve their use for classic skiers.
We will further preserve the groomed trail if we avoid its use when the temperature jumps above freezing.
Thanks to everyone for helping us use our valuable resource to its full capacity.
Sincerely, Greg Whiteman

September 14, 2021:
Lake Water
Quality Testing
Lake Water
Quality Testing

August 31, 2021: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting surveys in Gilbert Lake to determine biological integrity and studying Yellow Perch. There were six buoys with flags on Gilbert Lake.

August 2, 2021:
Repair work on
the public access
Repair work on
the public access