Week two of the Minnesota fishing season and the bigger lakes are finally open. Saganaga was reported to have a big chunk of ice plugging up Cache Bay to the west of American Point, but it should all be gone this week.
I have yet to wet a line so the fishing report is going to be brief.
A majority of the Saganaga Lake walleyes are still spawning in the rivers which are protected from fishing until the end of the month. The females, which usually run bigger in size, are the first to migrate back to the main lake after laying their eggs in search of warmer water to feed in. It can actually be easier to catch a big walleye in the first weeks of the season since the smaller males are still in the river fertilizing eggs, but do not expect a lot of bites.
The lake water temperature is a bone chilling 38-40 degrees, so the fish are still not going to be very active. The action is rarely fast and furious until the water warms up another 10 degrees into the 50s. It could be June before we see 50-degree water temperatures this year.
Cold water is no joke. We assembled a dock on Gunflint Lake and my non-insulated hip waders were not enough to keep my legs from going numb. In just a few short minutes my leg muscles were tightening up. I could not even imagine capsizing a canoe and having to swim to shore. This is a dangerous time of year to be on big water lakes. High winds and cold water can be a disastrous recipe so be prepared for the worst.
On a brighter note: the much-needed precipitation has reduced the danger of wildfires while also injecting some life into the forest. The trees are beginning to sprout new leaves and the grass is turning green again. It is a very welcome sight for us after such a long winter. Every year I am amazed at how fast the vegetation erupts after a good spring rain. I guess our local plant life knows how to capitalize on a short growing season.
Spring is in the air and all of the forest critters have come out from hiding. It is finally time for our wiener dog, Maggie, to start chasing the resident squirrels and shedding some of that winter weight. It wouldn’t hurt me to lose a couple of pounds as well but I will not be chasing any squirrels. I prefer chipmunks.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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