The BWCA trout opener is Saturday, Dec. 30 and the early forecast is calling for high winds and low temperatures… sounds about right.
New Year’s weekend is known for rough weather and this year will prove no different as anglers hike into the B-Dub in search of trout. All species of trout will open for anglers on lakes that are entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area this Saturday, and with a little effort and the right equipment it is possible to fish bad weather in relative comfort.
Insulated tents are a nice way to stay warm, and well worth the extra pack weight. Hubstyle tents are easy to set up and only require a few hand-drill spikes to keep from blowing away. Hand augers are required within the BWCA, since normal rules apply including the self-issuing permit for the day.
I use a six-inch auger with seven-inch blades for BWCA fishing, because it is a big enough hole for any lake trout I would ever want to keep, and small enough to pack light and drill easy. Keeping the blades clean of ice build-up between holes will help the auger’s performance, and not using the blades as a hammer to start or finish the hole will help them last.
Hand augers are easy enough in the early season due to the thinner ice conditions, but I choose my locations carefully in March, making every hole count when the ice grows to 30 inches thick. “Ice House Point” on Gunflint Lake, although tougher to catch fish, becomes increasingly attractive as the ice gets thicker. Drive-to ice shacks and power augers make mid-winter fishing more enjoyable, especially on those windy days.
Assuming the lodge will allow me to leave, and the winds subside enough for a hike into the B-Dub, I will be anxious to write about a BWCA fishing experience next week.
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. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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