I have been writing about the outdoors and anything else that seems to matter each week for nearly a decade now, and it is time for me to take a break. Buying Skyport Lodge with my wife, Rachelle, was a life changing experience requiring a lot of time and effort that I am no longer able to share.
As a full-time fishing guide for twenty-plus years on the Gunflint Trail I have enjoyed sharing my experiences along with some fishing tips and techniques to aid anglers who could use a little help finding those wily walleyes. After buying Skyport, my days on the water and my experiences in the woods have diminished mostly to vicarious secondhand stories from our patrons.
Mid-life career changes are difficult, especially when transitioning from the freedoms of being an independent fishing guide to the grounding demands of managing a resort with a restaurant. I would like to spend more time with my rapidly growing children while battling the continuous needs of our resort, without the burden of a weekly deadline – and that is enough for me.
My father used to sarcastically ask me, “What do fishing guides do when they retire?” to which I would sarcastically respond, “get an office job.” The reality is that few fishing guides are ever able to fully retire, and the irony is that I now basically have an office-type job.
I always thought my last article would be more monumental, but the little time I have each week has begun reflecting the quality of work I am able to produce both in writing and my never-ending list of duties associated with the lodge. Farewell faithful readers, I will miss you.
Warm regards, Cory Christianson.
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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