My goal to have all our docks in the water at Skyport Lodge before Memorial weekend was an epic fail. However, we did manage to push one dock into the frigid lake and prepare one fishing boat for the holiday but not too many people were on the water.
Water temperatures on Devil Track Lake were ranging from 48 degrees in the bays to 43 degrees in the middle, which is still a little cold for any feeding frenzies. There are some fish being caught on Saganaga Lake, at the end of the Gunflint Trail, on the windier days but mostly bigger females and very few bites. Soon the little male walleyes will start appearing and the action will be much better.
I have only fished a few hours on Devil Track Lake this season without a bite, but I hope to get out there more regularly this summer and learn some good spots to catch dinner. Fresh walleye is hard to beat, and I know there are a bunch of them swimming around Devil Track Lake just waiting to be found.
The days are getting longer and soon the lake water temperatures should reach the mid 50s, bugs will hatch, and fish will eat—until then expect to work a little harder at getting bites. Slow trolling jigs and Lindy-rigs along the muddy bottom bays are usually the best way to cover a lot of area until eventually finding a hungry pack of fish.
Lake trout can be caught in very shallow water this time of year by trolling spinners or original floating Rapalas along the shorelines. If you know where to find lake trout during the warmer days of summer, then fish the closest shallow water to those spots and chances are you will find them.
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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