The Minnesota walleye and trout opener is Saturday, May 13th, and I am going to spend the day on Saganaga Lake searching for trophy walleyes, and maybe a few to eat. Opening weekend is typically cold and wet in the North Country, which is why we are not the most popular destination for anglers.
The water temperatures are going to be cold this week, which typically causes fish to be sluggish and unwilling to chase after baits like they would in warmer conditions. Fishing slow and stealthy can sometimes convince an otherwise tight-lipped trophy into eating.
The Gunflint Trail area has been staying cold, and many side roads still have a significant amount of snow along the roadsides. The ground is still frozen and lake water temperatures are in the lower 40s along the shorelines. Some of the nights have been cold enough to cause a thin layer of ice to form on the surface of the lakes, but it usually melts away by lunchtime.
Fish will become more aggressive as the water temperatures rise, and weather patterns begin to stabilize. Experienced anglers are able to predict the fishes’ behavior by the type of conditions present that day. Low-pressure systems often create overcast with possible showers, which are ideal conditions for sight advantaged walleyes to feed, and high-pressure systems create bright, sunny days, which are not ideal for walleyes to feed.
The classic “walleye chop” generated by wind can also turn walleyes into aggressive feeding machines – and the windier it gets the more aggressive they become. “Fishy conditions” might last a few days, or a few hours, depending on the length of the weather pattern – but you will never know unless you go.
The secret to angling success is perseverance, and the best anglers I know share two things in common: an innate ability to stretch the truth, and a drive that gets them out of bed before most. Good luck!
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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