The economy is not my field of expertise, but it seems like things are at least starting to move in the right direction. The guiding calendar for the summer is beginning to take shape and it looks like this could be a much better summer than the previous two. I have not talked to many lodge owners, but if I am getting a lot of bookings already, they must be too.
Our recent heat wave is going to make for a slow March and April, which will affect Gunflint Trail businesses. Ice fishing might not happen at all this spring. Usually the anglers start hitting the Saganaga narrows on the Minnesota side for some early evening walleye bites, but the ice could be dangerously thin by then. Same goes for Hoof Creek up in Northern Lights Lake.
If the weather does not take a drastic turn soon, there is a good chance that everything will happen much earlier than normal. These traditional fishing grounds could be happening right now.
Our lakes are very wet with reports of 12 inches of standing water in spots, but the latest reports have been that they were draining pretty quickly. I do not mind riding my sled in the water, but I really do not like to stand in water to fish.
One problem to keep in mind is that liquid-cooled snowmobiles do not like to run on ice without snow. They overheat very quickly and it makes for a long ride home if you can only get a few minutes out of each run.
This winter was considered a drought and this spring could easily be very dry as well. The lack of snow will cause the rivers to stay low which affects
the walleye spawn, and even worse, it means fire danger. We still have an enormous amount of fuel lying around the BWCA and a dry spring will make things very dangerous. Last summer we installed many sprinkler systems on homes around the Gunflint Trail and it sounds like there will be quite a few more to do this summer.
The warm days have been quite enjoyable and have allowed my wife and me to get a lot of outside projects done this week. Theyard melted in about four days and the driveway has already sucked up any puddles left behind from the snow. The forecast is for some rain/snow, but the temperatures have not dropped enough to make usbelieve we will get any white stuff.
Cory Christianson, a 2000 graduate of the University of Iowa, has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail for nine years. If you have any fishing reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@ hotmail.com or call 218-388- 0315
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