I left Grand Marais this morning with a feeling that spring was already here. Lake Superior’s bright blue waters were rough from the big wind, and the streets were dry without a trace of snow in sight. As I drove a short trip over the hill, I was quickly reminded that winter is holding on for at least another weekend.
Losing all of the snow on the Gunflint Trail is a bittersweet experience. I am ready for it to melt away, but for a different reason than most people. The last couple of weeks can be the most exciting fishing of the season as the snow melts and gravity does the rest. Water returns to the lake and the ice can no longer take the pressure building from below causing the lake to “pop-up.” Typically the ice will remain safe to fish for a couple of weeks after popping-up, which is great because game fish come out to feed in the new current.
The timing of the snow melting is crucial for end of the year success on the ice. Many years the season closes before the snow melts, or the ice melts too fast creating a short window of opportunity.
Smelt begin to find the current and big predators like walleyes, lake trout, and whitefish are not far behind. If I could pick only one week to fish the bigger lakes all winter it would be during the thaw near an incoming river soaking a jig and minnow combination near the bottom.
Current and warming temperatures are not a good combination so be sure to trust the lake you are on and avoid any crunchy ice. If the auger is not fighting to get through the hole then the ice is getting too soft to be on. Ice should always be hard, not porous, and the auger should have to shave its way through the ice. We have seen conditions go from safe to dangerous in a few hours with a bright sun. It always feels great to be fishing in a T-shirt even though it is a reminder that the end of the ice fishing season is very near.
Trail Center will be hosting the annual fishing event on Poplar Lake March 28 and 29 and with a little luck it will be dry. I am not sure of the details, but I am sure Sarah will make it fun. Overnight temperatures have been cold enough to keep some of the snow from melting, but the snowmobile trails are getting too rough for me. Grooming might be over for the year, but I would still expect to see some diehard sled heads and skiers since most other places have already lost their snow.
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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