This past week of guiding has been a rollercoaster of fishing. One day they are jumping into the boat and the next day there is very little action of any kind. Guiding is a funny business to be in. If you slam fish, like we have been in Northern Light Lake, the customers leave thinking you are some kind of Jedi master fisherman and they are ready to name their first born child after you.
If you have a tough day, like we have been having on the Minnesota side of Saganaga Lake, they have forgotten your name altogether. As a general rule of thumb I decided long ago never to tell people, “You should have been here yesterday.” Theydo not want to hear it, even if it is true.
The Minnesota side of Sag finally picked up today with the recent north winds and stormy weather. That was all the lake needed to get back on course, but it was a pretty boring fishery prior to the weather. The big walleyes have been working their way out to the reefs. Many of the smaller ones are still cruising around the bays eating up what is left of the mayfly hatch. We managed to scratch out a limit of 15 – 17-inch walleyes and released a 28-inch one.
The wildlife running along the Gunflint Trail has been abundant lately. I am not sure if everyone is witnessing this, or if the early hour that I leave for work allows me to see more than most. There has been every kind of animal that lives in our forest on the road this past week. Moose, bear, wolf, deer, porcupine, mink, hare, grouse, and fox.
The family of fox I told you about seems to be residing in between Nor’wester and Old Northwoods lodges. They really like to run out on the road, especially at night. I hope they survive, because they could not have picked a more dangerous place to live.
Many people ignore the 40 mph zone that runs from Ugly Baby Bait all the way past County Road 92. This is the most congested area along the Gunflint Trail with multiple resorts and driveways, and yet you see many anxious drivers racing up and down the Trail. Especially with boats in tow, or canoes strapped to the tops of the car. Ironic, right? Racing up to a BWCA vacation of paddling. I guess you are not really in the Wilderness until you see the brown signs that say “Wilderness.”
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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