Leaving the Gunflint Trail was not easy for any of my family, physically or mentally, but the spectacular view of Devil Track Lake has made it a little easier. It is amazing how much stuff we had in that little house in the woods. Luckily there were many hands to help lighten the load.
The Gunflint Trail has been fairly quiet this week, with consistently fair weather for longer than we were expecting this fall. Every morning starts with a mist that sometimes becomes rain before the sun makes a two- or three-hour appearance. The temperatures have been hovering in the mid 40s and the leaves have all found their way to the ground.
Deer hunters, who have more time than myself, have been scouting the woods for a spot to try their luck on Saturday morning. I plan to buy a tag this year, but am not sure about the amount of time that will be spent honoring it. Who knows, I could get lucky on the Pine Mountain Road while moving the rest of our belongings from the Gunflint Trail.
Fishing from a boat is no longer an option for me this season since all of my boats are winterized and covered. November fishing is rarely worth it in this county, unless you are looking for a trophy muskie or pike. The lake feels about 10 degrees colder than the actual temperature, and bites are usually few and far between with a very short window of opportunity. I would much prefer spending time in the woods with a rifle following deer tracks to chasing bites in a boat in November.
Another week of nice temperatures would help us get a grip on moving into our new home, and allow me to finish a few outdoor projects at our Gunflint Trail home. After that, I am ready for snow. Winter is going to be very exciting for my family at the Skyport Lodge. It will be nice to spend the winter working indoors in a warm kitchen, instead of drilling holes through the ice in the bitter cold. Ice fishing can be fun, but guiding it is not easy, nor is it consistent. The difference between a nice day on the ice and a miserable one can be as simple as a 10-degree change with a little wind.
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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