Heavy rainstorms this week could not have been more welcome. The forest turned green which reduced the fire danger, and the walleyes were biting. Heavy soakers without lightning are great for early season green-up, and the cold temperatures that came with the storms zapped those pesky black flies. Spring is in bloom, and it is a great time to be on the Gunflint Trail.
The water is still too cold to swim in, for most people, but that did not stop the paddlers from exploring the BWCA this week, while braving the cold temperatures, high winds, and occasional thunderstorm. It is cool to see the campfires light up on Saganaga lake after the storms pass. The smell of wet wood fighting to take flame drifts through the air as little plumes of grey smoke rise from the many campsites on Saganaga Lake. We watch the campers hanging their clothes over lines to dry while sitting below their protective tarps as we pass in our boat.
A small hail storm was reported on Saganagons Lake in Quetico park on Sunday, but we did not see any hail on Saganaga. I was hiding out the same storm on a campsite in Devils Walk Bay, about three miles south of Saganagons Lake where the hail was reported. We could see a dark wall of clouds moving fast to the south east that carried some high winds, lightning, and rain. Weather can get wild fast in the Boundary Waters, especially while traveling by canoe. Big lakes are prone to having worse conditions, but Saganaga has many campsites and islands to find refuge from ensuing storms.
We are also fortunate that the Saganaga public landing is located on the southeast corner of the lake, since many of the violent storms come from the northwest. I have been chased home by storms many times on Saganaga, and usually make it back in time. Racing to beat a storm front with a 25 hp motor can sometimes be a knuckle-biting experience, especially if the boat is wet from the rain and moving slow from the saturated carpet flooring.
The Day Use Motor Permits for Saganaga Lake have been going fast this summer, and the availability can be checked at www.recreation.gov. The calendar shows how many permits are available for each week of the summer and can be reserved for $6 per day.
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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