Booking a guided fishing trip on the Gunflint Trail during the last days of October can be risky at best. The weather could be beautiful like it has this season, or it could be sleeting sideways with freezing temperatures mixed with high winds.
My last day of the season on Saganaga Lake this past weekend was as nice as I can remember a late October fishing trip to be. The sun made more than one appearance, and the slight breeze was just enough to make the fish bite. We could not have asked for a nicer day, and I could not have asked for better customers to spend it with – it was a season finale to remember.
Late fall fishing is very “hit or miss” even within the same day. On a typical fall day, the morning bite is usually good, but not until 9 a.m., then there is a mid-day lull followed by a good bite before the sun settles. The water temperatures are dipping into the upper 40s, and the walleyes have dropped a little deeper into 45 feet of water.
When fishing this deep, it is important to fight the hooked fish slowly so they can adjust to the depth change without imploding, especially when they are hawgs.
Little walleyes seem to be more resilient to the sudden change in pressure and typically swim directly to the bottom after being released. I know because I try to watch them descend on my depth finder to confirm a healthy release. The hawg walleyes seem to be slightly more fragile and will often drop down 20 feet or so before finishing their descent – they also require some reviving at the surface before being released. Take it easy on them, and they will survive to fight another day.
The leaves are almost gone, like the tourists who are unable to handle the sub-zero temperatures that will soon lead to winter. Snowshoe hares have begun growing white fur under their bellies, and the local fox seen scavenging the shoulders for fresh road kill are also changing into fluffy winter coats while preparing for the next season ahead.
Time for me to do the same.
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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