The rain gauges are not showing any impressive numbers on the Trail, even though it looks like it is about to unleash on us every day. We have had a lot of intermittent showers that just are not accumulating any significant amounts. Lightning has not started any fires that I know of but the true test will be the beginning of the tourist season.
TheCanadian and Minnesota fishing openers will happen on the same weekend this year. Canada has changed its opening dates, which means that the Minnesota side of Saganaga will not be quite as congested as in years past since more anglers will head up to the border.
The spawning grounds are still not open and signs will be posted in those areas telling you when they will open. The walleyes are done spawning and the red suckers are moving into the rivers for their annual courtships. Everything has been happening so early this year that I don’t expect to have to use minnows for very long, if at all. The leech bite does not usually get very hot until after Memorial Day weekend but I expect to see them getting eaten very early this year. One of the biggest problems with using leeches in cold water is that they tend to curl up in a ball, making them very hard to fish with. The warmer water temperatures this opener should keep that from being an issue.
There was a young wolf in our yard the other day. It was lying down and playing with a canoe anchor in the yard. He chewed on the rope and batted at the anchor for over 10 minutes while we watched him from our living room window. It was neat to see him act like a dog with a chew toy. Eventually he stood up and darted off into the woods with my anchor in his mouth. As the rope unraveled from its pile it eventually became tangled in the brush and tightened up with a very sharp jerk. I could no longer see the wolf when the line tightened, but judging from the abrupt spring of the rope, it must have given him a mighty jolt.
I have yet to see any bears this year, but plenty of moose, hare, and grouse have been showing themselves. The swamps are alive with chirping critters and the bugs are beginning to pester us in the woods. Spring is upon us and every day is looking a little bit greener. Mother Nature has a way of fixing herself so we can only hope that our drought will end soon with some much needed rain.
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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