Thelakes are melting very fast up here. Gunflint has already separated from the shore with three feet of open water on the north side in front of the old Moosehorn Bed and Breakfast. The Cross River is showing signs of open water, and Seagull Creek is flowing as well.
We are still seeing some ice anglers up here, but the fishing has not been very good since the recent warmup. Hungry Jack Lake has reported 15 inches of ice still, but it depends on what part of the lake you are on. This could be a very dangerous spring with the inconsistent ice depths. A lot of areas are still sporting thick ice, but it is very rotten and should not be trusted. I do not plan on risking a Polar Bear plunge for some fish that just are not willing to feed.
I heard some anglers caught a few crappies on Poplar Lake last weekend, which got me pretty excited, but I never had a chance to give it a try. Poplar is a much better lake than people give it credit for. Thewalleye netting reports from the DNR have never been very good, averaging one fish per net at .7 pounds, but that could be a reflection of where they are netting. One time when I saw them netting on the lake, I asked them why they choose to put their nets where they do, and the response I got was, “That is where we have always put them.” In order for their test nets to give accurate and consistent results, they need to test in the same places. Makes sense, but they usually target deeper channels which are going to have traveling fish rather than targeting areas where the fish spend more of their time, such as reefs and weed lines.
You can find current test net results on the DNR website, but it is important to understand the information they give you. For example, they might tell you that the average-size walleye on Loon Lake is 7.27 pounds, but they only caught .3 per net. This means that they only caught one walleye in three tries. The information is still very helpful, and the DNR does a very good job of recording it. The information gathered helps them determine what lakes to stock and with what types of species. Take advantage of their investigations, and do not be afraid to give them your two cents’ worth. If you are noticing a serious change in your favorite lake, let them know. We as anglers are the best source of information for them to use. We know our favorite lakes better than most and any input on lake management is beneficial.
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
Leave a Reply