If you have been one of the brave few to risk fishing this past week, I certainly hope it was worthwhile. We saw a few ATVs on Gunflint Lake, which is down to six inches of ice. I honestly cannot tell you if the fish are biting or not, because I have not been trying.
The Cross River is completely open and starting to whittle its way into the main lake. We have been working at the old Moose Horn Lodge and it is a cool place to watch the ice melting. The current forces huge patches of ice into the shoreline and causes big pressure ridges. It sounds like an enormous gong being hit every time the ice jams up.
Trail Center and Hungry Jack Lodge will be closing for the month of April, but you can still get a bite to eat at Gunflint Lodge and Windigo. It never feels like the season has come to an officialend until you see a closed sign hanging in front of Trail Center.
There have been some snowshoe hares running around already. They have not yet lost the white color of winter. I suppose our wiener dog will find one or two here pretty soon. She likes to bring them into the house to show off to her “mother,” even though it makes Rachelle scream. It is hard to believe that little dog can actually catch and kill a rabbit, but she can.
There have been some signs of bears getting into people’s trash lately, but I have not heard anyone say they have actually spotted any yet. I know it is early for bears, but everything is happening much sooner than normal this year.
It is already dry enough up here to kick up some dust on the gravel roads. We got a little bit of rain this past weekend, but the high winds that followed took away any moisture. In fact if we do not get some rain soon, there will surely be a fire ban in effect, or at least there should be.
I wish I could say it will not be long before we are fishing out of boats again, but it is only the first week of April, which means another six weeks. I have heard of some people getting out on Lake Superior already on the calmer days, but I have not heard how they are doing.
It seems like low water years are better fishing. I do not know if it is because there are more baitfish and insects for the fish to feed on in the higher water years or if it is just plain coincidence. I do know that some of our best openers have been the drier ones. I would be willing to trade some good fishing for rain so that we do not see another Ham Lake fire up here.
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