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The turtles are making their slow-motion migration across the roads this week. They are in search of nice sandy places to lay their eggs, so be careful while driving up the Trail.
I watched two of them crossing the Gunflint Trail by Sea Gull Lake yesterday. They were neck and neck for about two minutes and only made it to the centerline before some oncoming traffic forced them to hide in their shells.
The largest migration I have seen is on the Moose Pond Road (County Road 81) where I launch my boat to access Saganaga. You can expect to see ten or more of these little guys on the road every day for the next couple of weeks.
It seems there have been a lot of moose sightings this week as well. There was a big bull moose in the moose pond at County Road 81 this week, and a cow with a calf in the big swamp near County Road 92 as well. They have molted their winter coats and look very nice. The bull had a full velvet rack already and actually looked very black in color.
Saganaga and Northern Lights Lake have been producing very nice catches this week. Northern Lights Lake in Ontario has always been one of the best walleye lakes in the area, but we simply do not get as many customers who are willing or able to get all of the proper paperwork necessary to fish this walleye wonderland. My last group of clients wanted all three days on Northern Lights. It was well worth the long boat ride and portage. We caught over fifty walleyes—three were hawgs— in their three-day trip and they are already booking again for next year.
In Canada you are allowed only one walleye over 18 inches (46cm), making it difficult to keep a limit. But any true fisherman does not have a problem releasing bigger fish knowing they are preserving an excellent walleye lake. The fish are averaging 20 inches and are running in pretty big schools, making for a pretty exciting day. They are holding tight to the large weed beds and being caught in six to fifteen feet of water directly in front of, or on top of submerged weeds.
There will be a memorial held for Irv Benson on the 4th of July at Chippewa Inn. I do not know all of the details yet, but I will have a full report next week. I have been told that anyone is welcome to attend even if they do not have a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit. Canadian officials will be available to facilitate the crossing, as well as free shuttles to and from the island. I will find out everything by next week.
Good luck on the water.
Cory Christianson, a 2000 graduate of the University of Iowa, has worked as a fishing guide at Seagull Creek Fishing Camp for eight years and worked for Almost There Charters in Key West for nine years. If you have any fishing reports or stories to share, send an e-mail to christiansoncory@ hotmail.com or call 218 388-0315.
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