Last week I told you that Irv Benson’s Memorial was on the 4th of July. This was not correct, it will be held on July 3rd, which is Friday, at Chippewa Inn on Saganaga Lake.
Shuttle service to the island will be provided from both landings, which are County Road 81 (Moose Pond Rd) or County Road 11 (Sag Store Rd). Please be at the landing no later than 9:30 a.m. Thememorial is at 11 a.m. with a potluck luncheon following.
I am told that Irv participated in the planning of this event and anyone is welcome to bring photos or memorabilia. Many of his photographs will be on display as well.
If you do not have a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit from Canada, you will still be able to attend, but you cannot access the lake without a Day Use Motor Permit. Volunteer homeowners who are exempt from the permit system will provide the shuttles. If you think this is a “free day” to roam around Saganaga without a motor permit, you are wrong and will probably get caught. Law enforcement from both sides of the border are sure to be present as well as the U.S. Customs so that people will not have to report to their offices upon returning to the U.S.A.
On a different note, the fishing has been very hot on Northern Lights with many days of 10 to 30 walleyes being caught. Saganaga has been a little more stubborn, but still allows us to make a living with her trophy hawgs.
The water temperatures have jumped into the low 70s and fish are going to be moving to the rocks. It is just starting to happen on Saganaga. This can be one of the most productive times of the year for big fish.
Brown water reefs on the main lake are the places to check. You know—the reefs that could take out a lower unit—that is where you want to fish. The big walleyes are the first to go hunting on these shallow spots and they will usually hit anything that is moving. I like to bobber fish since you can leave your leech in their face for a long time.
Do not expect to find any schools of them yet; it is mostly one or two fish per spot and many spots without a bite. Keep searching and fishing new spots until you establish a pattern. Our lakes are famous for having many “hittable” reefs so there is no shortage of spots. Thisis happening on all of the walleye lakes on the Gunflint Trail, so give it a try.
Some guys like to troll crank baits over these same spots and you can certainly cover a lot more water this way. I use 15-20 pound Power Pro because it cuts through the water better than monofilament and it allows you to watch the crank bait working as your rod tip wobbles side to side. You can even tell if your bait is running improperly from weeds and the hook set is instant. Good luck!
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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