Last week I mentioned being one big wind away from losing our fall colors, and the 30 mile-per-hour gusts this week have done just that. We have been blessed with a long warm fall season, but now the landscape has been stripped of color as we prepare for the wintry mix of snow that is forecast for later this week.
Devil Track Lake has been angry all day with three-foot waves crashing against our rocky shoreline, fueled by steady winds from the west. Big fall winds allow lakes to mix unevenly tempered waters as the thermocline disappears, and the lake “flipsover” for winter. The bottom layer of cold water mixes with the warmer, wind-disturbed surface water to eventually create an evenly tempered lake from top to bottom.
Lake trout spawn once the surface temperatures drop, on shallow water rock piles that are near deep water. Many of the bigger Gunflint Trail lakes that have lake trout also have unique rock piles, sometimes barely breaching the surface, that are traditional spawning grounds.
The lake trout season closed at the end of September on inland lakes to protect them while they are spawning. It is rare, like Halloween blizzards, but possible for the surface temperatures to drop enough to initiate the spawn before that date. Female lake trout, also called hens, will lay their eggs in a few feet of water while the males ferociously guard them by attacking anything that moves into their space.
The mercury dipped below freezing a few times this week, and it is beginning to feel more like a traditional Cook County fall. Most of our winter preparation list has been accomplished at the lodge, and we plan now to take a little break. The Raven Rock Grill is currently closed until December 1st— see you then.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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