April in northern Minnesota is considered by many to be the “off-season” since tourism drops to a minimum and the woods are too sloppy to enjoy. Traditionally, we would be loading the van and heading south for a warmer destination, but this year we are staying put and working on the lodge. No tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys this spring or lying beachside on a lounge chair with an umbrella drink – we will be here preparing the restaurant for the busy summer ahead.
Minnesotans are always preparing for the next season, but it could be a while before we see the natural ground again. My son Bo has found the only patch of gravel in our development to ride his bike on and play catch with the baseball, “the next sports season” which the older kids have already been practicing inside the YMCA gymnasium until they are able to use their field again.
There will be a few “diehard” snowmobilers this weekend riding on the last bit of snow remaining on the trails, but for the rest of us, the season is officially over for trail riding. We did get a fresh inch of snowfall over the hill, but it is too late to help or hurt the trails at this point of the season. The lakes are too hard, and the trails are showing more ground each day as the sun eats them away.
Ice anglers still have a little season left for walleyes on border lakes, or any other species that is still open in Minnesota before the ice melts, which is not going to be any time soon. Many lakes have over 30 inches of ice to melt, and we are not seeing any separation from the shore yet. This might be one of those years that we ice fish on the opener in May— and by “we” I mean someone other than me. If it is as cold and miserable on the opener as it was last year, I am staying home.
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. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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