September is upon us and the third holiday of the summer, Labor Day, will mark the “beginning of the end” for visitors on the Gunflint Trail. Soon the leaves start showing signs of autumn as we slip into the next season.
Until last week’s major rain, Saganaga’s lake level had been dropping faster than I can remember seeing before. The lower water level changes the shoreline, as well as the convenient parking against some of my favorite campsites. A perk to my profession is being able to choose the campsite for a lunch break while guiding anglers, and there are only a few on Saganaga that I have not visited.
Saganaga Lake has an abundance of top-notch campsites; some with sand beaches and others with rocky ledges and big lake views. As the lake level changes, so does the ability of my guide boat to safely reach the shore without dragging the hull over rocks or having to get my feet wet. I take advantage of those particular sites in the spring while the lake is still high, especially on the big lake side of Long Island, which, spared by forest fire, boasts an abundance of old growth.
Giant pines grow tall from the rocky elevated areas while an old cedar forest lies in the lowlands toward the center of the island. Thick moss grows over the rocks between the cedars creating a plush green forest floor reminiscent of an enchanted forest from a fairy tale.
The BWCA has an immense number of very cool campsites with pros and cons ranging from ease of access to beautiful views. I like big lake sites because there tends to be a breeze which reduces the bugs and such sites usually have good fishing from shore. Swampy bays with stagnant water breed pesky bugs and are more likely to have animal contaminants in the water. Filtering drinking water is essential anywhere in the BWCA, but it helps to start with the cleanest water possible.
September is a great month to explore the woods, especially since there is less camping pressure after Labor Day when the kids go back to school. Colder evenings keep the bug population down and the clear nights are a stargazer’s dream—especially when accompanied by a showing of Northern Lights. September has become my favorite month of the year.
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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