Where are the fish biting?

What does a charter fishing captain do on his day off? If he is Darren Peck of Tofte Charters, he calls up a friend to go fishing! Captain Peck joined Dick Nelson of Lutsen for a day of fishing with “Freeloader Charters” in Nelson’s 18-foot Crestliner. The men jigged in Lake Superior and caught a number of nice-sized lake trout. Nelson said Peck caught 10 fish to his one. They released them all, including this beauty.

This week’s report from Buck’s Hardware Hank:

I’m sure you already know the lakes I’d mention if I was going to, yet again, list them with depths and type of bait to use. Ho hum, Devil Track, Elbow, Cascade, Poplar, blahblah blah. Drop some live bait into water and see what the heck ends up on the hook (if anything does).

Grouse season has started again. I can tell because the beer cans come out in force (I’ve picked up a half dozen or so, so far). I’ve never used beer cans as attractant for grouse and I have my doubts as to whether it works or not, but there are those who seem to swear by it. Maybe they should try a different technique. Anyway, I don’t want to concentrate on only a few littering hunters when I can spot litter the whole year even when it’s not hunting season; it just seems to be enhanced around this time of year. Most of us are concerned about where we toss our trash.

The North Shore Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society held its 21st annual Sportsmen’s Banquet at the American Legion on Thursday, September 5, 2013. In addition to a fine meal and an informational program on the status of the ruffed grouse, there were a number of gun raffles. The lucky winners are pictured here: (L-R, front) Jean Spry, Cindy Crawford, Gary Radloff Jr. and Jack Radloff. (L-R, back) Orvis Lunke, Neil Hansen, Paul Kelnberger, Jason Hill.

There are birds out there, though. Some have been skunked and believe numbers are way down. Maybe, but I’m seeing plenty of them and quite a few smaller birds in coveys. Come October, the ones who make it that long should be bigger.

Capt. Jerry Skarupa of Secret Lures says there are plenty of lake trout around if the weather cooperates. There are also a few salmon around.