Last week Devil Track Lake turned dark gray and spongy indicating the beginning stages of iceout, and little has changed since then. Cold temperatures and an additional foot of snow have hindered the melting process while leaving many folks wondering, “where can we fish on opening weekend?” Gunflint Trail lakes are beginning to open up, but the bigger lakes are... READ MORE >
On our long journey back from Iowa we decided to take a break from the highway and hike Gooseberry Falls State Park to see the raging waterfalls. Melting snow and rainfall have charged the rivers and streams that lead to Lake Superior attracting fish and anglers to the many tributaries along Highway 61. Road trips with the kids are getting... READ MORE >
Spring is here but there is a lot of snow in the woods and the lake ice has yet to separate from the shoreline, it could be another year of iced-over lakes on the fishing opener. The sun has been showing itself lately, but the overnight temperatures are cold enough to keep the ground from thawing. Easter weekend is usually... READ MORE >
As the snow banks recede, we are seeing more natural ground each day, but it is going to take some April showers and sunshine to start the melting process. There is an awful lot of snow in the woods still and the lake ice is just as thick as it was in February. Shoulder seasons in northern Minnesota can be... READ MORE >
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... READ MORE >
Warm spring sunshine and occasional flurries have been chiseling away at winter this week as the trails fight to keep their snow. Overnight temperatures are still cold enough to keep the package of smelt under the front seat of my truck frozen, thank goodness, and the only thing keeping the lakes solid and the trails rideable. The snowmobile trails are... READ MORE >
What a difference a rainy day can make. Last week I was writing about ice fishing on Lake Superior, and this week the ice on the Big Lake has left the bays while the inland lakes became soft. Luckily it has been cold enough since the rainfall to harden the slushy lakes for now, but the warm temperatures and powerful... READ MORE >
Lake Superior has been almost covered in ice for the past few weeks with patches of solid ice being blown off shore one day and back into shore the next. The jagged ice that borders the open water is pushed in all directions creating brilliant sculptures that look like the inside of a crystal agate. In some bays near Grand... READ MORE >
The initial spike in winter tourism that came with the big snowstorms in January set the pace for an incredibly busy winter. As we enter March, which is traditionally the busiest month of winter, I struggle to find enough time to enjoy some of the winter sports that I enjoy before it is all over, especially ice fishing. The trout... READ MORE >
March, my favorite month of the year, is just around the corner and soon the days will become noticeably longer. Winter is far from over but the earth-warming month ahead of us should begin to make the outdoors a little more enjoyable. The blizzard that hit Cook County last Sunday left many roads and driveways impassable with high winds creating... READ MORE >
