There was the unfamiliar sound of thunder rumbling in the distance last night. A true sign that spring is upon us. The golf ball-sized hail and 60 mile per hour winds that were forecasted fell a little short of the mark, but the storm had plenty of strength nonetheless. I called a friend up at Sea Gull Lake when I... READ MORE >
Last week gave us a long awaited taste of warmer days to come. This week we are getting a few more inches of snow. It was too bad the snow did not hit before the weekend. There were quite a few snowmobiles sneaking in one last ride up the Trail and I am sure there would have been quite a... READ MORE >
Spring seems to be right around the corner but we are still drilling through 30 inches of ice up here. What a difference from last year’s early thaw. I have only been fishing a few times recently on Gunflint Lake. I guess I am just a glutton for punishment. The high-pressure systems we have been getting lately are making for... READ MORE >
Everyone knows that black bears hibernate during the cold winter months. They tuck away some time in December and keep hitting the snooze button until early spring. I was reading about some hibernating black bears in Brainerd, MN and decided to find out how they are able to sleep for such long periods of time. It turns out that bear’s... READ MORE >
Many of us Minnesotans heat our homes with wood, especially with the rising prices of propane and electricity. Approximately 10,000 outdoor wood boilers are currently in use in the State of Minnesota and about 20 percent of us heat entirely with wood. In most of Cook County’s rural areas, such as the Gunflint Trail, this is how we heat. The... READ MORE >
We started getting a little more snow again this week and the temperatures have been just cold enough to keep it from melting. It would be a good year to start spring with high water and it will take a lot more snow to make that happen. I remember many years in the past when it started raining in May... READ MORE >
It is getting to be that time of year again when winter events start happening on the Gunflint Trail. The annual Trout Derby sponsored by the local snowmobile club will be held Sunday, March 13 on Gunflint Lake. Last year there were not too many trout caught considering the number of anglers on the ice, but hopefully this year will... READ MORE >
I know it has been awhile since I have written about wolves, but some of you might remember my column a few months ago regarding a dead wolf in our back yard. She was a small adult that was discovered by our wiener dog, Maggie, about 25 feet from the back door. We sent the wolf to Fish and Wildlife... READ MORE >
I hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day. It may not be an “official” holiday but it is a perfect time to remind your significant other how special they are. If you are anything like me, your wife deserves to know how much her patience and dedication is appreciated. You do not have to spend a lot of money on... READ MORE >
The Canadian fishing opener happened last week and the Lake Saganaga parking lot finally showed some life. The anglers had not been around the end of the Trail yet this season, but now that Canada has opened up there have been a few more people around. The fishing reports were about the same as everywhere else—slow. There are some trout... READ MORE >
