Everyone on the Gunflint Trail reports an increase in fishing success. In spite of windy days and cool temperatures, the walleyes are moving out of the spawning areas. They are still pretty scattered but people are catching some nice sized fish and some eaters. Lake trout are also biting again and even the bass are feeding. The bass, however, are not up on the spawning beds yet. That will be another week or so.
On Saganaga Lake Mike Berg from Seagull Creek Fishing Camp had out Robie Wayne (Minnetonka, MN). They caught and released a 30 1/2", 20 1/2" and 28" walleye plus an 18" smallmouth bass. Smaller walleyes were caught for shore lunch. Ken Peters (White Bear Lake, MN) released a 28 1/2" walleye. Guide Curtis Blake had out Henry Withers (Savage, MN) and Martin Berskow (Bloomington, MN) on both Seagull and Saganaga Lakes. In addition to walleyes ranging from 24-27 inches, they had fish for dinner and fish to take home.

On Gunflint Lake Jon Schei took out the Wildenauer Party (Woodbury,MN). They caught 5 northern, some bass and a lake trout. It was all done during a little morning fishing. Above is their catch of northern. The lake trout was eaten and the bass released.

In the mid-Trail area Forrest Parsons of Hungry Jack Lodge reports that the bass are active right now. Walleyes are biting best in the evening hours. Teresa Baumann of Golden Eagle Lodge also had guests catching walleyes right off the dock during the evening hours. Forrest says that live bait have worked best for walleyes while suspended crank baits have been best for bass.

Andy Arendt from Tuscarora Outfitters has had several parties doing well with lake trout on the interior lakes of the BWCAW such as Tuscarora, Little Saganaga and Long Island. In these lakes the late trout are caught in 10-15 feet of water while trolling with a Sutton Spoon tipped with ciscos

Everyone along the Trail has been excited about the return of summer birds. Nor'Wester's eagle is back says Luana Brandt. Barbara Young at Boundary Country Trekking had guests from Illinois out on a guided birding walk. The guests added four birds (3 warblers and a flicker) to their life lists. Nancy Seaton of Hungry Jack Outfitters saw her first hummingbird for the year. Lots of partridge sightings are still being reported everywhre. A homeowner on Gunflint walked her side road and saw 17 partridge. But the bird sighting of the week goes to Bruce Kerfoot who saw a Baltimore Oriole at Gunflint's feeding station.
Finally, here's a reminder from Lin Sherfy at Rockwood Lodge to keep alert and drive carefully. Yesterday's wind blew a small tree across one lane of the Gunflint Trail near them. About 6:00 p.m. a car with a canoe on top came along that lane. There was another car coming in the opposite lane. Our first driver decided he couldn't stop so he hit the tree with his car. His aluminum canoe was swept right off the car. No one was hurt but the canoe.