It was a beautiful Memorial Day weekend on the Gunflint Trail. Every business seemed to have people out to enjoy the first hints of summer. Saturday afternoon and Sunday were picture perfect days. We even had some kids playing in the water at the beach. It seemed a little early for me but they were having a great time. Many guests just wanted to hike or take a boat ride on the lake. It was a long winter and there is something about being on the water that tells you summer is here.
Fishing, expecially for trout, was good. The picture above shows Tom Baumbeger who was fishing off his cabin dock at Clearwater Canoe Outfitters and Lodge. It was noon and he decided to throw his spinner out one more time before stopping for lunch. It turned out to be a pretty good choice. Few of us would turn down this lake trout. The fish measured in at 36" and 14 pounds. Lynn Pauloski, the owner at Clearwater, said that Tom was pretty excited.
Sue Arendt at Tuscarora said the lake trout in the interior lakes of the BWWCAW are still biting like crazy. One of their returning guests said the fishing was so good that it was like the trout were "goofy." All in all her canoeists had some great fishing over the weekend.
Guests from Rockwood Canoe Outfitters agreed that the lake trout fishing was great. They were in South Lake and figured they could catch as many fish as they wanted. Like most canoeiss, the majority of their fish were catch and release. You keep enough for dinner and release everything else.
Down at Gunflint Pines the Baumehen party (Hibbing, MN) also had good lake trout fishing. They were trolling and caught 8 nice lake trout. Shari Baker said that on Friday the Tischer party (Carleton, MN) caught a 27" and a 23" walleye. Since the fish were full of spawn, they released them. The Eilers part (Coon Rapids, MN) came to see moose. Over the course of three days, they spotted four moose.
Luana Brandt at Nor'Wester Lodge reports that they have a cow moose with twins. She also said that there is a mother fox who is feeding her kits right along the road. This mother seems comfortable with people watching but not touching her babies.
Poplar Creek Bed and Breakfast had five fishermen who went down to Swamp Lake. They got enough walleyes for a great dinner including a 20" fish and a 25" northern. If we catch enough fish for a fresh fish dinner, I consider the trip a success.
Hungry Jack Lake has been having good walleye fishing according to Forrest Parsons of Hungry Jack Lodge. Ken Miller (Atlanta, GA) caught a 24" walleye with a streamer fly. Ken Radau caught a 30" walleye with a leech.
Andy McDonnell at Bearskin Lodge says that fishing for walleys is good there too. Live bait like leeches and minnows is working great on Lindy Rigs, slip bobbers and lead head jigs.