Stories from the Gunflint Trail - Fishing!

Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, Minnesota

  Whether you want to catch a trophy walleye,
enjoy a family fishing outing, or go fly-fishing
for trout, you can do it on the Gunflint Trail.

"Our fishing is pretty darned good," says local
guide Joe Carlson. "I don't where else you can
find such a variety of waters and species of fish."

Going north from the village of Grand Marais on
Lake Superior's North Shore, the Gunflint Trail
is a paved road winding 57-miles through the
northern wilderness, ending at Saganaga Lake on
the Canadian border. Along the way, hundreds of
pristine lakes, ranging from wilderness waters to
lakes with resorts, campgrounds, and other
amenities, offer year-round fishing opportunities.

Carlson enjoys taking families on one-day fishing
adventures. He likes to fish smaller lakes where
walleyes and smallmouth bass are abundant. Often,
the fish are easy to catch, even for novice anglers.

"Some of my customers catch more fish in one day
here than they've caught in their lives," Carlson says.

Is he telling a 'fish story?' Not really. Many
Gunflint Trail lakes are lightly fished and
provide fishing action comparable to the Canadian
wilderness. In fact, some of the Trail's best
fishing waters are near the Canadian border.
Lakes such as Saganaga, Sea Gull, and Gunflint
are justly famed for high quality fishing. Sea
Gull River, flowing into Saganaga Lake, produced
Minnesota's 17-pound, eight-ounce state record walleye in 1979.

Mike Berg of Seagull Creek Fishing Camp has been
guiding anglers to trophy walleyes on these
Canadian border waters for decades. Every year,
dozens of anglers catch­and often release­the big
walleye of their dreams. They also land
smallmouth bass, lake trout, and northern pike.

"Many lakes up here consistently produce big
fish," says Berg. "We catch large walleyes
throughout the season, and my records back that up."

Other anglers explore the Gunflint Trail
backcountry in search of trout. Dozens of small
lakes and ponds are stocked with brook, rainbow,
and brown trout, as well as splake, a
hatchery-produced cross between brook and lake
trout. On these waters, anglers can drown a worm or cast a fly in solitude.

Fly-fishing guide Dave Asproth says anglers can
fish for trout in roadside lakes or bushwhack to
more remote destinations, including lakes with
catch-and-release regulations intended to protect
the fish so they can grow to larger sizes.

"We have excellent trout fishing," says Asproth.
"I caught a 27-inch brown trout last summer."

Asproth is an accomplished fly tier who has
developed many flies to match the local insects
eaten by trout. However, he is quick to point out
that you don't need to know how to fly-fish to
have fun trout fishing. Many anglers fish for
trout with small spinners, spoons, and crankbaits.

"You can use whatever methods work for you," he says.

The Gunflint Trail fishing season begins in mid
May with the Minnesota fishing opener, which
often occurs just after ice out. Usually, the
water is cold and all species are found in
shallow shoreline areas. As summer arrives, the
fish gradually move to deeper water and are found
near points, islands, and submerged
structure.  In mid summer, cold-loving species
such as lake trout go deep. Other species remain
active, especially at dusk and dawn.

"We really don't have summer 'dog days' up here,"
explains Berg. "We can always find good fishing somewhere."

That is, if you know where to look. The local
knowledge of a guide is invaluable for visiting
anglers. Not only are guides familiar with the
seasonal patterns of various fish species, they
are on the water daily and know where to find the fish.

"We follow the fish throughout the season," says
Berg. "The guides know what lakes are hot and
which species are likely to be biting."

Going with a guide has other advantages. The
guide has a boat and good fishing gear, and can
make up for any shortcomings in your personal
fishing tackle. They know the regulations and
have the necessary permits for traveling on
wilderness lakes. Intimately familiar with vast,
island-studded waters, they can take you to
distant fishing holes and unerringly return you
to the dock when the day is done.  And if you are
a novice, it's easy enough to find someone to
guide you on the first outing or two.

  It's wise to book a fishing trip in advance,
but Berg says if you are on vacation and want to
go fishing, lodges and outfitters can help you
find an available guide on short notice.

"Usually, someone has an opening," he says. "You
can be out fishing the next day and catch the trophy of a lifetime."

On the fabled fishing lakes along the Gunflint
Trail, anything is possible. For more information
about fishing and other outdoor adventures,
contact the Gunflint Trail Association at (800)
338-6932 or www.gunflint-trail.com.

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