Gunflint Lake advice?

My wife and I are at the Gunflint lodge for what was supposed to be a skiing/ice fishing adventure. It was looking like we would be confined to hiking with no snow and dangerous ice, but now I am looking at 50ft of open water from the shore and it’s growing!

I have no experiance with trout – can anyone help me? I brought a little of ice and open water gear. No bait around, but I have berkley minnows, gulp waxies, and various ice plastics (nuggies, wedgies, etc). For the time being I’m just going to toss crankbaits and raps towards the ice.

I worked up at Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters (on Poplar Lake just south of Gunflint) for two Summers and fished Gunflint for trout a couple of times. It is really early in year so the trout will be up shallow. I would rent a canoe, toss on a floating rap and just troll, troll and troll. Stay close to the shoreline (12 fow or less) and let a lot of line out (250+ ft). That lake has some monster rainbows!

If the other lakes are opening you go fish Daniels for lake trout. Daniels has BIG lake trout and they are super easy to fish early in the year. Just grab a couple of spoons and troll down the middle of the lake. The lakers will come up and grab it. Catching big lakers in a conoe is a blast!

Good Luck!
Drew

X2 to the long line trolling, but coming from someone who has been there a few times, dont forget to enjoy all the other things there are to do and see at the lodge. I highly suggest you talk to the naturalist about hiking to bridal falls!

Well they won’t let me rent a canoe “until May” so I’m stuck on the trolling, or the going to bridal falls. I tried casting a bit from shore but I’m only getting into a few feet of water. Still really nice up here! Lots of hiking in the 55-70 degree weather. The ice is 60% out on gunflint and should be gone in a couple days.

There are many outfitters up there on the gunflint. You could probably call a few of them and see if they would let you rent a canoe. I find it odd that they won’t let you rent one now. I wonder if they don’t start carrying insurance until May. I would check around with other outfitters!

Drew