Fishing picks up after chilly opener

About a half a million anglers were expected to hit the water last weekend when the walleye season opened. Fishing on Lake Vermillion for the governor’s opener Saturday was very good. Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Speaker Kurt Daudt pulled in 35 walleyes in three hours. Next year the event will be held at Big Sandy Lake near McGregor.

On Saturday the 9th, reports from mid-Gunflint Trail say bass fishing was good on Poplar Lake, but the walleye catch was better in surrounding lakes.   

Jigs tipped with minnows are producing walleyes in 4 feet at Elbow Lake, 4 to 8 feet on Saganaga, and 6 to 10 feet on Seagull. Northern pike are being taken with crankbaits or sucker minnows in 6 to 10 feet on Northern Lights Lake, Poplar, Cascade, and Devil Track. Suckers, shiners, ciscoes, and jigs are working for lake trout in 15 to 22 feet on Loon Lake, 20 feet on Gunflint, and 12 to 20 feet on Greenwood.

On the big lake, lake trout are in the 150 foot range, if your trolling try the orange, pink or black and white "Nasty Boys"; you could also try jigging live bait in the 200 foot range. Wear your winter clothes, though…it's cold out there.