West End News: May 21

Fishing season has been open for a couple of weeks now and reports from anglers are coming in mostly positive. Walleyes are biting slowly, but steadily, with almost every group reporting success, but often with the caveat that they “had to work for ‘em.”  
 
Bass have been the surprise of the season so far, with many reports of big bass big caught, in spite of chilly water temperatures. Northerns always bite well in the early season and this year is no exception. The biggest reported so far was in the ten pound range.
 
Lake trout are easily being caught in the deep wilderness lakes. One solo paddler told me that he caught five large lake trout in a row casting into the pool at the base of a falls. He said it was too bad that he doesn’t eat fish because he could have lived for a week on just one of those beauties. He said that he practices “hook and release” so the fish never leaves the water and is kept on the line just long enough to gently remove the hook with a needle-nosed pliers.
 
Fishing should improve over the next few weeks, so put on new line and get out on your favorite lake.
 
I was pleased to see the story in the Cook County News Herald about the plaque that has been erected by the Lutsen Villa Association in honor of the late Bub Nelson. Bub’s impact on the West End is too large to even begin to describe here. The highlights include turning Lutsen Resort into one of Minnesota’s best-loved resorts, founding the Lutsen Mountains Ski Area, building the first condominiums on the North Shore and arranging for the construction of Superior National golf course.
 
In my opinion, it’s very important for a history like Bub’s to be remembered and re-told as an example to future generations. Thanks to the leadership of the Lutsen Villa Association helping to keep Bub’s memory alive.
 
The unique and secluded Black Beach in Silver Bay is again open to all, after several years of being closed to public use. The beach is reached by taking the first turn off Highway 61 east of the stoplights in Silver Bay.  It’s been a popular picnic spot for hundreds, if not thousands of years, until safety concerns caused the private owner to post it with no trespassing signs.
 
Now, the City of Silver Bay and the Minnesota DNR have collaborated in leasing the property from the owner, North Shore Mining, and putting it back on the short list of public North Shore beaches.
 
The black sand is a legacy of the era when Reserve Mining dumped the waste rock produced at their taconite plant into Lake Superior.  Despite its color being derived from what amounted to massive industrial pollution, it is now one of those wonderful secret spots along the North Shore that locals love and visitors get to discover.
 
Congratulations to Tofte’s hard-working fire chief, Rich Nelson and his wife Cathy, on taking the first real vacation of their working lives.  They relaxed on the beach in southern California near the home of their daughter, Caitlin.
 
Rich said that he was worried about the reaction from the Californians when he revealed his Minnesota winter legs on the beach. He said the only way people knew that his legs were alive was that he didn’t have a tag on his toe.
 
He should probably worry more about what West Enders will say when they see a relaxed Rich Nelson sporting a California tan.

(Photo courtesy of Superior Hiking Trail Association)