Little trivia question?

At one time the lake did not have any walleyes. I know at least thru the early 20's it did not have them. During the C.C.C. days they stocked them ans I heard a individual named Art Nunstead stocked them. Were the Kerfoots involved and wonder what was the original year stocking?
Must of been the late 20's?

It is documented in a MN Historical Society article that when Benny Ambrose guided for the Blankenburg’s in the early 20’s he guided guests "who were after the big, native lake trout found in the cold, deep waters of Saganaga, Gunflint, and Sea Gull lakes". The article says this was prior to walleye stocking.

The Blankenburg’s sold the Gunflint Lodge to the Spunner’s in 1927 but kept a resort on Sea Gull Lake. It looks like Ed Nunstedt (Art?) was the original owner of the Chik-Wauk Lodge, and he and the Blankenburg’s built and maintained their private toll road between Sea Gull and Saganaga in the early 1930s.

I also see in a Minnesota Conservation Volunteer article that by the "1930s" over fishing nearly cleared out the slower growing Lake Trout in Sea Gull and Clearwater lakes so the Conservation Department (pre DNR) responded with regulations and a stocking program. Walleyes were also chosen to be stocked in those particular lakes since they grew much faster for harvest.

I can’t find an exact year when walleye where first stocked in those lakes though. But I found that stocking activities have gone on in this state ever since the first Fish Commission was established in 1873. One of the first species to be stocked by the state was carp. Good thing those fish weren’t chosen to supplement Lakers.

Edit: I see that Art and Ed Nunstedt are brothers .

very interesting..thanks

Thanks Inspector 13 for the info.

Its interesting you read early canoe trips from Ely to Saganaga and back.No Gunflint trail.

Is that ristra new mooseplums? : )

quote inspector13: "
Is that ristra new mooseplums? : )


"

Yep....it means I spend too much time on line talking about outdoor things when I should be doing it.:)

I believe the first walleye came from The Vermillion lake pike river hatchery or the Red lake hatchery at Watkish which has not been used for 20 years at least.

quote Pinetree: "Its interesting you read early canoe trips from Ely to Saganaga and back.No Gunflint trail.
"

Sig Olson talks about the remote feeling of Saganaga in his writings--before the road arrived.
Roads and easy access have wrecked an astounding amount of our American heritage.

In 1923 the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais was extended to Hungry Jack Lake as a forest fire prevention and fighting trail because of its central and key location to the canoe routes through Superior National Forest. A lodge was built at this point in 1924 by Jesse Gapen, grandfather of Dan Gapen - Gapen Tackle Co. Of Minneapolis.

quote arctic: "

quote Pinetree: "Its interesting you read early canoe trips from Ely to Saganaga and back.No Gunflint trail.
"

Sig Olson talks about the remote feeling of Saganaga in his writings--before the road arrived.
Roads and easy access have wrecked an astounding amount of our American heritage."

"Farewell to Saganaga," that chapter from "The Singing Wilderness" is one of my favorites, as is the big lake and those "...islands like battleships..."

This is really interesting history to read. Thanks, folks.

So last night after reading this thread it occurred to me to look for a "History" group. There it is sitting in the Private Group list. Thanks for dropping this one in the General forum. I have joined the history group. I really enjoy history!