With the long weekend I am planning on a day trip up the GFT..probably for lake trout... as long as the cohos don't start biting in the next week on Superior. Anyone else have plans to target some trout on the 29th?

I am not looking for fishing spots..got them..just wondering who is headed out for opener. :)

I'm thinking about walking in to Duncan, but not sure I can get away. When you mention cohos, are you talking about an icefishing bite? Or do you take the boat out ?

breakwall..casting spoons..caught 2 herring yesterday

Good smallmouth bite on the Mississippi yesterday!

I will be out somewhere for sure!
Was thinking about Thomas but wonder how the winter trail will be after the snow storm? Might have to bring the pruners if that's legal?

I hiked into Duncan on Saturday. Caught 2 lakers. But, holy slush. This latest rain/snow we got today can’t make it any better out there. Lots of folks fishing too, the parking lot was full, probably a dozen other people on the ice. Anyone else have any luck?

morky: "I hiked into Duncan on Saturday. Caught 2 lakers. But, holy slush. This latest rain/snow we got today can’t make it any better out there. Lots of folks fishing too, the parking lot was full, probably a dozen other people on the ice. Anyone else have any luck?"

MORKY ... What parking lot did you hike from?

Cret

Cretbo: "

morky: "I hiked into Duncan on Saturday. Caught 2 lakers. But, holy slush. This latest rain/snow we got today can’t make it any better out there. Lots of folks fishing too, the parking lot was full, probably a dozen other people on the ice. Anyone else have any luck?"

MORKY ... What parking lot did you hike from?


Cret"

I'm guessing the public access on Bearskin? That would be what, about 1 mile if you hike across Bearskin to the Duncan portage? I think there are only 5 parking spaces though.

Mac, did you make into Thomas? What way do you go?

Mac, did you make into Thomas? What way do you go?

Cretbo: "

morky: "I hiked into Duncan on Saturday. Caught 2 lakers. But, holy slush. This latest rain/snow we got today can’t make it any better out there. Lots of folks fishing too, the parking lot was full, probably a dozen other people on the ice. Anyone else have any luck?"

MORKY ... What parking lot did you hike from?


Cret"

Bearskin. There must have been 7-8 cars squeezed in there! It’s about a mile hike to the lake. Bearskin has some nice snowmobile tracks which made the hike easy, but Duncan was a slush factory.

Was thinking that to be the case ... but not from that area and sometimes theirs easier trails than one thinks. Was thinking of heading up this weekend but caught this terrible chest cold. Will have to wait. Would love to try the Lakers for the first time .... thanks for sharing and your responses.

Cret

They should open trout season in the BWCA and outside the BWCA the same date. That was proposed once by the DNR but legislatures messed the bill up and nobody ever corrected it.
It would help relieve the pressure on the fringe lakes just inside the BWCA which get heavy pressure at times. Lake trout in winter can get cropped down fairly fast.

Pinetree: "They should open trout season in the BWCA and outside the BWCA the same date. That was proposed once by the DNR but legislatures messed the bill up and nobody ever corrected it.
It would help relieve the pressure on the fringe lakes just inside the BWCA which get heavy pressure at times. Lake trout in winter can get cropped down fairly fast."

I tend to agree with you. The size and quality of fish on those fringe lakes are nothing to brag about anyway.

Couldn't make the openers finally got out today.

nice work Jer..downtown ho's just showed up if your interested in freezing your ass off.

Pinetree: "They should open trout season in the BWCA and outside the BWCA the same date. That was proposed once by the DNR but legislatures messed the bill up and nobody ever corrected it.
It would help relieve the pressure on the fringe lakes just inside the BWCA which get heavy pressure at times. Lake trout in winter can get cropped down fairly fast."

We (David Dill and myself) tried to have the starting dates the same weekend, several years back but the DNR nixed the plan. They said there would be too much pressure on local lakes, and no one would travel into the BWCA if they started the same weekend.
We did get the closing dates to be the same (March 31st)
The problem created by the legislature was on the bill inside the BWCA, as they did not include Lake Trout, only Stream Trout, and Lakers could only be taken when the season outside the BWCA opened. Once written, only the legislature can undo the damage.
We also suggested leaving the season open from January until the season closed in the fall, like it was many years ago. This would have allowed several resorts to get a jump start on the tourism season when the lakes opened up in the spring.

TGO you probably right, but others were looking for change also:

It makes no sense for the fringe lakes in the BWCA to get pounded for two weeks ahead of others while people go to these lakes waiting for others to open. Once other lakes open outside these people don't care what happens to lakes on the fringe inside.

For years like I guess you did, I and others tried to get the same opener. It sat on the desk of ONE DNR Coldwater Fisheries person from St. Paul as far back as like 2005 for years. Finally they moved to have the same opening day and closing day. One of the legislatures from up north introduced the bill but wording got messed up and the opening dates stayed the same.
Many of the northern DNR offices wanted the same date also. Something so simple to change. Some resistents to change occurred when should it open. Some suggested the latter date when all seasons were opened,that's when legislatures got the the bill dates messed up along with the one DNR person from St. Paul who didn't push it hard enough.

There was a time many lakes outside of the BWCA Stream Trout lakes were never opened in the winter because they couldn't take a winter fishery and also a summer fishery and still produce quality. Most have since open except a few in Cass- crow Wing county our still colsed in the winter. Some of the ones open now the DNR is stocking maybe twice or leftover brood stock is stocked in the fall. Like a few lakes toward the Cities and a few other areas.
Most stream trout lakes few fish survive past one year in a lake.

Thanks. G.L, I was hoping it would freeze up so we can ice fish it soon.

Pinetree:
David Dill was the head of the DNR Finance Committee, so we figured he had the most horsepower to make a change. He brought up the things I mentioned, but the DNR fought tooth and nail for any change. (we kept in close contact during these negotiations) The only one they'd agree to was identical closing dates for Trout, March 31st.

Quick question - there trout in Duncan?