grand marais Annual Grand Marais Trip Report

[JBMasterAngler]

Just got back from a  5 day trip to Grand Marais. This is our annual June trip. Things were a lot different this year...our normal plans were cancelled at the last minute due to my dad's health (he's fine now). So with little time to prep for new arrangements, instead of staying at a cabin near town, which is what we've done for 30+ years, I took the kids camping at hungry jack lodge. Very weird not driving through town every day. Anyway, trip started off great on the drive up. My daughter (7) and son (4) both caught their 1st rainbow trout from the big sucker creek. I stopped at several creeks and caught a total of 20 rainbows. Also stopped at tom's logging camp...kids love it there!

 

Got up to camp late in the afternoon. Was able to get a few hours on hungry jack, right away we got to see a mommy moose and her 2 babies swimming across a small channel. Kids thought that was the absolute coolest thing ever! Probably caught around 20 bass and a few sunnies, biggest bass was 17". My son was able to catch 2 smallies as well.

 

Tuesday we went to West Bearskin Lake. I tried and tried, but I could not find any lakers! Although I swear my son had a laker follow while he was aimlessly casting his lure. Caught about 20 smallies, biggest was maybe 15". Just like the year before, I probably hooked into about 50 bass, but just could not keep them on. Was kinda' the theme of the whole trip, but especially the case on this lake. I've been meaning to take the boat out on nearby aspen lake for years, and since we finished up early on bearskin, we gave it a shot. Very nice lake! Water is super dark though, looked like we were fishing in a cup of coffee. Caught 4 nice smallies, and 4 little pike. My daughter added 2 more pike, the first she's ever caught! She thought she was the coolest kid alive! Planning on doing a bearskin/aspen combo from now on.

 

Wednesday we drove into town for another trip to world's best donuts. Secondly, to give my wife a trip update, since there's no service up the trail. I combined two island and devil track lakes into the same day. Probably caught a total of 30 smallies between the 2 lakes, biggest being 17". Two Island offered the better fishing, Devil Track was unusually slow and disappointing. On the way back up the gunflint trail in the northern light lake area, we saw a wolf cross the road. Speaking of the gunflint trail, does anyone know what's going on up there? The whole trip I saw endless convoys of dirt/gravel hauling semi trucks going up and down the trail. They were driving up the road to devil track lake as well.

 

I tried to fish Greenwood Lake (our favorite lake) on thursday, but the wind was really blowing hard from the north. We made a go of it, but we couldn't handle the waves, so I had to turn around and head back in. Went back to Hungry Jack and caught about a dozen smallies, including the biggest of the trip, 17.5" 

 

Given the last minute changes, we had an absolute blast. Hungry Jack Lodge was a great place to camp. Yes, it sucked that our trip was basically cut in half, but we still made the most of it. Got to top it off with a nice afternoon in town. Kids love climbing around on the rocks out at the breakwall. Then we ended things with dinner at sven & ole's. Only 356 days until we're back up there again (not including our fall and winter trip)!

[tunrevir]

Always love to hear your recap from your annual Grand Marais trip JB!  Nice report!

Tunrevir~

[chaffmj]

Yes thanks for the report.

 

 

[monstermoose78]

Thanks for sharing again JB!! 

[JBMasterAngler]

[JBMasterAngler]

And here's a moose playing "peek-a-boo"

[protrapper]

Airport expansion at Devil Track and road maintinance and black top up the trail.  

[Lohmwil]

Glad to hear your dad is good.  Hopefully, he can join you in the future.  Thanks for your posts