The end of the 2013 Paddling Season

The 2013 paddling season has officially ended!  We had a great summer despite the late start due to the ice on the lakes.  Our Seagull Staff worked hard to ensure you all had a great trip from start to finish.  We had 4 staffers on through September that helped tremendously to close things down for the off season.  We couldn't have done it without Zach, Katie, Lucas and Jon.  Our closing was a breeze this year.

 

Staffer Jon on the right has been out in the canoe country on a trip since October 1.  Dave and I dropped him off at Saganaga and he plans to be out until early November.  Look at the huge smile on his face in the photo below.  He can't get enough of this canoe country and will be with us in 2014.   Katie had so much fun putting everything away in late September that she plans to return in May 2014 and put the store and packing room back together.  We are thrilled that she will be back as well. 

We had some great October weather for a couple of weeks.  We were able to get out on Sag and Seagull and do some fishing and just enjoy the warmer fall weather without a long list of projects.  We are currently putting in a new septic system on our Sag property and Dave is busy working on some of the odds and ends of that job.

One of my highlights this summer was having my niece Ella on board from early August through mid September.  She helped me in the store and office and was my personal assistant and did a fantastic job.  Interestingly enough, I think she kind of liked it too!
We went fishing on Seagull one day and she proudly caught lots of lakers and walleyes. Have you ever seen such a big beautiful smile?!

I have been taking a break from Seagull before diving into 2014 marketing, etc.  It is wonderful to have the opportunity to step away for a bit and realize how precious and beautiful our backyards are in this Northwoods!

Sun is Shining, and the Fish are biting!

All is well up here in the Northwoods! We have finally reached high 80s this week, and the sun is going to continue to shine. A couple of pictures to show you how beautiful it really is!


Staff enjoying Blankenburg Beach

Toes in the Lake!

While everyone continues to head out into the woods so should you! There is nothing more relaxing then being in the woods in the fall. This is a quieter time so you will not see campsites and portages so crowded. The leaves will be changing colors and you can listen to the water rolling on shore. Nothing beats that kind of serenity. You might even see a bull moose with it's full fledged antlers. We are outfitting through the month of September so call us or visit our website to book your reservation.

And while you are enjoying the sights and sounds cast in a line! Fish are biting and will continue to! A cabin customer today caught a 30" walleye on Seagull Lake....now that sounds like a great dinner! For the fall you are going to want those minnows to put on your hook to catch those tasty fish.

 

Come have a great end to your Summer and an even better start to your Fall with us! Hope to see you soon!

Where Did Summer Go?!

Whoa! Is it just me, or is summer flying by?! I guess the saying goes, "time flies when you're having fun," and boy has it been a fun summer. This season has been full of adventure for all who have traveled up the Gunflint. From hiking new territory in the BWCA to catching a fresh walleye dinner…we have all had our favorite moments. Now we are in the midst of peak season. It’s a lot of work, but lots of fun! People like to come this time of the year because the bugs start to die down and the waters are warmed up for swimming. We can't blame them - it is a beautiful time to enjoy the BWCA.
Well I think it’s about time we talk fishing! Trips to the Quetico have ended with great Walleye catches. From Saganagons up into Kawnipi (fisherman's heaven) you are bound to get some big ones in about 20 to 25 feet of water, and you can even catch them as deep as 30 feet. Down in Seagull we've seen a mix of everything. Some good sized Walleye, Northern, lots of Smallies and even some of those HUGE Lake Trout! Take a look at this Trout caught right out on Seagull early this morning by Deb’s niece Ella....she proved to be a real fisherman :)

There is not much that can compare to catching your own fish, filleting it and enjoying every bite, but exploring some of the BWCA's breathtaking scenery comes pretty close. Take a look at this picture taken on the Stairway portage between Duncan and Rose Lake…it seems surreal 

That’s all for now, but just a reminder that we are still taking reservations for the 2013 season and are happy to help you plan an unforgettable BWCA experience :)

Happy Official Summer

Well the calendar tells us it is officially summer…finally! With all the cold weather we thought we would never see the day. What's even better is that you can feel summer in the air. Just last night I was sitting outside on the picnic table looking up at the star filled sky with a cool beverage in my hand feeling the warm breeze on my face and embracing the surrounding beauty. Those moments remind us how important it is to take a moment, breath and enjoy the simple things in life....and while we are on the subject of enjoying the simple things, let's talk about fishing!

This is an excellent time of the year for catching topwater smallmouth. They have just finished spawning and are still in the shallows. Walking bait is preferred by most anglers and depending on the mood of the fish – poppers, prop bait and buzzers are all a common weapon of choice, but you can always stick with a jig and leech if you prefer live bait. The walleye are also coming around, and Saganaga Lake has some large ones waiting for you...just look at what our friend, John Matthews caught during a day out on Sag. Lake...a 29 incher!!

Of course, summer isn't summer without kids running around...and boy have we had fun with them. There is nothing like watching    young ones explore the BWCA for the first time. They are interested in everything and have loads of questions! And did I mention they are as cute as can be...

 

The last thing we will leave you with is a picture taken by Brian Mader of some beautiful moccasin flowers that can be seen across the Northwoods...if you are looking to get away from your fast-paced lifestyle and take time to smell the flowers, you've found the place...now all you need is to get here!

 

 

 



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School's Out for the Summer and the Gunflint Trail is Getting Busy!

This past week has been a busy one here at Seagull Outfitters and we LOVE it! The store is full of smiling faces who are excited to start their adventure, along with new stories from those who just came off the lake. The warm weather seems to be sticking around and although it has brought along the bugs it also brought some active fish! Walleye are starting to heat up and are biting best in about 15' of water. As always, jigs and slip bobbers are the best weapon of choice. Smallies are really aggressive right now and can be caught best in the shallows and close to shore. If you are up for a challenge, the Lake Trout are still around and shallow enough to catch! Below are a few pictures from recent trips. The first is one is one of the Mcnabb boys who caught some great Smallies up in Quetico. The second is of our staffer Brad and his string of walleye....both sound delicious right about now…

This is also the time of the year to see Wildflowers bloom and a trip up to Blueberry Hill would tell you that it is going to be a good year for blueberry picking! Of course, the best way to top off a day in the Northwoods is with one of those breathtaking sunsets. So we will leave you with a spectacular  picture take by Jeff Kudla, but remember - to capture all of the beauty this place has to offer you really have to come see it with your own two eyes!

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Warm Weather and Walleye!

The 70 and 80 degree weather has finally come and we are all hoping it is here to stay! The water is getting warmer and we are now starting to hear stories of the walleye bites. They are a little late this year because of our "extended winter," but we are happy nonetheless! Leeches have been the bait of choice here in the BWCA or if you are heading into Quetico, the mimic Gulp leeches are always a great alternative. We are still waiting on our walleye pictures so get up here and send us your shots! We are continuing to see some huge northern...take a look for yourself at what some of our new staffers, Tyler and Brad caught off the dock...

 

Our recent guests, the Dwyer party, who stayed in the Red House cabin also caught some of the biggest northern in their life...we are waiting for their pictures but we were able to capture some of their smallmouth catches with our seagull camera....

 



 

We love when our guests share their experiences...although we don't like to see them go, we always know there is next year!

 

If you are not much of a fisher, the North Woods has lots more to offer this time of the year. The loons have returned and are nesting, the moose viewing is always exciting, and this year is supposed to be one of the best for seeing northern lights in 11 years! All of us are staying up a little later in hopes that we can see the sky light up.

 

We will keep you updated on what the warmer weather brings to the Gunflint Trail, but until next time check out the great picture our staffers, Carlie and Mariah took on their way up the Gunflint...

 



Summer is on its way...

It has been another beautiful week here at Seagull Outfitters! The fish have been a lot more active as the waters are warming up. We have seen a few people catching HUGE northern pike and the walleye are also coming around and seem to be biting best in the shallows. If you are looking for smallmouth bass this could be your year, as we have seen quite a few. The Yang party, who recently did the Granite River Route was kind enough to share a picture of one of their smallmouth catches...

 

We have also had some fun at our cabins as one of our guests, Ernie, turned 92! He is on the far left in the picture below. Proof that you can never be too young or too old for a trip to the Great North Woods! The birds are chirping and the loons are calling. If you haven't already, plan your summer trip with Seagull Outfitters - we would happy to help if you have any questions.

 

 



A New Season at Seagull Lake

The ice is finally gone and the sunshine is here! We have had a busy start to the season with some familiar faces and new friendly staff who are excited to see what a summer at Seagull is all about. The fishing started out slow because of the long winter and cold waters, but we are happy to let you know the fish are now out and biting! The trout are biting good in the shallows and the walleye are continuing to come out as the waters warm up. People have had the best luck using a jig and a minnow. Below is a picture shared by our friend, Chris Lasse of his dad and a lake trout catch on a recent trip...

The holiday weekend has also brought great fun here at Seagull. We have been fortunate enough to see some of our regulars along with new visitors all the way from India. This is a picture of them before they ventured out on their first camping trip...

They come back tomorrow and we are excited to see what they think of the beautiful BWCA.

That is all for now, but remember we are on our summer hours 7 A.M. - 7 P.M. so feel free to stop in if you find yourself in the area or give us a call and we will happily help you plan an unforgettable summer trip!

Happy Summer :)

Anxious for Spring

Here we are on April 16th and it is still below freezing temperatures at night.  We have lots of snow on the ice and have not seen any open water yet.  The next few days call for more snow.  Perhaps as early as Monday of next week we may get some rain to start the process moving towards spring.  We are more than ready!  Cabin fever is upon us and we want to see open water and feel the tug of a walleye on May 12th!

We have a couple of new staff arriving in a couple of weeks to start the reopening process.  Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be easier staying open all the time.  I do like the break though and the excitement of a new season. 

It won't be long and we will be sharing our fishing, paddling and moose photos with you once again.

In the meantime, here is a photo of our afternoon visitor today!

Let's hope the next post showcases our beautiful North Country open water!  Until then....

Deb

Spring is in the air??

What beautiful weather the North Shore has been receiving throughout the last few weeks! I have been sleeping with my window open every night and waking up to birds chirping in the morning! If that and the unbelievable weather we've been having doesn't say spring I'm not sure what it says! I have checked my thermometer outside on multiple occasions over the past few weeks and it hasn't been uncommon to see temps in the 50's! I must admit.... it always seems to be the point in the day when the thermometer is in direct sunlight! Daylight savings time occurs on Sunday and then it will be on summer paddling time! Hopefully this nice weather transitions to a beautiful spring paddling season.

We have been very busy in preparing for summer 2013. This includes completing the staff for the summer, ordering new equipment, ordering shirts, and taking more and more reservations as summer approaches. Please feel free to provide us with any suggestions that you may have. We love feedback and strive to make your trip through Seagull Outfitters as flawless as possible!

Remember to spring your clocks ahead!

Katelyn

North Shore Day Trip

I decided that a day trip to the North Shore was definitely needed by me! My boyfriend and I made the trek and stopped at a few amazing places along the way. We were traveling up from Duluth and took the scenic route to Two Harbors. Along the scenic route we stopped out at a pier and boy, that lake effect made for a cool walk! It was beautiful... There was a cool fog over the lake and the wave were entering into the bay creating more ice. 

From there we kept heading north to Gooseberry where we were able to roam around and take pictures of the beautiful frozen waterfalls and even hike under them! We then went to Split Rock and Tettegouche State Park. We capped off our adventurous day with a slice Heath Cream and French Silk Pie at Betty's Pies! We figured we burned enough calories throughout the day to splurge!

Take an extra day on your trips North and stop to enjoy the beauty around us!

Katelyn

Ice Out Contest

With temps around 50 degrees today, it's hard not to look forward onto summer. We have a lot of great equipment ordered, summer staff is about complete, and reservations are coming in heavy. The warm weather gets me thinking when the ice will be out of the bay to allow the paddling season to begin again. As always, we are hosting an ice out contest on our discussion forum. Dates are a first come, first serve basis! Predictions are accepted through March 30th! Winner will receive a brand new Kelty Coromell Long 20 degree down sleeping bag! Head to the forum now to make your guess!

It should be quite the battle considering there are portions of the North Shore that are still making ice! Hope you join in!

Katelyn

MN Moose Hunting Suspended

On Wednesday, February 6, Minnesota suspended moose hunting indefinitely. Minnesota's moose population is down 35% from last year and 52% from 2010. These numbers are scary for people who love the solitude and wildlife of the Northwoods. A news article from the Twin Cities Pioneer Press stated that "Pregnancy and birth rates among MN moose are strong." With these rates being so strong, there is definitely something to think about in regards to a double in moose population in the spring and by the end it is 35% lower. These numbers are being closely observed by the DNR. Moose are something that draws people up to the North Shore and into the Boundary Waters. We want the moose and other wildlife to still be a factor in drawing people north. Hopefully the suspension of moose hunting in MN will be a step in the right direction!

Katelyn

BWCA Permits

Boundary Waters permits become available for reservation tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30th. Call us now so we can assure that we get the permit you desire. We have many great trip route suggestions on our website at www.seagulloutfitters.com/routes.htm . In addition, we are happy to discuss and assist in planning new and unique trips into the Boundary Waters. There are over 1,000 lakes, rivers, and streams stretching over 1,500 miles of canoe country. The Boundary Waters allows you to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle and truly find the inner beauty in this world and in yourself.

Beyond Boundary Waters permits, Quetico permits are available five months in advance of your trip. The 1,500 miles that the BWCA has to offer extends into over 600 more lakes on the Canadian. Planning a trip into the Quetico adds a little extra paperwork. Let us know if you are interested and we will get you set up!

Give us a call and we'll help get it all set up for you! We look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Planning!!
Katelyn

Gunflint Greenup 2013

If you are available the weekend of May 3-5th, the Gunflint Trail could use your support!! The Gunflint Trail will be holding the 6th annual Gunflint Trail Greenup. The Ham Lake Fire of 2007 has affected many areas throughout the end of the trail. Throughout the past few years, we have worked at cutting the vegetation that had been crowding other plantings. The upcoming year provides a variety of activities including tree planting, additionally vegetation cutting, as well as maintenance of trails at the Chik-Wauk Museum. Any help in assisting the natural disaster is greatly appreciated.

To cap off the weekend, the Gunflint Trail is also hosting their annual Ham Lake Half Marathon. In addition to that, there will be a Ham Run 5k and a Little Runts Run. For additional information, head to the website at http://www.hamrunhalfmarathon.com/. 

Seagull Outfitters and the Gunflint Trail truly appreciate the endless support and commitment. 

Katelyn

Brisk Winter Weekend

We have survived the brisk weekend on the end of the Gunflint Trail so far. The temperatures haven't surpassed zero yet and are not looking promising for the next few days... Lows around -25 and highs around -2. The cold weather allows for beautiful scenery and wildlife though. The winter weather really brings about the moose as they enjoy laying out in the middle of the roads to lick the salt. The photo below was taken along side the Gunflint Trail... How beautiful!!

Although the weather is cool and brisk, there is no lack of enthusiasm for summer 2013 canoe trips and cabin stays. The phones have been busy and the trip planning has begun!! We are here to help if you have any questions. Please don't hesitate to call. To get you started, head to our website at www.seagulloutfitters.com/routes.htm to get a jump start on your route planning!

Stay warm!

Katelyn