3:13 PM
If you want to get in on some great MN north woods fishing it’s time to hang up your “Gone Fishing” sign and head to Hungry Jack Lodge & Campground for a family or fishing vacation. The MN fishing season opener week was cold but got off to a great start for those that braved the elements. Our weather has warmed since the opening week of fishing season and the fish are very aggressive. Almost everyone is doing great and bringing in some really nice sized fish.
The northern pike, walleye and small mouth bass in Hungry Jack Lake are all co-operating and giving everyone a memorable MN fishing vacation trip. In fact, Pat Kochendorfer from Richmond, WI had such good luck the first week of fishing season that he has come back. The first 3 photos in this blog posting are a few of the many fish that he and his party have caught during the past week. Pat has used leeches with a bobber to catch most of his fish. 
Though Pat Kochendorfer and his fishing party do not use a fishing guide, Hungry Jack Lodge does have Gunflint Trail fishing guide service. Our experienced guide grew up in the area and can put you on the fish no matter what species you want to fish for in the Boundary Waters or Gunflint Trail area..
11:13 AM
Fishing season at our northern Minnesota, Gunflint Trail fishing resort has gotten off to a really great start. As we had predicted, due to ice-out being a little later than normal on the Gunflint Trail this year fishing has been very productive, due to the fish being more aggressive than normal for this time of the year.
The Walleye and Northern's on Hungry Jack Lake have been very co-operative. Guests at our MN family fishing resort have had some very exciting fishing, as you can see from the photos shown below.
Among the fish that John Gulbranson caught during the first few days of fishing, while at our lakefront resort, were a couple of nice Walleye and a Northern (catch and release).
close to the shore on Hungry Jack Lake and landed this nice looking 24” Walleye. Then just a few minutes later he picked up a nice 32” Northern. (Caught and Released)
Work on the log lodge at our Gunflint Trail lakefront family vacation resort is progressing at a rapid rate. As each day goes by, our vision of having the the most modern, yet rustic, log lodge on the Gunflint Trail comes closer to reality. We feel than when the new main log lodge is completed at our Minnesota lakeside resort it will have the most attractive and best log lodge in northern MN. We are incorporating the latest, most modern features and amenities into our lakefront lodge and at the same time retaining a true north woods look and feel.
Because we do not want to open our new lakeside lodge until it totally and completely finished we have unfortunately had to push back the anticipated grand opening of the new main lodge until near the end of June. All of the services normally offered at Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground are of course available, except for the food, bar and game room, which will be available when our new log lodge opens.
GUNFLINT TRAIL LAKESIDE CABIN RENTALS
Hungry Jack Lodge & Campground on the Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais, Minnesota has it all.
Lakefront cabin, log cabin and cottage rentals on Hungry Jack Lake. Pontoon boats, fishing boat, motor and canoes for rent. Rustic and modern camping in our northern Minnesota lakefront campground. Gunflint Trail fishing Guide service. BWCAW hiking and canoe day trips. BWCAW fishing. Sauna. Sand swimming beach. Children's playground.
There's something for everyone at Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground family vacation and fishing resort, no matter what your age is or what you like to do.
For your convenience, our MN resort offers online reservations. Just visit the Hungry Jack Lodge website to book your family or fishing vacation with your credit card. Or, call us at (800) 338-1566 with any questions that you may have or to make your reservations.
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10:42 AM
The ice is totally out on Hungry Jack Lake. The fishing boats at our Minnesota family fishing resort are in the water and we expect a great begining to the opening of the MN walleye fishing season, which opened today May 9th.
We had been worried that ice would not be off of Hungry Jack Lake for the "opener" but weather on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, MN co-operated and we are good to go. Temperatures at our Gunflint Trail fishing resort are cool today with a high in the mid 40's expected. With the ice coming off of the lakes in the mid Gunflint Trail area of northern MN a little later than normal we expect that fishing will be great due to the fact that fish are normally very aggressive when ice-out first occurs.
We'll have to wait to see how the opening week of MN fishing goes, but at this point we expect fishing to be very exciting and good.
HUNGRY JACK'S NEW LOG LODGE CONSTRUCTIONConstruction on the main log lodge building at our northern Minnesota resort is progressing at a good pace.
A neighbor of ours, from the other side of Hungry Jack Lake, sent us the photo shown on the left the other day. The photo shows a rainbow with its' bottom edge on the penninsula where the new lodge at our family fishing resort is being constructed. It's a little difficult to see, but just to the left of the rainbow base, nestled in the trees, you can see our new fishing resort lodge building.
Hopefully the rainbow will bring us luck in getting the new log lodge at our MN lakeside resort completed quickly. As work progresses on the new log lodge it becomes even more impressive than we had hoped for. When looking at the blueprints it was difficult to get a true idea of just how majestic and beautiful the log lodge would end up being.
MN LAKEFRONT FAMILY VACATION RESORT
We still have openings at our Minnesota lakefront family vacation resort but our lakeside log cabin rentals are filling up fast. Dates are filling in quickly, especially for the months of July and August. If you are planning a family or fishing vacation in the Gunflint Trail & BWCAW area we suggest that you make your reservations early to insure that a lakeside log cabin or cottage rental is available for your vacation dates.
Don't forget about our northern MN campground. If you and your family like to camp our campground is great and offers full hook-ups. Our wooded campsites make a great "base camp" for canoeing day trips into the BWCAW.
Online reservations for our MN resort can be made from the Hungry Jack Lodge & Campground website. If you have questions about our Gunflint Trail lakeside resort or prefer to make your over the telephone, give as a call at (800) 338-1566.
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9:09 AM
Usually the opening date for Minnesota walleye fishing is busy at our northern MN fishing resort, located on the Gunflint Trail in northern MN. Walleye fishing on Hungry Jack Lake and the adjacent lakes both inside and outside of the BWCAW is normally very productive as fishermen take advantage of the ravenous appetites that walleye and other fish have after a long winter under the ice.
Though the opening date for walleye season in MN will officially open on 5/9/09, people who normally fish for walleye on Hungry Jack Lake and other lakes in the Gunflint Trail area during the week of the walleye opener MAY be greeted with ice and be delayed until ice is off of the lake. We are anticipating that the ice will be out either this weekend or early next week. (Between 5/9 and 5/14) That is the best that we can guess.
Earlier than normal severe cold produced ice that was thicker than usual. In addition, we had higher than normal snow fall amounts in the Gunflint Trail & eastern BWCAW areas of northern Minnesota during the 2008/2009 winter season. The eastern BWCA and Gunflint Trail areas also received some fairly heavy snows in late winter and early spring which further insulated the ice and has slowed the thawing of lake ice. As a result of “ice out” being later normal in northern Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail and eastern BWCA regions, fishing for walleye during the week of the MN opener at our Gunflint Trail fishing resort can possibly be delayed by a week.
Fishermen who look forward to coming to our northern MN fishing resort for the walleye “opener” are no doubt disappointed by the possible delay, but there is an upside to the late thaw and ice out. In years past we have found that when the ice comes off of Hungry Jack Lake late, walleye and other fish are even more hungry and aggressive than when ice is out earlier. Though lake ice thawing will possibly be delayed by a week, when the ice does come out we feel that fishing at our Gunflint Trail fishing resort will be even more exciting and productive than normal.
MN LARGEMOUTH BASS & SMALLMOUTH BASS FISHING
The MN Smallmouth Bass & Largemouth Bass fishing seasons opens on May 23rd, 2009.
Hungry Jack Lake is a Minnesota DNR managed smallmouth bass trophy lake. Guests of our MN family fishing resort will generally catch smallmouth bass that are larger than what is normally caught in similar northern Minnesota, Gunflint Trail and eastern BWCAW lakes.
If you combine the fact that Hungry Jack Lake is a managed smallmouth bass trophy lake and the fact that the ice will be out late this year, your best bet for exciting MN smallmouth bass fishing is Hungry Jack Lodge fishing resort on the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota.
MN FISHING RESORT LAKSIDE CABINS
It's not too late to make reservations for opening week of the Minnesota fishing season. Hungry Jack Lodge fishing resort in northern Minnesota has lakeside cabins available for rent during the opening weeks of the MN fishing seasons. Each of our lakefront cabins and cottages has its’ own dock. MN fishing licenses plus boat and motor rentals are, of course, available at Hungry Jack Lodge fishing resort on the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota.
For more information about our family fishing resort visit the Hungry Jack Lodge & Campground website. Lakefront cabin reservations are available online from our website. Or, if you prefer you can call our fishing resort to make your lakeside cabin reservations at 1-800-338-1566.
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8:40 AM
It was not until after Labor Day of 2008 that the actual construction of our new lodge began. Due to material supply problems and an earlier than normal severe winter we didn’t get the new lodge enclosed until the end of January 2009.
11/4/2008 PhotoOur weather has now improved to the point of being bearable and our new lakefront log lodge is totally enclosed. If the weather is too bad we can work inside and wait for nicer days to do the remaining outside work. Currently, almost all of the siding and trim is done on the outside of the lodge. All of the plumbing and electrical is roughed in. We are finally starting to insulate and put the paneling up inside.
3/29/09 PhotoWhen the new lodge at Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground is completed it will be the most up-to-date and probably most impressive resort lodge on the Gunflint Trail. The “Loggers Lounge” on the lower level will of course have a fireplace and be considerably larger and less constricted. The main level of our new lakeside lodge will boast a larger dining room, a large casual sitting area with fireplace, a more efficient and less crowded office & check-in area and a new & better organized gift shop.
Our kitchen, as before, will also be on the main level of the new lodge. The kitchen will have the latest in food preparation equipment. With more efficient kitchen equipment and a larger dining area we will be able to accommodate larger private lakefront banquets and gathering than we had in the past. Once our new lodge is open we will again be serving our all-you-can-eat, family style dinners, that had been a favorite with both guests and local residents.
The anticipated date of completion of the new Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN log lodge at Hungry Jack Lodge & Campground is early June 2009. So, when June rolls around, stop by and have a look a look at our new lakefront lodge. Quench your thirst in our “Loggers Lounge”. Or, make a dinner reservation for one of the “all-you-can-eat” dinners that we have become famous for.
8:34 AM
Winter is back on the Gunflint Trail area of northern Minnesota and it's back in full force. We received about 8" to 10"+ of new snow last night. We never know what mother nature will give us, but this may well be one of the last times that you'll be able to get in some good snowmobiling during the 2008-2009 sowmobiling season. If you want to get in one last great week or week-end of sledding in before the MN snowmobiling season is over we urge you to call and make a reservation for one of our Grand Marais, MN winter cabin rentals.
Our Resort Caters To Snowmobilers
Our snowmobiling resort, on the Gunflint Trail in Minnesota is the only resort along the Gunflint Trail, near Grand Marais, MN that caters specifically to snowmobilers. In addition to our winter cabin rentals, we also have snowmobile rentals available, in case someone in your group or family doesn't have a snowmobile of their own to ride.
Special Gunflint Trail Winter Cabin Rentals Rates
We currently have "special" winter cabin rental rates in effect until 4/1/09. You can save up to 44% off our normal pricing on all of our MN winter cabins and log cabins. See our winter cabin rentals specials. This is the 1st time that Hungry Jack lodge has ever offerred special pricing on our cabins and log cabins during the snowmobiling season. We urge you to take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience some of the best snowmobiling in the midwest at our northern Minnesota snowmobiling resort.
More Gunflint Trail Winter Resort Info
Information about our winter cabins and log cabins can be found on the Winter Cabin Rentals page of the Hungry Jack Lodge website. If you want more info about renting a snowmobile, check out our MN Snowmobile & Winter Activities page.
You can reserve a winter cabin rental at our snowmobiling resort online from the Hungry Jack Lodge website. Or, you can call us with your cabin and snowmobile rentals dates at (800) 338-1566.
8:41 AM
Grand Marais MN & Gunflint Trail Snowmobile Trail Report
1/29/08 --- Well we have not had much new snow in the last week. We have received a couple of light dustings maybe an inch or 2 here and there. The snowmobile trails are in absolutely great shape the best I have seen for some time. I put on about 120 miles last Sunday and all of the trails I rode on were groomed perfect. I did do some off trail riding and I would say we have a pretty solid 28”-30” base with a little more snow the closer you get to Lake Superior.
Rental snowmobiles at our Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN winter resort have been getting booked quickly. As a result, if you need to rent a snowmobile during your winter vacation we suggest calling early to insure that a rental snowmobile is available for you during your snowmobile vacation.
Low Cost MN Winter Cabin & Log Cabin Rentals
We are making every effort to make it affordable for you, your group or your family to enjoy a winter vacation at our family resort. Hungry Jack Lodge on the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota is offering savings of 25% to 44% on winter cabin and log cabin rentals at our Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais winter resort. Winter cabin rental prices for a winter family vacation or week-end get-away at our snowmobile resort have never been lower. See the "Specials" page of our website for more details about the many winter cabin and log cabin special pricing options that will remain in effect until 4/1/2009.
Hungry Jack Lodge is the only winter resort on the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota that caters primarily to snowmobilers and those that love ice fishing. Though people that are snowmobilers and ice fishing make up the majority of our winter cabin rental clients there are plenty of other winter activities available at our winter resort. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, dog sled rides and more can all be arranged by our staff for your winter enjoyment while you are a cabin rental guest at our Minnesota winter resort.
New Lodge Construction At Our Lakeside Family Resort
Construction of the new lodge at our Minnesota lakefront family resort has been somewhat slow due to the cold temperatures and snow but we are very near to having the main lodge at our lakeside resort closed in. Some roof shingles and windows are in, which means that we will soon be able to heat the main level of our lake view lodge and begin working on the electrical and plumbing systems.
As work progresses we are pleased with the fact that the main lodge at our MN lakefront family resort will be even more impressive than what we had hoped for or envisioned. Looking at the architectural plans just didn't give any of us a true idea of just how impressive our new lakefront resort lodge would be.
It won't be long before the main lodge at our Gunflint Trail lakeside resort will again be offering meals, hosting banquets and be a place for someone to enjoy their favorite beverages in our Loggers Lounge.
More Info About Our MN Lakefront Family Resort
For more information about our lakeside cabins, log cabins and cottages at our family resort located on the Gunflint Trail in northern MN please visit our website. http://www.hungryjacklodge.com/ Be sure to see the Specials page of our website for special pricing on winter cabins and log cabins. Winter cabin reservations are available online from our website or you can call (800) 338-1566 to reserve your MN winter cabin or to book a snowmobile rental.
11:18 AM
MN WINTER ACTIVITIESTake advantage of all of the winter activities that the Grand Marais and Gunflint Trail areas of MN has to offer. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and more are at your back door when you stay at our northern Minnesota family winter resort. Take a horse drawn winter sleigh ride, or experience a dog sled ride. If you like downhill skiing we are a short drive to Lutsen Ski Mountain. See the winter activities page of the Hungry Jack Lodge website for more details and information about the Minnesota winter activities that are available at our Gunflint Trail, Minnesota winter resort.
SNOWMOBILING RESORT
We are a resort that welcomes snowmobilers, so we of course rent snowmobiles. We just purchased 2 more new snowmobiles for our Gunflint Trail and Grand Marais snowmobile rental fleet. Check out out snowmobile rental page for pricing of out rental snowmobiles. Because we have a limited number of snowmobiles available for rent we suggest reserving your rental sled as early as possible.
We've made sure that taking a winter vacation or short get-away in a northern Minnesota cabin or log cabin doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Take a look at the following pages of our winter resort website for more information:
Gunflint Trail Winter Cabin & Log Cabin Rental Special Offers
MN Family Winter Resort Cabin Rentals
Grand Marais, MN & Gunflint Trail Snowmobile Rentals
Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing & MN Winter Activites
GUFLINT TRAIL SNOWMOBILE CONDITIONS
We have had about 3" of new snow within the past couple of days bringing the amount of snow on the ground to between 24" and 30". Temperatures have been somewhat cold however we are expecting a little bit of a warming trend this week. Trails are being groomed on a regular basis.
Online reservations for your Minnesota winter get-away or vacation can be booked from the Hungry Jack Lodge website. Or, feel free to call us with your winter cabin or snowmobile rental reservations. (800) 338-1566 The "specials" for our winter cabin rentals may be withdrawn at any time so get your cabins reservations made as soon as possible.
10:05 AM
Well we have been having a great snow winter thus far at our Minnesota winter resort on the Gunflint Trail. On Saturday night the Gunflint Trail received another 6”-8” of fresh snow and that was on top of the 4” - 5” two days prior. The snowmobile trails in the Grand Marais, and Gunflint Trail areas are starting to get groomed on a regular basis now. I went to the mailbox this morning and the snowmobile trail groomer was just heading out for the day.
Overall the snowmobile trails in the Gunflint Trail and Grand Marais, MN area are in the best shape I have seen this early in the winter vacation for some time. Cool temps are continued to be forecasted, so snowmobile trail conditions are maintaining quite well. They are forecasting more snow for northern MN towards the end of the week and it is snowing very lightly right now and the current temp is +5.
Below you will find a picture of the snow depth. The snow depth picture was hard to shoot due to all of the wind we have recently had but as you can see it shows 24” on the ground. I would say that 24" is the minimum of what we have with more closer to Lake Superior.
MINNESOTA SNOWMOBILE RESORT LOG LODGE
9:08 AM
We received a 2" to 3" blanket of fresh snow along the Gunflint Trail during the morning of December 29th. The snowmobile trails in the Grand Marais and Gunflint Trail areas are starting to get some traffic and the snowmobile club has been out grooming. The reports I have heard from people that have been out snowmobiling is that the snowmobile trails are in pretty great shape with a good base of snow to work with as they continue to groom.
The photo below, looking across Hungry Jack Lake, was taken on December 29th and shows the current snow conditions that our winter cabin and log cabin rental customers are enjoying at our Minnesota snowmobiling resort during their winter get-away snowmobiling vacations.
Work on the new lodge building at our Minnesota lakefront family resort was somewhat slow last week due to cold temperatures and the Christmas holiday.
Little by little we are getting close to having the main log lodge building closed in. The front deck on the lodge is being worked on while we await delivery of windows. In addition, there are a couple of window openings to finish before the arrival of the windows for our resorts lakeside log lodge building.
Visit the Winter Resort Cabins and Snowmobile Rentals page of our website to view cabin and log cabin availability at our Gunflint Trail resort for your MN snowmobiling vacation. Online cabin and cottage reservations are available for our winter cabins and cottages or you can call in your reservation using our toll free number (800) 338-1566.