Rainy Lake Indeed!

Rainy Lake has been living up to that name, the daily rain and drizzle lately has kept most anglers on dry land. However, some are getting out. It appears to be hit and miss but you can hook a walleye or two on the reefs. The crappie bite in Black Bay has picked up, the best action has been on the west end. 

Grouse hunters have not been venturing out in the rain very much either. Hunters with dogs have an advantage flushing birds in the wet weather while there's still a lot of cover. The underbrush has turned for the most part and started dropping leaves. Larger trees like aspen are still mostly green. Most maples have turned with some very colorful orange and red splashes in the forest. 

ATV riders have been out for fall color tours. In our area, the Blue Ox Trail starting in International Falls, provides access to a number of  county forestry roads where the colorful mixed hardwoods blend in with the evergreen conifers. Some people ask about the fir trees they believe are dying off because they have turned a soft rusty color. Those are tamarack, which are a hardwood with leaf structures that mimic needles. Tamarack turn color in the fall and drop their leaves for the winter. Be around in the spring when new growth shows as a distinct shade of green

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