Big pike can be found along the deep weed edges, and there are some out in the deep basin near Brown's Bay and Big Island. Deep-diving crankbaits, spoons and small sucker minnows with a bottom-bouncer are top choices.

Contact: Lake Minnetonka Guides, (612) 860-3052, or www.lakeminnetonkaguides.com.

ALEXANDRIA CHAIN
There are seven primary lakes on the Alexandria Chain of Lakes: Carlos, Cowdry, Le Homme Dieu, Darling, Geneva, Victoria and Jessie. The chain is commonly referred to as the Le Homme Dieu Chain, with good reason -- it's the best fishing lake of the bunch. "You can catch northerns, walleyes, bass and panfish on all the lakes, but Le Homme Dieu is by far the best of the chain," said Brett McComas of Christopherson's Bait and Tackle in Alexandria.

Largemouth bass are prevalent throughout the lake and it's a frequent stopping point for tournaments. Walleye numbers are good and the primary spawning area on Le Homme Dieu is now a state Aquatic Management Area.

McComas said Carlos, the largest and deepest lake of the chain, is the best for walleyes. According to the Department of Natural Resources, Carlos has excellent water clarity and healthy numbers of walleyes, with some trophy potential. Carlos features a great deal of traditional walleye structure, and the thermocline is the best bet for a trophy.

Carlos has a lot of largemouth bass but McComas said the lake is just like the rest of the chain when it comes to size. "All of the lakes are really pressured for largemouths, and it's tough to find one larger than 4 or 5 pounds," he said. Largemouths throughout the chain can be caught along the weed edges in 14 feet of water on Texas-rigged worms and a jig-and-pig. Crankbaits worked parallel to the weed edges can be good for largemouths, northerns and walleyes.

Panfish are prevalent in all the lakes, but Geneva and Victoria have the best numbers and size. "Most of them are small but you can catch some nice hand-sized fish in the right locations," McComas said.

Contacts: Christopherson's Bait & Tackle, (320) 763-3255; Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-235-9441 or www.alexandriamn.org.

LAKE WACONIA
My first fishing trips as a child were to Lake Waconia. What I remember most is that we would always catch a wide variety of fish no matter if we were fishing for crappies, bluegills, walleyes, northerns or largemouths. Time has been good to Waconia, which still boasts healthy populations of all those species but now also offers the mighty muskie.

Cindy Mase, owner of Mase's In-Towne Marina with her husband Jim, couldn't be happier with the status of the lake. This is their 25th year of business. One of the biggest changes in that time is the presence of milfoil.

Two great locations for all species are the northeast corner and the beach area near the southeast shore. The beach area is a great feeding area for all species and offers a lot of sandy areas, not just vegetation, Mase said. Another good location is near Peterson Creek, which is the only consistent flow into the lake. The area around the island should not be overlooked, particularly the west side near the point.

Walleyes tend to be found in contrasting locations, with some in the shallows along the milfoil and others in the deep holes. Night-fishing for walleyes is great in the shallow locations while the deep holes are best during the day.

The crappie population is in excellent condition and the west-metro DNR said Waconia is not missing a year-class, which is rare. Mase said crappies in August tend to hang along the weedline in 8 to 14 feet of water. Panfish are particularly vulnerable in the shaded areas around the island.