For more information, contact Christopherson's Bait and Tackle at (320) 763-3255 or the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 235-9441 or online at www.alexandriamn.org.

BOUNDARY WATERS AREA
The lakes stretching from Ely over the Grand Marais offer some of the finest ice-fishing in the state and the highest concentration of lake trout waters. Many of these lakes are also good for walleyes and pike. While most of the area is open to snowmobiles and other motorized transport, motors are not allowed within the actual Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, meaning walking, cross country skiing and dog sledding are the only means of access.

To some, that's a deterrent. To others, it's an attractor. With the advent of electric ice augers, including one by Strikemaster and another by Jiffy, these areas are now much easier to fish, especially when the ice gets so deep that a hand auger is a tough gig.

There are a ton of lakes in the BWCA that hold excellent lake trout populations that are only accessible by non-motorized means of transport. The DNR area fisheries office in Grand Marais said Duncan, Rose, Mountain and Knife lakes are great places to fish without worrying about the sounds of motors, at least on the U.S. side of the lake. As a rule, these lakes are also excellent northern pike fisheries, and pike are often found in the same areas as the lake trout. The 35- to 55-foot range either over rocky reefs or along steep breaks are the best locations to begin searching.

Anglers who need their motorized implements still have numerous options, but the best is probably Burntside Lake near Ely. The folks at the Red Rock Store said lake trout, pike and walleye fishing on Burntside is something to experience in the wintertime. If crappies are what you are after, they suggested Fall Lake, which has plenty of crappies as well as a nice walleye population.

For more information, contact the Ely Chamber of Commerce at (800) 777-7281) or the Grand Marais Area Tourism Assoc. at (888) 922-5000 or online at www.grandmaris.com.

LAKE MILLE LACS
Ask anglers the ultimate multispecies lake in Minnesota and there are several that come to mind, but one of the top picks would have to be Mille Lacs. It's a high-quality walleye, jumbo perch, northern, crappie and bluegill fishery throughout the winter months.

"It's my ideal ice-fishing location and it's also a great place to take the kids out in one of the many sleeper houses available," said John House, a PRADCO promotional angler.

Located in the middle of the state, it's not too far from any given location. The challenge is that it's no secret, so to fish it effectively you have to fish it a little different than the other guy.

Tony Roach is one of the top guides on the big frozen pond and works hard to put himself and his clients on the fish. He is especially good at finding fish where other anglers don't bother to check.

"Anglers think about summer and winter differently, but the concepts are the same -- the same areas you target in the summer you should be targeting in the winter," he said.