By Noel Vick

Bigger is better in Minnesota.

Larger lakes have greater resources, or rather, deeper pockets. Voluminous lakes, by and large, produce bigger fish and recruit at a rate advanced of lesser bodies. No doubt, occasionally, smaller venues put it all together, but it never lasts long.

We've all been there when, unexpectedly, that 200-acre boilerplate pumps out plump crappies faster than Happy Meals through a McDonald's drive-through. It's good when it's good. Limits are common. Word filters through town. Freezers are filled. When the outbreak ends, the little ol' 200-acre millpond is left naked in the cold with only culled runts left to nurse. Only time and a divine intervention will put the lake's smile back on.

Big lakes are better equipped to handle such pressure. Typically, besides the obvious advantage of size, there's more forage, structure and diversity of habitats to shroud particular populations from filet-craving weekenders and locals as well.

Opportunely, several of Minnesota's larger lakes are steeped in positive cycles, yielding not only numerical volume, but also massiveness. And if you're of the ilk that judges success in pounds of pressure on the rod similarly or greater to pounds in the cooler, I think you'll appreciate these offerings.

"The lake is undeniable. It's a can't-miss walleye and sauger fishery," says one of its biggest cheerleaders, Ice Team's Brian Brosdahl. "The combination of walleyes and saugers with sprinklings of mongo perch is unbeatable."

According to Brosdahl, this winter's walleye crop booms with 13- to 15-inchers, fish that were bountiful last winter, too, but below the preferred range for knifing. Intermixed with the walleyes are a welcomed contingent of 13- and 14-inch saugers, a daytime-feeding relative of the walleyes that taste mighty fine with butter and seasoning salt.

"Right away, I concentrate on the first shoreline break off Pine Island, the Rainy River mouth area and Four Mile Bay," says Brosdahl, earmarking hotspots, which are conveniently close to resorts and landings.

Photo by Ron Sinfelt

In the bay, Brosdahl scours the Rainy River channel as it meanders from Wheeler's Point to Lighthouse Gap. "Bends are best, especially where you can hit depths of 14 to 24 feet."

The entire flank of protracted Pine Island is another hotspot. During morning and evening hours Brosdahl pitches camp in 15 to 24 feet, centering on structure with the steepest grade. But if not there, he promptly reports to the deeper 20s, especially where the 20s develop into 30s - the second major break.

Once fish are dialed in, you may not have to move at all. History, however, dictates that depths of 29 to 33 feet are superior by day, because saugers feed just beyond the walleyes. Later, in February and March, Brosdahl slides out to 32 to 38 feet of water, where walleyes, saugers and large perch feast on emerging insects and baitfish.

Besides Pine Island and its allied areas, Brosdahl endorses 16 Mile Reef, waters outside Zippel Bay, and the many reefs associated with Long Point and Arnesons Reef.

Technique-wise, Lake of the Woods isn't much of a code to crack. Brosdahl lowers a noisy Lindy Rattl'r Spoon in golden shiner or fire-tiger glow colors, which he adorns with a whole or partial emerald shiner.

The Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau is equipped to answer your lodging and fishing questions. You can ring the fine folks at 1-800-382-FISH (3474) or look them up online at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com.

Minnesota is a perch fishing mecca. No other state boasts as many outstanding perch fisheries - period. With that said, there's a fistful of lakes in north-central Minnesota that, on average, tend to outperform the rest. Kingpin amongst them is 69,000-acre Lake Winnibigoshish.

"Winnie is juiced with 9- and 10-inchers - fatties," says Brosdahl. "Besides those everyday fish, there's also a number of perch in the 11- to 13-inch class. The reduced bag limit has been beneficial."

A couple of years back the Department of Natural Resources imposed statewide changes to the harvesting of perch, lowering figures from the liberal 100 daily/100 possession limit to the newer and wiser 20 daily/40 possession limit. Winnie's perch population has responded positively to the reduced take. Flat out, there's more big fish in the pond.

What makes Winnie so wonderful? Brosdahl credits the lake's diversity of prime structure.

"Everything is perchy," he said. "Winnie is bursting with sandbars, rockpiles, vegetation and steep banks."

From the culinary side, Brosdahl points to the abundance of mayfly larvae, juvenile crayfish, spot-tailed shiners, and yes, itty-bitty perch.

"Perch are serious cannibals," he said. "It's not unusual to catch a jumbo that's literally spitting out baby perch."

At winter's onset, Brosdahl zeroes in on "shoreline features and connected bars." Erring toward depths of 18 to 29 feet, he pops holes over Sugar Bar, Ravens Bar, Bena Bar and rockpiles on the northeast end.

A bonus weed-bite unfurls simultaneously. Vegetated depths of 6 to 14 feet attract perch. Areas to earmark are the Mississippi River outlet, Third River Flowage, Bowen's Flats and the High Banks.

By midwinter - January and February - the action swings deeper to 27 to 34 feet. The aforesaid locations deliver in the heart of winter as well. And to the list Brosdahl adds Center Bar, The Humps, Big Hump, Horseshoe Bar, Moses Bar and the outer humps off Ravens.

Surprisingly, winter's final phase brings an even deeper bite. During the month of March, things get nasty in 28 to 38 feet over the mud. This will put you midlake, just off key structure. Don't be shocked to find fish suspended, either. "The higher, the hotter," Brosdahl says.

Jigging spoons get the job done, especially those in gold, silver or perch-pattern. For moments of hyperactivity, he rips a naked W-2 or W-3 Jigging Rapala - the small ones. The perch and fire-tiger finishes seemingly cater to cannibalistic perch.

Brosdahl books guided fishing trips. Call (218) 665-2217 or go to www.brosguideservice.com. Learn more about the area at www.leechlake.org.

Meanwhile, with traffic largely diminished, the lake's perch grew - and grew. Presently, Leech is well fortified with 7- to 9-inchers, and supplemented by a contingent of 11-to 13-inch fish. And according to Brosdahl, catching a genuine 14-inch fish is possible.

What is changed, though, is the whereabouts of wintertime perch. Leech is an established shallow-water producer.

"The shallow weed bite has waned," Brosdahl said. "Anglers who pounded perch in 5 to 12 feet of water need to search deeper. Sure, there's still fish there, and some big ones, but the serious action has shifted out to 22 to 30 feet."

In winter, Brosdahl ferries clients to hotbeds such as Federal Dam, Five Mile Point, Ottertail Point, Bear Island and shoreline breaks in Walker Bay. That range - 22 to 30 feet - is applicable to countless positions around the lake, said Brosdahl. Conveniently, too, walleyes mingle among the perch, and when deep breaks align with weeded shallows, well, you have the best of both worlds.

On the shallow side, Brosdahl searches for stands of surviving coontail and/or cabbage in 6 to 15 feet. His list of viable targets includes Sugar Point, Two Points, Deadhead Bay, Sand Point, Bear Island, South Walker Bay, the Walker Bay Narrows, Goose Island and Snake Pit Flats.

Triggering a mark on the Vexilar is a matter of swinging and circling. Brosdahl presents a chartreuse/orange Lindy Flyer. He outfits the "swimming jig" with a whole fathead, pierced through its lower lip and forehead so it tracks properly.

Go to www.lakewinnie.net for resort and lodging information. Contact Brosdahl for professional guiding.