Pelican Lake lies a couple of miles straight north of Edwards and is in a class by itself. It does have a reputation for producing numbers of nice-sized walleyes and does receive some pressure, but it can be too good to pass up.

"There are plenty of fish to go around and you don't have to follow the crowds to get your share," Janousek said. "Pelican is loaded with fish-holding structure, with most of it being shoreline and offshore breaks. It has huge, expansive shallow flats in the middle of the lake that break quickly into deeper water. All of those breaks have the potential to hold decent numbers of active fish.

"With miles of shoreline and offshore breaks, there isn't enough time to fish it all, so I'll look for points and inside turns that can help to concentrate fish," he continued. "To find the biters, you have to be willing to move, so you better be mobile. I'll stop on a spot, drill a few holes, and start jigging with a spoon and watch the depthfinder and see if anything shows up. If I draw a blank, I'll pick up and head for the next spot, and keep going until I see fish. If I'm seeing fish but not catching, I'll probably move on but might come back later, like right before dark."

Being mobile usually means portable fish houses and four-wheelers or snowmobiles, depending on ice conditions and snow levels. And on the lakes mentioned, you're really on your own for getting around. A light snow pack could allow for car and truck travel, but you had better be sure you know where you're going and what you're doing before venturing out.

A combination of clear water and deep breaks is a good recipe for finding deep-running walleyes, but you can go too far.

"You can find fish on Pelican down to 25 feet or so and deeper, maybe a lot deeper, but most of really deep fish will be small," Janousek said. "Yanking fish out of super-deep water is a death sentence and you won't be able to release the ones you catch. It's unethical to keep pulling up and releasing fish that you know aren't going to make it."

Before you head out for the great unknown, it would be a good idea to acquire as much knowledge as you can. Sportland Bait (218/963-2401) at the corner of County Road 13 and Highway 371 can give you an update on the latest ice conditions, provide you with everything you may need, and even point you in the right direction for getting your trip started. You can also call Brainerd-area guides Richie Boggs, (218) 963-4410, and Toby Kvalevog, (218) 839-5598.

For more information on access locations and such, check out www.dnr.state.mn.us, click on "fishing" and go to "Lake Finder." Or you can just call the DNR at (218) 828-2550. For lodging information, call the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce toll-free at 1-800-450-2838, or find them online at ExploreBraineredLakes.com.