By Noel Vick

Bigger, faster, more. In a nutshell, that's how we want it, actually demand it. It's the American way.

This "lust" seeps into the sporting world, too. The merit of a good gun was once whether or not it could fold game. Now, velocities range into the thousands of feet per second, lead launched from firearms costing more than a month's mortgage. Outboards are tailored to reach tear-drying speeds, growling on the backs of glittered boats.

Ice-anglers are equally culpable. We're fishing faster than ever before, saddled on snow machines with fleet power augers and portable shelters that turn into circus tents in seconds. Everything's better, and easier, than just 10 and 20 years ago.

The constitution of a hotspot hasn't changed, though. Reefs are still reefs. The glaciers are history and there's no indication that we'll be walled with ice anytime soon, either. Basically, walleyes swim the same structures they did last year, and the decade before that.

It still comes down to hotspots and knowledge of them. Gingerbread electronics and a lightning ride don't guarantee fish. Nope. That's a function of homework, skill, observation, and a little intuition and good old-fashioned luck.

Assuming you've kept up with the trends in gadgetry, here's a graded list of lakes that are loaded with walleyes.

Big is largely fertile, with modest clarity and an equal number of deeps and shallows. Size-wise, 18- to 20-inch fish are widespread, with reasonable tallies of 25-inch-plus walleyes in the system.

"Big is full of promise," Brosdahl said. "There's walleye structure everywhere - rockpiles, sand and gravel breaks, deep weeds and super huge flats."

Photo by Ron Sinfelt

Rocks rank highest in Brosdahl's mind, and the best batches lie to the west. "I start on the west side of the main lake in 14 to 22 feet of water," he elaborated. A couple of prominent rocky bars are the first to get drilled out, too.

The north shore of the main lake features an intriguing blend of rock, sand and cabbage weed. Here, Brosdahl leans toward 18 to 24 feet. From there, the seasoned guide slides either east or west and peppers the bars, using 14 to 18 feet as a guideline.

His failsafe spot is the deeper southern basin. Visibly boring, the deep flats have a reputation for holding large walleyes through winter's worst weather.

Brosdahl's top presentation is a Lindy Frostee Jigging Spoon with a whole or partial shiner, native run if available.

Contact the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-458-2223 or visit www.bemidji.org.

Brosdahl is spilling the beans.

Jessie is a 1,782-acre underdog that produces eye-popping catches of jumbo perch, crappies and, yes, walleyes. The freshest Department of Natural Resources assessment reveals walleye populations that are at an all-time high. Combine that with an active watershed association and tri-annual stocking, and the future looks bright.

Currently, Jessie teems with 18- and 19-inch fish. They're supported by a strong representation of 20- to 22-inchers.

Through the ice, Brosdahl likes a series of humps to the southeast. He fishes them in 16 to 24 feet. The steeply crashing north shore is another battleground, especially in December and early January. Here, Brosdahl sticks to the primary break in the 20-foot range, starting on the main midshore bar and working east or west.

Jessie's southern verge offers other opportunities. Fish the north face of the principle bar, clinging to 18 to 24 feet by day and 14 to 18 feet nearer dawn and dusk. Dividend crappies are a real possibility.

Nearby Bowstring Lake makes for a masterful alternative. The nearly 9,000-acre blob is a powder keg of walleyes and crappies. Check the well-traveled north shore and symphony of humps and bars to the southeast.

Clam Corporation's Paul Fabian isn't blinded, however. He'll skip Mille Lacs in a heartbeat to plug holes in Shakopee. In fact, it's his favorite stop for early-winter walleyes.

Shakopee is predominantly shallow - maxing out at only 15 feet - and fertile as manure. Winterkill occasionally capitalizes on the shallowness. But due to its fertility and re-energizing from the Rum and Mille Lacs, Shakopee recovers quickly. Fish tagged in Mille Lacs are frequently caught by Shakopee anglers.

The Rum River inlet and outlet yield obvious potential, but be careful of suspicious ice. Faster dips along the north shore's emergent vegetation also deserve attention. In short, walleye spots aren't easily distinguishable. The auger might get a workout, but the potential rewards outweigh the labor.

These are fairly sullied waters, granting promise of daytime activity. Darker conditions also call for brighter lures such as Lindy's techni-glo baits.

Contact Meleen's Holiday Sports in Onamia for additional information, (320) 532-3717.

According to Brosdahl, it's rife with 17- to 20-inch walleyes. DNR data suggests that Pine Mountain maintains several healthy year-classes.

Brosdahl's conquests begin on the north end, off the edges of the weed-cloaked humps in 12 to 18 feet of water. Plan B takes him to the east side, where the spotlight switches to rocky shoreline points, with 14 to 16 feet being best, and the strongest bite definitely unfolds at sunup and sundown. By day, though, it's probable to snare 'eyes from within the weeds.

Larger rainbow and fathead minnows are his preferred live-bait offerings. Typically, he hangs a seductive rainbow on a deadstick while jigging with a spoon and minnow head.

Brosdahl recommends angling for bluegills when skies are high. He says they tend to run large and live in the thickets.

Contact the Pine River Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-728-6926 or www.pinerivermn.com.

"Birch is swarming with bays and cool-looking structure," he explains. "A lot of it's good, too. But time in and time out, I end up near the center of things, fishing the humps and bumps."

Brosdahl refers to the unmistakable midlake island and its associated features, including points, bars and rises. Once in the vicinity, he pounds holes in 12 to 22 feet of water, concentrating on the sharpest edges.

Walleyes in the 17- to 18-inch range are common quarry, says Brosdahl. Fish measuring 28 inches and beyond also ply the waters. Natural walleye production is good. And what nature can't manufacture, the DNR furnishes in the form of bi-annual stocking.

Contact the Hackensack Chamber of Commerce at www.hackensackchamber.com or 1-800-279-6932.

The nearly 1,900-acre spectacle slips to a whopping 135 feet deep. Its shoreline breaks are generally cliffs, aside from acres within the bays and parts of the north end. And it's on the northern tip near the boat landing where Brosdahl establishes himself. He fishes the bar and related breaklines in 14 to 24 feet by day and 14 to 18 feet when skies grow dark.

A massive shoal sprawling from a nearby peninsula gets attacked next. Here, walleyes school in 24 to 29 feet. Another boat landing - this one to the southeast - holds fish off the edges of weedflats and bars in 18 to 24 feet. By the way, Trout Lake has weeds beyond the 20-foot mark. A survey of a topographical map demonstrates the amount of fishable water in that 14- to 24-foot zone. Use it. Set up the Fish Trap, work a spot and move along if the screen on the Vexilar flasher is clear.

Walleyes aren't native to Trout Lake. The DNR didn't trap or net a single one until 1946, and that was years before any official stocking began. Nowadays, Trout Lake absorbs pond-reared fish on an annual basis. Nonetheless, over 70 percent of the adult fish sampled are believed to be naturally reproduced, which is a good thing.

Beyond the walleyes, there's a notable population of northern pike, smallmouth bass and even largemouth bass.

Contact the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-472-6366 or www.grandmn.com.