Pelican has been on the shortlist for bluegills and crappies for years, though. Tattered Polaroids in bait shops speak of a time when 1-pound-plus bluegills governed. They're still present, too, but not in mobs.

Nowadays, it's the walleyes that occupy center stage. Brosdahl credits the phenomenon to the available volume of useable space, breeding habitat, forage and lush vegetation. Each is a key ingredient in the proliferation of native walleyes.

Brosdahl's adventures get under way just outside Orr Bay between Indian Point and Lammis Point. Walleyes gravitate to a series of bars, points and islands. Twelve to 14 feet is a preferred range.

Rocks are the next order of business. Brosdahl pounds boulders and heavy gravel in 12 to 18 feet. From there, he journeys to Sugarbush Point and jigs in 14 to 18 feet.

To that lineup he adds the inner-structure of Saunders Bay, where 12 to 18 feet is usually profitable; the west shore's Krollman Point, 12 to 14 feet; and breaklines in 15 to 18 feet off the northwest margin of Strand Island.

Pelican Lake is weedy and colored, advancing the cause of day bites. It's not uncommon to strike gold in vegetated areas when there are blue skies overhead. Possibly big fish, too. Ten-pound-plus fish are caught every winter.

Contact the Orr Tourism Information Center at (218) 757-3932 or the Pelican Lake Resort Association at 1-800-777-4690.

There's no plethora of offshore structure or battery of bars. No, fat-bottomed Mary is an elongated bowl with a range of shoreline breaks and a handful of structures you can find on maps. Joe Martin, proprietor of Bigfoot Resort (1-888-239-2512) on Mary, says that walleyes inhabit most of the lake. However, winter anglers focus mainly on a sprinkling of spots.

The northwest shore's primary bar and point is a natural. Martin says that walleyes work up and down the structure, frequenting the 15-foot mark. The narrows at the south end are good, too. Here, fish fin in 12 feet and deeper. A subtle rockpile situated east of the channel - 18 to 20 feet - is another magnet.

According to Martin, 14- to 18-inch fish are common. Moreover, the chance of hooking something over 28 inches is a legitimate possibility.

Contact: Alexandria Hotels & Hospitality, 1-800-245-2539 or www.alexandriamn.org.

The most current DNR information on Sakatah says walleyes are widespread and average sizes ample. Angler catch rates echo those sentiments.

Finding them through the ice is an exercise in mobility. Without any clearcut structure, you simply need to drill strings of well-spaced holes and fish them all. The east side of the narrows on Upper Sakatah is a nifty area. It puts you in quickest contact with the deepest water. The west side of the opposing narrows, near the island, is deserving of inspection, too. It's not as deep, but does offer structural features.

The key to Sakatah is the Cannon River. It nourishes, replenishes and breathes life into what would otherwise be a duck slough. Current and ice don't mix, though, so embark cautiously.

Lake Tetonka, a larger and deeper venue on the west side of Waterville, warrants equal merit. The 1,336-acre tract offers more structure, but similar clarity - almost none. Points are productive, as are humps and breaklines descending toward the 35-foot hole.

Contact the Waterville Chamber of Commerce at (507) 362-4609 or www.watervillemn.com.

Incredibly, despite what Minnetonka looks like on a sunny Saturday afternoon, it's a veritable ghost town in the winter. Sure, there's a community here and cluster there, but by and large, there's 14,000 acres of remoteness to embrace.

Suburbia aside, a person can get turned around on Minnetonka. Its acres don't lay out like a sidewalk. It's a hodgepodge of bays, islands, narrows and points.

There are favorites, however. Diamond Reef near Big Island is a classic. Here, walleyes congregate in depths of 16 to 35 feet. Look deep by day, and nearer shallower rocks and weed edges at dawn and dusk.

Brackett's Point is a formidable spot, as is Horseshoe Reef off Lookout Point and Spirit Island. The outer shoreline points of Excelsior Bay justify examination. The long, lean bars and points in Wayzata Bay also hold fish. This is a concise list, too. There are more possibilities than days in the winter.

Travel with caution, however. Minnetonka doesn't always freeze uniformly, and in places, perhaps not at all.

Lodging information is available from the Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce, (952) 471-0768 or www.lakeminnetonkachamber.com.