Where Beauty & Nature intersect

Did you just hear the kids say there’s nothing to do? Catch yourself eye-rolling at a staff meeting? Get delayed in traffic for the umpteenth time? If you’re seeing red and would rather look at green forests and blue water, it’s not too late to plan a stay in the Heartland Lakes. Choose a classic […]

The walleyes are still shallow due to the late shiner spawn. Try 5-10 ft of water with a jig tipped with a minnow. Make long casts or drag the jig behind the boat to avoid spooking the shallow fish. Smallmouth bass are just starting to head shallow, getting ready to spawn as well as the […]

Water remains dangerously cold, life jackets a necessity. From a 5/24/19 DNR Press Release Memorial Day weekend signals the start of the summer boating season, but boaters should keep in mind water temperatures remain spring-like. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urges boaters to wear life jackets no matter the water temperature or season, but […]

The walleye fishing has really ramped up throughout the area despite the crummy weather patterns. Look for them in shallow water in the 4-8 ft range. Cast and snap jig 1/8 oz jigs along the sand/gravel patches found near shore or shoreline related flats—especially if there is a little wind blowing in. Tip the jig […]

The waters in the Park Rapids area are warming up rapidly! With the water temps in the high 40’s to low 50 degree range, the fishing opener was good for most with a mix of Walleye and Pike—found in the shallows near shore 5-10 ft. of water using lie bait rigs and shiner minnows. Trolling […]

Minnesotans with an all-terrain vehicle registered for private or agricultural use won’t need to pay the additional registration fee ($53.50 for three years) to ride the state’s public ATV trails, Friday through Sunday, June 7-9. From a 5/10/2019 DNR press release: Out-of-state riders can explore Minnesota ATV trails that weekend as well, without the need […]

Last year the Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism asked to see your summer fun pictures and wow did you deliver.  This year we want to know: What makes Heartland Lakes home? Heartland Lakes is the area from Osage to Akeley and Itasca State Park to Menahga, including Park Rapids, Nevis, Dorset, Lake […]

Go big or go home! Bigger hooks for more Spring panfish. I love big hooks—bigger than what you would think. Hooks do not scare the fish, they attract fish—especially the colored hooks available today. These larger hooks will decrease the number of missed fish by increasing hooking percentage. For bluegills I prefer a #8 or […]

Spring is suffering a setback as May begins, but the loons are back, trees are budding and lakes are open. Some have take advantage of a few warm days to clean up after a very long winter and started spring rituals like raking and ditch clean up. In Downtown Park Rapids Spring 19 stores and […]

Feeling that tug on the line, an angler sets the hook and reels in a small sunfish, then asks the perennial question: Should I keep it? From a DNR press release: Sunfish, also known as bluegills and pumpkinseeds, are a go-to species for anglers looking for a meal and many anglers may be surprised to […]