Wow, winter is here…almost Fall fishing is at its finest on the Park Rapids Lakes Area. Walleyes can be found shallow at night by trolling crankbaits in 6-10 ft. of water. A flashy Pearl #7 Berkley Flicker Minnow is a very productive walleye catching bait. Focus on shallow feeding shelves just outside in-flowing rivers/creeks […]
Winners of the winter-spring Park Rapids Downtown Business Association (PRDBA) photo contest are Brad Lee, Mike Sheeran and Barbra Wicks, all of Park Rapids. This was the PRDBA’s 20th contest. Lee’s photo, Great Blue Heron, won in the Wildlife category and was taken at Fish Hook Lake. Sheeran’s winning photo, Secret Spot, won in the […]
This weeks Fishing Report is a Fishing Tip So you tie on a new ice jig—tungsten, lead, tiny hook and all—whatever. You go to the “honey hole” and the Vexilar is lit up with a ton of fish. The second the jig falls the fish rush the bait and slam it good. Four times in […]
With so much snow everywhere, snowmobilers and cross country skiers have embraced winter. And it’s not over yet. Trail grooming continues and the Heartland Lakes area includes hundreds of miles of beautiful trails to ride and ski. Walleye, pike and bass fishing season has ended in this part of the state, but avid anglers […]
Need an excuse to head north? With Valentine’s Day, a three-day weekend and snow depths up to our eyeballs, it’s a great time to visit. Hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails will take you places you might never find in the summer time – and there are no mosquitoes. Or explore the forest […]
As the ice thickens from as low as 4” up to 8” on area lakes, hopefully the slush will go away! For now, foot traffic, small ATV’s, and portable shelters will get you to the fish—which are being caught plenty close to shore. Find still healthy weeds in the 6-10ft range and you will find […]
Ice fishing in the Park Rapids area is in full swing—as long as you are walking or using a small ATV. The ice varies in thickness greatly (3”-7”) so you must be cautious. Remember, ice is never 100% safe! Especially now that there is quite a bit of snow on the ice acting as […]
It’s all here: snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross country skiing, cultural experiences, you name it. Connect with nature and your family for a memorable holiday season. A week or a weekend in Park Rapids and Itasca State Park will not disappoint and make memories for years to come. Some snow blankets the ground and […]
Timing is everything One of the biggest mistakes I observe are dozens of ice anglers aiming to catch the sunset bite at the last minute. The “golden hour” of fishing starts well before sunset—up to an hour sometimes depending on cloud cover. One must remember the sun sets under the ice long […]
