LOVE LAKES ECHO JOURNAL'S
2 019 E D I T I O N
OF THE
FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY PLAYING IN
THE WATERS OF THE LAKE COUNTRY
PLUS:
Leech Lake Muskies High School Fishing Sandy Beach Resort Camp Olson YMCA North Long Lake Bog Parker Scout Camp Wakesurfing
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 1
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 3
INDEX Lakes Area Calendar............................. p.5
Leech Lake - Map................................p.37
Whitefish Feature Maintaining healthy shores remains important priority for water quality...... p.8
Making waves: Wakesurfing dominates other watersports in lakes area...........p.38
Whitefish Chain - Map.......................... p.9 North Long Lake Feature The battle of a big ol’ beastly bog on the bay........................p.12 North Long Lake - Map........................p.13 Boy Scouts develop skills at Parker Scout Reservation.................p.18 Former governors reminisce about past lakes area openers...........p.22 Fun on the Lake with our Readers.......p.28 Little Boy Lake Feature By land or by lake, Camp Olson is a niche among summer camps........p.30 Little Boy Lake - Map..........................p.33 Leech Lake Feature Leech Lake muskies stocked in many Minnesota lakes....................p.34
Ossawinnamakee Lake Feature Lake Ossie: Banana Ron loves his million dollar water ski mornings...............................p.40 Ossawinnamakee Lake - Map........... p.41 We should shell-ebrate our lakes area turtles...........................p.44 Tournament angling catches on with students.........................................p.46 Gull Lake Feature Five generations work hard to keep resort successful......................p.48 Gull Lake - Map...................................p.49
Submitted Photo Boaters enjoy another gorgeous sunset off the shore of Manhattan Beach Lodge on the Whitefish Chain’s Trout Lake.
Lake users urged to continue fight against aquatic invasive species........p.52 Old fishing rod recipes suit some modern anglers’ tastes..............p.56
PUBLISHER
Pete Mohs .......................................... pete.mohs@brainerddispatch.com
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Nancy Vogt.............................................. nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com Travis Grimler .....................................travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com Dan Determan...................................dan.determan@pineandlakes.com Erin Bormett Mike Rahn
ART DEPARTMENT STAFF
Angie Hoefs .........................................angela.hoefs@pineandlakes.com Andy Goble ..................................andrew.goble@brainerddispatch.com Sue Stark ............................................... sue.stark@brainerddispatch.com
ADVERTISING STAFF
Kathy Bittner Lee ................................................................218-855-5837 kathy.bittnerlee@pineandlakes.com
218-963-7700
Derek Ostrowski...................................................................218-855-5825 derek.ostrowski@pineandlakes.com Linda Hurst ............................................................................218-855-5846 linda.hurst@brainerddispatch.com Nikki Lyter ..............................................................................218-855-5829 nikki.lyter@brainerddispatch.com Jill Wasson .............................................................................218-855-5820 jill.wasson@brainerddispatch.com Susie Alters ...........................................................................218-855-5836 susie.alters@brainerddispatch.com PRODUCED BY ECHO JOURNAL P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 829-4705 | 800-432-3703 www.pineandlakes.com Cover Design/Illustration by Angie Hoefs Cover Photo: Bailey Adkins, sailing program director at Camp Olson YMCA on Little Boy Lake, helps camper Jack Hilt, who is now a camp staff member, experience the excitement of turning corners in a fast-moving sailboat. Submitted photo
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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©2019 Echo Journal No part of the material contained herein may be reproduced without prior written consent. Printed by Forum of Fargo, North Dakota The Pineandlakes Echo Journal is a weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/ Pine River and is owned by Forum Communications Company. Love of the Lakes combines stories, facts and maps for different lakes in the area. We dedicate the magazine to the families and businesses around each of the lakes that are featured. Lake map information and some statistics/stories provided by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources © 2019. The Minnesota DNR website: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
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2 0 19 C A L E N D A R O F A R E A E V E N T S WEEKLY
TUESDAYS Kids’ Fishing Contest, 11 am,
Hackensack fishing pier (June 11-Aug. 13)
Check with local Chambers of Commerce for more events: crosslake.com • cuyunalakes.com explorebrainerdlakes.com • leech-lake.com • nisswa.com • pequotlakes.com • pinerivermn.com
27 Brainerd Jaycees Lil’ Rubber Duckie Race 27-28 Power Boat Races, Serpent Lake, Crosby 30-31 Crow Wing County Fair, Brainerd
WEDNESDAYS Nisswa Turtle Races, 2 pm,
UGUST A 1-3 Crow Wing County Fair, Brainerd 3 Pequot Lakes Chokecherry Festival
FRIDAYS Pine River Duck Races, 1:45 pm,
Downtown Turtle Track (June 5-Aug. 21) Longville Turtle Races, 1 pm (June 5-Aug. 21)
Pine River dam (June 21-Aug. 16) Pine River Market Square Farmers Market, 2:30-5:30 pm, Pine River (May 31-Sept. 27)
MAY
11 11 11 11-12 11 18
MN Walleye & Northern Pike Fishing Opener Trout Season Opener Welcome Wannigan, Gull Lake Take a Mom Fishing Weekend Pequot Lakes Block Party Pike-a-Palooza Fishing Tournament 8 am-3 pm, Ruttger’s, Deerwood
25 MN Large/Smallmouth Bass Fishing Opener 29 Take A Kid Fishing Day, Pine River Lions Club
JUNE
Pet Parade, Street Dance
3 Kids Fishing Derby
8:30 am, Crosslake Recreation Area
3 Gull Lake Yacht Club Fun Regatta 3 Walker Bay Day 4 Ski Loons Water Ski Show, 5 pm, Lum Park, Brainerd 9-10 Nisswa Crazy Days 9-12 Leech Lake Regatta 10 Dru Sjodin Purple Elephant Run
Bar Harbor, Lake Shore
SEPTEMBER
1 Arts Off 84 Art Crawl, Hwy 84, Pine River 5-8 Heritage Days, Pine River 21 Nisswa Fall Festival & Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge 26-28 Crosslake Days
O CTOBER
5 Fishing to End Hunger Walleye Tournament 5 Gull Lake Oktoberfest and Pub Crawl
10 Cardboard Boat Races
10 Crosslake Firefighters Pig Roast & Classic Custom Car Show, Fire Hall 10 Backus Cornfest,
1-31 Sertoma Winter Wonderland,
14 Ski Loons Water Ski Show,
Trailside Park, Pequot Lakes
10:30 am-12:30 pm Crosslake campground Noon-5 pm, Moonlite Bay, Crosslake
Parade 11 am; corn feast; fireworks 11 Ski Loons Water Ski Show, 5 pm, Lum Park, Brainerd 14 Ideal Beef Feed, 4-8 pm, Ideal Town Hall
22-25 Lakes Bluegrass Festival
14-15 Confidence Learning Center Golf & Fishing Classic 15 Pelican Lake Conservation Club’s 44th Annual Fishing Contest 15 Whitefish Chain Antique and Classic Wood Boat Rendezvous, Moonlite Bay, Crosslake 20-22 Moondance Jammin’ Country, Walker 22 Kayaking at the Campground
31 Arts Off 84 Art Crawl, Hwy 84, Pine River
10 Kayaking at the Campground
10:30 am-12:30 pm, Crosslake campground
8 Kayaking at the Campground,
24 Gull Lake Classic Boat Show
N OVEMBER 9 Firearms Deer Hunting Opener 15 Kinship Partners Taste of the Lakes 28-30 Sertoma Winter Wonderland
1 Muskie season opens 1-2 Leech Lake Walleye Tournament 7-9 Take a Kid Fishing Weekend 8 Crosslake-Ideal Lions Club’s Annual 3-4-5 Mixed Bag Classic Fishing Contest, 6:45 am-3:45 pm, Moonlite Bay, Crosslake
6:30 pm, Lum Park, Brainerd
15-18 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Brainerd International Raceway
Cass County Fairgrounds, Pine River 23-24 Fishing Has No Boundaries, Sylvan and Gull Lakes
24 Kayaking at the Campground
Northland Arboretum, Brainerd
29 Nisswa City of Lights
DECEMBER
weekends, Northland Arboretum, Brainerd
5 Schaefer’s Foods Taste of the Holidays fundraiser, 4-7 pm, Nisswa 7 Holiday at the Dam, 1-4 pm, Crosslake 14 Parade of Lights, Pine River: parade, 5 pm 14 Santa’s Bobbin’ Into Town Pequot Lakes: parade, 6 pm
JANUARY 2020 18-20 Take A Kid Ice Fishing Weekend 25 Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, noon-3 pm, Hole-in-the-Day Bay, Gull Lake
10:30 am-12:30 pm, Crosslake campground
10:30 am-12:30 pm, Crosslake campground
27-30 Cass County Fair, Pine River Fairgrounds 27-29 Lakes Jam Music Festival,
Brainerd International Raceway
29 Race for the Cure, Pequot Lakes 29 Mission Park Independence Day Parade & activities, 11 am
JULY 2 Fireworks, dusk, Grand View Lodge, Nisswa 3 Nisswa Freedom Days: parade, 7 pm 3-4 Pequot Lakes Stars & Stripes Days:
4 4 4 6 6
fireworks, dusk July 3; parade, noon July 4
Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks, Brainerd Fourth of July Events, Crosby Fourth of July Events, Walker Firecracker Run, 8 am, Downtown Nisswa Grandpa’s Run for the Walleye, 8:15 am, Crosslake Community Center
6 Crosslake Fireworks, dusk 9-14 Sweetheart Days, Hackensack 9 Ski Loons Water Ski Show, Ruttger’s, Deerwood 13 Kayaking at the Campground 14 16-17 18-20 20 24-28 26
10:30 am-12:30 pm, Crosslake campground
Ski Loons Water Ski Show, 5 pm, Lum Park, Brainerd Bean Hole Days, Serving at noon July 17, Pequot Lakes Moondance Jam, Walker Night Under the Stars, Camp Knutson, Crosslake Pine River Summerfest: Parade, 2 pm July 28 Paddle to the Moon, 5-10 pm, Crosslake campground to Moonlite Bay and back
27 Mount Ski Gull Paul Bunyan Extreme 5K 27 Kayaking at the Campground
10:30 am-12:30 pm, Crosslake campground
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0 0 0 0 . 1 218.96 ull Lake
erlooking G v O 7 7 . d R y t On Coun Access By c li b u P Equipment We Rent NEW
001834161r1
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 5
Advanced Manufacturing Careers
Photo by Derek Ostrowski
Derek Ostrowski captured this serene scene of Sunset Lake near Deerwood.
INTRODUCTION
Whether you live on a lake or a river, visit a body of water frequently or infrequently, or simply love pristine waters, you’ll want to take a look at our 13th annual Love of the Lakes magazine. In this issue, readers will find stories about recreation on our lakes and rivers, as well as stories about steps we all must take to ensure the quality of our area waters. Enjoy stories about recreation on the water, including the surge in wakesurfing and high school fishing teams. Be sure to also read up on what all of us need to do to keep our lakes healthy. Learn (or re-learn) what endangers a lake’s health - such as overly manicured shorelines and aquatic invasive species - and what we can do to preserve water quality. You don’t have to live on a lake to take precautions. We again feature our area’s three largest bodies of water - the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, Leech Lake and Gull Lake - along with three individual lakes: North Long Lake, Little Boy Lake and Lake Ossawinnamakee. All come complete with feature stories and detailed lake maps. Find out the status of the floating bog that roamed North Long Lake. Did you know that lake is home to a Boy Scout camp - Parker Scout Reservation? Read about Camp Olson YMCA’s history and offerings on Little Boy
6
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
LOVE LAKES ECHO JOURNAL'S
2 019 E D I T I O N
OF THE
FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY PLAYING IN
THE WATERS OF THE LAKE COUNTRY
PLUS:
Leech Lake Muskies High School Fishing Sandy Beach Resort Camp Olson YMCA North Long Bog Parker Scout Camp Wakersurfing
Lake. And have you seen Banana Ron water skiing across Lake Ossawinnamakee every summer? We called up former Minnesota governors who attended Governors Fishing Openers in the lakes area during their tenures to recap their experiences. Learn how fishing pole technology has changed over the years. Find out just how many lakes across the state are stocked with Leech Lake strain muskies. And you have to check out our photo gallery called “Fun on the Lake with Our Readers” to see readers’ submissions showing summer recreation on the lake. Be sure to share Love of the Lakes with friends and family. If you have any comments or suggestions, contact Nancy Vogt at nancy. vogt@pineandlakes.com or 218-855-5877.
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Chad’s Experienced Team and Proven Marketing Methods Successfully Closed 795 Transactions in 2018!
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www.Homes1234.com 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 7
F E AT U R E
Submitted photo Volunteers with the Big Island Joint Powers Board reinforce eroded shoreline on the Whitefish Chain with coir logs.
Submitted photo An example of a completed management project on the Whitefish Chain.
Maintaining healthy shores remains important priority for water quality BY ERIN BORMETT
The abundance of beautiful lakes is one of the greatest assets this region has to offer. However, an important part of maintaining healthy and thriving lakes that often gets overlooked is keeping shorelines healthy. “Water quality is largely dependent on what happens on the land,” said Jeff Laurel, natural resources director of the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association. “Even if you go a mile back from the lake, generally the land slopes down to the water.” The Whitefish Chain has experienced a significant decrease in water quality over the years, but there are people working hard to undo that damage and to prevent future issues.
encourages an excess of algae and weed growth, said Laurel. This algae fills the water and makes both wildlife habitat navigation and human recreation more difficult.
“Most people don’t realize this at first. Once lakes are on their decline, it’s really hard to bring them back.” Jim Brandt, Big Island Joint Powers Board
Dangers to a healthy lake
Some natural processes that may seem insignificant can actually have a large effect on aquatic ecosystems. Rainwater runoff is particularly damaging because it carries soil particles and pollutants, such as phosphorus from fertilizers, soaps and wastewater, into the lakes. Phosphorus is a necessary component for any lake habitat, but too much of the element
8
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Once they have taken over an area, the decomposition process of old weeds and algae uses up oxygen from the water that other lakedwellers, such as lake trout, walleye and ciscoes, need to survive. “It’s all tied together,” said Laurel. Without a shoreline to buffer, this pollutant-
carrying rainwater can run directly off of bare ground and man-made surfaces into the lakes. This, said Big Island Joint Powers Board member Jim Brandt, is why healthy shorelines are so important to the lakes area. “If you’ve just got nice short grass right up to the lake, the water runs off of that really fast,” said Brandt. “The shoreline acts as a filter.” However, Brandt said that maintaining healthy shorelines is not an easy task. There are many forces that can cause them to degrade and erode. For example, when lakes freeze over and the ice expands, the pressure can damage the shoreline. Later in the season, the ice can cause a second wave of damage as it melts and cracks into pieces, blowing against the edge. Human recreation, especially boating, causes waves that speed up the erosion process and kicks silt up into the water. “Most people don’t realize this at first,” said Brandt. “Once lakes are on their decline, it’s really hard to bring them back.” Healthy shores continued on page 10
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Leech Lake
64
Leech Lake
371
WHITEFISH CHAIN Walker
CROSSLAKE AREA
371
200
34 Ten Mile Lake
66
Nevis
Crosslake
Akeley
6
12
200
VITAL STATISTICS
3
34
Laura Lake
Longville
5
36
7 7
54
Iguadona Lake
84
Little Boy
Woman Lake
Thunder Lake
Hackensack
87 30 20
20
17
43
23
130
16
Norway
80
1
Upper Whitefish
16
Bertha
10
10 103
90 70
39
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Mayo
15
West Twin Edna
20 40
80
46
70
56
29
107
Lower
Upper Gull Nisswa Roy
77
13
15 30
10
66
60
24
50
55
24
40
126 Hartley
125
16 77
70
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86
50
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10
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CROW WIN STAT FORE
Horseshoe
Pelican Lake
Area: 7,714.19 acres.
r ive
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Fool
11
Lougee
19
Markee Perch
118
NisswaLength: 32.2 miles miles. Shore Garden Clark
Deepest Point: 138 feet.
Lower Mission
116 30
Miller
Lake Edward
13
Menomin
Black Bear
19
Mollie
3
128
Riverton
210
Public Access to119Whitefish: 3 miles North 25 North Long Lake and East of Jenkins on Co Rd 15, then 0.75 mile East on Jenkins Twp Rd. Horseshoe Wise Facilities: 1 concrete ramp, 25 vehicle/ 146 210 trailer parking49spaces, 1 dock, 1 toilet. Gilbert Mud 142 (Other sites on the individual lakes) 25 77 Rice
Black Hoof
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12
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102
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20
371Species: Zebra mussels Invasive
Twin Island
Brainerd
159
Fish to catch: black bullhead, black Baxterbluegill, brown bullhead, crappie, 210 23 48 burbot, 48 green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, 144 lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern 123 5 pumpkinseed, rock ay pike, northern sunfish, sw Russell res Hardy South Long Lake p xsmallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), bass, E n 25 ya un walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, B 21 ul 371 Pa bowfin (dogfish), greater redhorse, 144 22 44 redhorse, shorthead redhorse, silverv redhorse, smallmouth buffalo, white 121 sucker. er Nokasippi Riv 131
Crow Wing
23
131 Source: Lake-Link; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder 2
121
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21 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 9 5 g Da ett B g
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10
CROW WING STATE PARK
15
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8
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Red Sand
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10
69
Wilson Bay
r
10
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115 15
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11
115
77
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Gladstone and wading, with good clarity and low 3 Crystal 127 Little Hubert Campbell algae levels throughout the open water Merrifield Round Lake season. 127 Sorenson
Gull Lake
36
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Pi
Adney
137 Quality: Suitable for swimming 371 Water Bass Fawn Hubert
1
1
114
Greer
Lizard
4
Sylvan
36
Point Location: Crosslake, Manhattan Beach, 4 109 371 East Twin Fifty Upper Lakes, Jenkins, Pine River in Northern Little Pelican 109 Bass en ll u Upper Mission C Middle Crow Wing County
107
Lake Shore
Pine
Fawn
3
Pequot Lakes
168
60
88
10 11
103
11
Loon
40
50
29
20
10 60
1
O'Brien
36
103
11
Sibley
Dolney
3
Crosslake
Duck
17
Upper Loon
21
60
39
Clear Lake
Upper Hay 16
66
Star
Kimball
112
20 50
Clamshell
16 Grass
145
Pickeral Goodrich
tt gge Da
Rush
Cross Lake
Ideal Corners
Lower Hay
17
10 50
30
Lower Whitefish
15
371
112
CAMP RIPLEY NATIONAL GUARD RESER VATION
71
Sand
Little Pine
Mud Lake
Ossawinnaamakee
10
Em
1
Manhattan Beach
Big Trout
15
PILLSBU RY STATE FOREST
Butterfield
Ox
Pig Lake
15 30 40 46
23
50
7 90 100
Pine River
Pillager
210
Ann
Fifty Lakes
134
Arrowhead
40
20
90
10
100 70 80
10
90
7 10
60
50
1
1
Rock
Blue
West Fox
Swanburg
84
77
20
210
Kego Eagle
Jenkins
Motley
Ro
136
Mitchell
56 54
18
Staples
Clough
Eagle
371
15
20 10
10
Lizzie
84
Margaret
64
O Pistol
Jail Lake 56
Horseshoe
Mildred
134
Arrowhead Lake Verndale
Blind
48
Hattie
2
64
48
Lake Ada
371
15
130 135
FOOT HILLS STATE FOREST
Washburn Lake
160
103
60 20 50 70 90 100 110 90 130 120
Lake
Big Trout
87
54
49
Lind Lake
Backus
Lake George
47
84
87
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ahga
103
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64
55
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8
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87
371
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Island Lake
139
22
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Don’t Forget About Your Boating Buddies...
Healthy shores continued from page 8
Protecting the shoreline
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So what is being done to keep these shorelines in good working order? Each year, organizations put together projects that restore damaged shores and prevent the problem from getting any worse. Brandt has worked on shoreline restoration projects for many years using locally sourced material and assistance from organizations such as the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District and University of Minnesota Extension program. In spring, the Big Island Joint Powers Board looks for signs of major damage around the Whitefish Chain and gets to work rebuilding the shore. They set biodegradable coir logs, or large bundles of coconut fibers, along where the shore meets the lake to both protect from further water erosion and prevent loose earth from falling into the lake. Then, they plant native seedlings into the land so the roots will reinforce the shoreline structure. “By the time the (coir) logs biodegrade, the plants have taken a solid hold and can handle the wear and tear,” said Brandt. Taking on these projects requires a certain level of responsibility. “Our time has been well utilized in making a difference, but you can’t leave it go,” he said. “You can’t start a project and forget about it.” Native plants are good for more than erosion prevention. They can be effective tools for decreasing the volume of rainwater runoff going into the lakes. “One thing that trees do, or any plant with deep roots, is that they kind of open up the ground so that the water can absorb in,” said Laurel. “They also break the raindrops into smaller particles as they run down.” Laurel said WAPOA’s natural resource committee is on its fourth year of offering low-cost tree seedlings to property owners. “We want to promote getting more trees in areas that are bare land,” he said. “We have a pickup program in the area, so maybe people who wouldn’t usually buy trees like that will come because of the convenience and low price.” WAPOA shoreline management director Kristie Roedl plans to send wildflower seeds home with elementary students from Crosslake Community School while teaching them how to take care of the natural world. “I want to show them that grass is not a good thing next to water, and things like wildflowers might be better - you know, simple concepts,” she said. “These kids don’t all live on a lake, but as long as they have a hill in their yard this can make a difference.
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Healthy shores continued on page 58
10 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 11
F E AT U R E
Brainerd Dispatch file photo This still photo from a drone shows boats attempting to move the floating bog on North Long Lake’s Merrifield Bay, which made its home in front of the Legionville School Safety Patrol Training Center’s swimming beach, back to its original location in May 2018.
North Long Lake: The battle of a big ol’ beastly bog on the bay BY NANCY VOGT
Hopes are high that the humongous bog that floated around North Long Lake’s Merrifield Bay - destroying property and shuttering the Legionville summer safety camp for a season - is permanently anchored. Those who led the team of volunteers charged with conquering the bog have nothing but praise for all those who pitched in to help in any way. “It brought a lot of people together around the lake. It was a team effort,” said Bill Schmidt, North Long Association president. Randy Tesdahl, state adjutant/executive director of the Minnesota American Legion, agreed. “It was teamwork. It was a community effort,” he said. “We got everyone involved from the wrecker company to people with chainsaws and heavy equipment. It was just everybody pulling together - literally pulling together. And it was a really fun learning experience for us.” While frustrating at times, Kevin Martini, with the Department of Natural Resources’ aquatic plant management office in Brainerd, agreed that the experience was positive overall,
12 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
despite a few early failures and Legionville closing for the 2018 season. “The three of us - Bill, Randy and I - got along really well. Even though there were setbacks and failures, we all remained positive. We all worked together,” Martini said, noting the sense of accomplishment that resulted when that hard work eventually paid off.
trees - and organizers had to head back to the drawing board and not give up. “It was a rekindling of those relationships initially started in the 1920s,” Tesdahl said, referring to the creation of the Legionville School Safety Patrol Training Center and the partners who contributed to the safety camp’s longevity.
The bog saga
“It brought a lot of people together around the lake. It was a team effort.” Bill Schmidt, North Long Association President The group remained determined to tame the chunk of land that was careening around North Long Lake in fall 2017 and start of summer 2018. It took several tries to move the bog - a natural wetland of marsh, dead plant materials, cattails and a line of tamarack
Trouble on North Long Lake started Friday, the 13th - Oct. 13, 2017, to be exact. “I got the phone call,” Schmidt said. “A retired couple on Merrifield Bay said they had a huge, big hunk of ground coming at them. It ended up taking their dock and lift out. Then the wind shifted a bit and moved the large bog over to the south side of the bay, which took out a few more docks and lifts. The wind again shifted and moved the bog all the way to the west side of the bay in front of Legionville.” The bog was still moving around so the North Long Lake Association received a permit to try to anchor it about 300 yards offshore from Legionville. North Long Lake continued on page 14
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
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Clear Lake
Upper Hay 16
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nE ya un
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tl e F To L it hd
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hw ay
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4. 5 miles northwest of Brainerd, off MN Highway #371, on the northwest shore of North Long Lake. Facilities: 1 concrete ramp, 6 vehicle parking spaces, 4 vehicle/ trailer parking spaces, 1 dock, 1 toilet.
371
Nashway Rd
127
Pillager
2. 5.5 miles northwest of Brainerd on the south shore of North Long Lake - Birchdale Rd. Facilities: 1 gravel ramps, 2 vehicle parking spaces, 2 vehicle/trailer parking Cushing spaces. 3. 6.5 miles northwest of Brainerd on the north shore of North Long Lake. Facilities: 1 dirt ramp, 1 vehicle/trailer parking space.
River
Campbell
Merrifield
Hartley
Shamineau Lake
Public Boat Accesses: 4 Sites 1. In Merrifield, 0.5 mile West of MN Hwy. 25 on Train Bell Road. Facilities: 2 concrete ramps, 32 vehicle/trailer parking spaces, 2 docks, 2 toilets.
Crystal
127
119
119
20
127
Fish to catch: Black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, 10 smallmouth bass, sunfish, tullibee (cisco), walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, bowfin (dogfish), common carp
Fawn
3
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Wilson Bay
Motley
Bass
3
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North Long Lake
Rock
10
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Sugar Bush Trail N
Invasive210 Species: Zebra mussels
Smith Rd
Little Hubert
Round Lake
64
Overall condition: Suitable for swimming and wading, with good clarity and low algae levels throughout the open water season.
Gull Lake Dam Rd
Eating Places by Boat: Northern Cowboy Flame N' Brew
White Gables Road
371
125
Noka
Ojibwa Rd
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Seagull
Rd NW
St. Columbo Rd
Cinosam Rd
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Peterson Rd NW
Trail
Source: Lake-Link; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder
Mission Rd
Staples
115
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40 N
Shore length: 20.08 miles.
13 Mollie
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Deepest Point: 97 feet.
Miller
Gladstone
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Area: 6,190 acres.
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Legionville Rd
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19
Markee
Nisswa Roy
Margaret
Bass
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Lougee
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Lake Shore
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VITAL STATISTICS
Little Pelican
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Horseshoe
Pelican Lake
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llen CuMiddle
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Mayo
Location: Merrifield, Crow Wing County, MN
Breezy Point
10 15
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Pequot Lakes
Sibley
Loon
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ne Riv er
Lizard
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 13
Brainerd Dispatch file photos Left: A bevy of boats maneuvers a piece of bog away from the Legionville School Safety Patrol Training Center beach in June 2018. Right: Volunteers hook cables to the bog.
North Long Lake continued from page 12
“We felt if we could anchor it down there we could keep it from bouncing around and destroying a whole bunch more docks and property,” Schmidt said. The association first tried to use wooden stakes to secure the bog. Mother Nature whipped up a strong, three-day north wind that caused the stakes to come loose and blow the bog into the shore right in front of Legionville. Winter 2017-18 came early, and the bog froze and stayed put.
14 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Schmidt decided it was time to call in reinforcements to make plans for spring. A three-man team formed - Schmidt, Tesdahl and Martini - along with numerous volunteers. “We had estimates from outside companies of $130,00 to $300,000 to move the bog,” Schmidt said. The team decided to tackle the task with volunteers. The bog was 850 feet long and 350 feet across with 200-plus trees in the middle. It weighed an estimated 8 million to 12 million
pounds, and would have taken 1,700 tandem truck loads to break it up and remove it, Schmidt said. Legionville volunteers cut paths across the frozen bog in winter 2017-18 and placed a plywood platform with cables and straps to walk safely across it. They cut logs hooked with chains and laid them on top of the ice around the bog. The idea was to hook onto the cables and chains in spring to pull the bog back to where it came from, which was about 1,000
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
feet from where it was sitting directly in front of Legionville. An acquaintance of Tesdahl believed he could bring in boats with Evinrude E-TEC outboard motors to hook onto the bog and move it slowly. With the help of property owners on the lake and other volunteers, teams of boats were put in place with others monitoring from land. Safety was of utmost importance. Peterson Towing agreed to hook onto the bog to pull it as tightly as possible to shore after the bog was moved back to its resting place. The day of the big move arrived, and the carefully considered plan was set into motion. “The E-TECS pulled and pulled and pulled, and nothing moved,” Schmidt said, noting they regrouped, but again, “we pulled and pulled and pulled, and nothing moved.” After several hours they turned to a backup plan, which was to drag cable under the bog and hook the cable to a Peterson Towing truck to cut the big bog into thirds. However, the cable kept hooking on something, and they learned there were stumps the cable kept catching. The next idea was to run PVC pipe with rope through it under the bog, and it worked. “Now we could hook the cable to the rope, and Peterson Towing grabbed it and cut the bog into three pieces,” Schmidt said. “So we ended that day with some success.” Several days later volunteers returned to try
Work with volunteers and equipment continued in efforts to move the large bog.
to move the center third out. “We wanted to get that center third because we could open the beach up, and at that point we could still have the camp up and running,” Schmidt said. While they successfully moved that part of the bog, they decided it was still too dangerous to have Legionville camps in summer 2018 because if kids tried to climb on the bog they could fall through it. So Legionville canceled its 80th summer safety camp season - the only other time the summer camp was canceled was during
Brainerd Dispatch file photo
World War II - and volunteers continued working to move the bog. They moved the east third and anchored it to shore, deciding to leave the last third until after the approaching Fourth of July weekend. Around 7 p.m. July 3, Schmidt got a call. Strong south winds were starting to move that last third of the bog to the middle of Merrifield Bay. “I jumped in the boat and started calling to get boats and got people who were out on the lake already,” Schmidt said. North Long Lake continued on page 16
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North Long Lake continued from page 15
They got on the north side of the bog and stopped it from moving farther out into the bay and started moving it back. “By 10 o’clock that night we got it staked down” where they had wanted to move it, Schmidt said, noting they later put logs outside the bog to stake it tighter. The bog stayed put for the rest of summer 2018. Fast forward to spring 2019. “We’ve got some work to do yet,” Schmidt said. The plan was to secure cables to the bog pieces, and when the ice melted to hook onto the cables and pull the bog as tight as possible to shore. “We’re going to do everything in our power to keep it there. We don’t need it moving again,” Tesdahl said. “The three of us were so determined,” Schmidt said of himself, Tesdahl and Martini. “We will win. The bog will not win.” Martini said if the bog had been freefloating, he thinks they could have moved it right away. However, the bog grounded itself when it came into shore, and the outside edge, which wasn’t as thick, sunk into the water with two parts touching the bottom. “You can move a big bog with boats,” Martini said. “Once we got it floating, it didn’t take many boats to move the big pieces.” Schmidt credited the behind-the-scenes work of numerous volunteers, including people providing their own time, boats and gas. “It was just a tremendous effort by an awful lot of people,” Schmidt said. Early in the process, those involved did research on the internet and called people who had bogs to see what they could learn. “We never found anyone with a bog close to this size,” Schmidt said. “It would have been nice to have a blueprint to say, ‘Here’s what you do.’ We were plowing new ground.”
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Legionville
The American Legion was founded in 1919, and Minnesota hosted the first national convention. Veterans promoted americanism and helping youth, which eventually led to the birth of the Legionville School Safety Patrol Training Center, Tesdahl said. Earle Brown, the first chief of the Minnesota Highway Patrol, had a good friend, Sister Carmela, who came up with the idea in the 1920s to have someone help children to cross the street safely to get to school. “Thus was born the idea of road crossing school safety guards,” Tesdahl said, noting Brown asked the Minnesota American Legion to help with a program in 1935. The first Legionville classes were held in 1936 at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd, with two years at Camp Ripley.
16 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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These facilities were used until 1956, according to a Legionville website. In 1948, the Minnesota American Legion created a committee to raise funds to build a permanent training center, and eventually around 600 acres with 1,500 feet of shoreline beach on North Long Lake was purchased. The property included a barn and a few outbuildings at the time, and it’s where Legionville is located today. The barn was used for a training facility, roads were put and dormitories were built thanks to the combined effort of the Minnesota American Legion and Minnesota State Patrol. AAA provides the curriculum. Those two groups have always had a strong relationship with the DNR and the lake association, Tesdahl said. “It’s been a great partnership and it was one that was really able to be rekindled with the bog,” he said. Legionville offers six one-week sessions through summer with up to 80 students ages 8-13 per session from schools around the state. It costs just more than $200 per student, with local Legion posts and communities often paying students’ way. A recent challenge is that many schools are using adults to help at road crossings, which is why Legionville now includes school bus safety, water survival safety, first aid training and other educational aspects, as well as recreational swimming and canoeing on the lake. Tesdahl said the Legion is considering other ways to expand the camp as society changes, such as geocaching, orienteering and other outdoor activities. “It will stay a youth educational camp,” he said. Legionville classes were to resume in summer 2019 after being canceled in 2018 because of safety concerns with the bog in front of the swimming beach. When campers return this year, they’ll find a repaired beach with docks back in the water and the swimming area open. A new crew will greet campers, including a new camp director. A $200,000 state grant went toward a new, four-season chow hall complete with new equipment. When last year’s sessions were canceled, youth already signed up received an extended credit to attend this year or received refunds. “A majority looked at it as a donation or said, ‘We’ll be back,’” Tesdahl said. “We’re looking forward to a good year.” u Nancy Vogt is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. She may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes. com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter. com/@PEJ_Nancy.
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 17
Left: Area Boy Scouts help build a shelter at Parker Scout Reservation. Right: Ethan Millsop practices target shooting at the camp.
Submitted photos
Boy Scouts develop skills at Parker Scout Reservation BY PETE MOHS
Many of the memories of that summer trip in 1971 have faded. But, I do recall some of the details as an 11-year-old Boy Scout attending his first weekend camping experience at Parker Scout Reservation on the northeast corner of North Long Lake near Brainerd. I remember being nervous on the bus ride with other Scouts from Troop 106 that took us from St. Cloud to Merrifield, and then a few miles west on County Road 127. After a quick tour of the camp, we stayed busy as we began setting up tents on our campsite. I remember walking Parker’s many trails that connected everything from the other campsites to the archery range to the dining hall. There was also the popular camp store with candy and pop. Gathering each day to eat at the dining hall was special because of the appetite created by a day of activity. It was also located next to the North Long Lake shore, where we often gathered to swim or to go canoeing. That’s also where some Scouts took on the challenge of the mile swim across North Long and back to the campground. That was one challenge, the swimming merit badge, that I didn’t complete as an eventual Eagle Scout.
18 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Parker was a special place where I returned for one more summer adventure, a winter camping trip and an overnight Order of the Arrow induction. I always appreciated the northern environment that mixed the woods with the blue waters of North Long. And I still appreciate the many camping and
“Each year when we go to schools to recruit new Cub Scouts, we show the boys pictures and tell them about Miller Castle and their eyes light up, but when they come to camp for the first time and they see, they are amazed.” Kenneth Toole, Central Minnesota Council district executive
lifelong skills I gained from trips to the camp. In the fall of 1983, I permanently moved to the Brainerd lakes area to start my journalism career and raise a family. One thing that lured me to the area was the fond memories of trips to Camp Parker. Today, Camp Parker is available year-round for use by Scout groups and non-Scout youth groups. The camp features a medieval castle (built in 2008), dining lodge, several campsites and cabins, a family camp, trading post, shower house, sandy beach, gun and archery ranges.
Camp history
Parker Scout Reservation, formerly known as Camp Clyde, was established in 1941 by Clyde Parker. The facility is located on 256 wooded acres just west of Merrifield on North Long Lake. Milestone projects at the camp include constructing a dining hall near the lake in 1949; adding an archery range, obstacle course and rifle range in 1950; adding 200 acres of land, donated by Northwest Paper Company, adjacent to the northwest end of the camp in 1961; building a Catholic chapel in 1965; and adding a caretaker home on the property in 1981. 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Submitted photo
Submitted photo A group gathers at the camp with a bonfire burning in the foreground.
projector for movies, in the commercial kitchen and with mounted hair dryers in the bath areas. The building is available for use year-round with air conditioning and in-floor heating. A medieval hallway glows with such modern amenities as electric lights. A divider in the bunk room allows for
segregation of the genders for groups that have boys and girls staying in the castle. Cub Scouts are the main groups that use the castle, because they may find outdoor camping a bit too rigorous for their younger age. Older Boy Scouts typically camp in the outdoor setting.
Scouts attend to an American flag at the camp.
One of the biggest property changes was completed in 2008 with the construction of the $1.7 million Miller Castle. The idea for the castle was born as the camp looked to build a storm shelter and decided to create one with a twist. The castle has room for 64 Scouts and 16 adults. When the building isn’t in use by the Scouts, it is available for rent to nonprofits and community groups for meetings or weekend retreats. The 12,000-square-foot castle has towers and a Great Hall with a mural on a stage area of a knight on horseback, a wizard and a dragon in a castle setting. The mural covers a garage door that opens to the walled courtyard. The opposite side in the courtyard becomes the backdrop for an outdoor stage with jousting knights on horseback. The castle theme is carried on throughout the building’s main floor with rooms for knights, stewards, lords, ladies and squires. But today’s technology is present in the
Boy Scouts continued on page 20
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 19
Submitted photo Brady Millsop cross country skis at Parker Scout Reservation.
Area Boy Scouts help build an SOS sign in front of the Miller Castle at Parker Scout Reservation.
Boy Scouts continued from page 19
The camp remains popular today as about 1,100 to 1,300 young people attended the summer camps at Camp Parker and about 600 to 700 attended winter camps last year. Annual camp attendance did grow dramatically in the mid-1970s with the CanAm Camporee (more than 500 Scouts traveling here from Canada and the Arctic Circle).
Submitted photo
always have a great time there and these are some of the best memories I will ever make with him. Scouting has really brought us closer together.” u Pete Mohs is publisher of the Brainerd Dispatch daily newspaper and the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5855 or pete.mohs@brainerddispatch.com
A Parker Scout Reservation patch.
Submitted photo
75th anniversary
The leadership of the Central Minnesota Council celebrated the 75th anniversary of Parker Scout Camp in 2016. Ironically, this year marks the 100th anniversary for the Central Minnesota Council. Each year, hundreds of Scouts use the facilities at Parker, whether it be Miller Castle or the campsites nestled amongst the towering pines. Scouts get to call it their camp. “Each year when we go to schools to recruit new Cub Scouts, we show the boys pictures and tell them about Miller Castle and their eyes light up, but when they come to camp for the first time and they see, they are amazed,” said Kenneth Toole, district executive. For some Scouts, going to Parker with their Cub Scout Pack is the first time they will spend a night in a tent and for others it’s another chance to get away from everything at home and have fun outside with other children their own age. But even more important, for some parents, it’s a chance to share a unique experience with their Scout. “My son and I have spent several weekends at Parker. It started with him as a Tiger Cub and continues now that he is in Boy Scouts,” said DJ Collins, a volunteer leader with Troop 43 in Brainerd. “Whether we are camping in a tent or staying in the castle, we
20 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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Boy Scouts continued on page 26
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 21
Echo Journal file photo In 2001, Gov. Jesse Ventura shows a fish caught on Pelican Lake. His guide was Marv Koep.
Photo courtesy of Walker Pilot Independent In 2007, Gov. Tim Pawlenty fished on Leech Lake with guide Al Maas.
Echo Journal file photo In 2014, Gov. Mark Dayton was on Gull Lake with guide Ray Gildow.
Former governors reminisce about past lakes area openers BY TRAVIS GRIMLER
Since 1948, Minnesota has had a tradition that stirs so much local and state pride, so much enthusiasm and unity that political division temporarily vanishes and everyone is merely Minnesotan. That tradition, of course, is the annual Governor’s Fishing Opener when thousands, including the state’s head honcho, get outside and enjoy the state’s most valuable resource. Since its founding, nine governors have opened the fishing season on a lake within the coverage area of this magazine. Of the four who are still alive, three spoke about their returns on Gull, Leech and Pelican lakes. Though it’s been years since these governors attended the area openers (26 years for former Gov. Arne Carlson) and each attended several Governor’s Fishing Openers across the state during their terms, they all recalled certain details about the local events - among them the weather, the company on the boat and the community reception. Carlson remembers the low temperature on the lake when he fished Gull Lake on May 15, 1993. “I was with Coach Clem Haskins,” Carlson said of the former University of Minnesota men’s basketball coach. “It was very, very cold. We didn’t catch anything, which is not
22 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
unusual. I went seven years without catching anything and I finally caught a sauger.” Carlson later joked that the fish was 2-3 inches long.
“There are Republican and DFL legislators attending to go out fishing together, have a good time together. That's a day where we're all Minnesotans on fishing opener.” Former DFL Gov. Mark Dayton He remembered only one colder opener at International Falls, which he said felt like it was three miles from the North Pole. On Gull Lake, Carlson - like all governors - had a locally famous fishing guide, Al Lindner, who attempted to make the trip a success. Carlson doesn’t recall what tactics or lures they used, but he remembers fishing by
weeds and he gives Lindner a pass on their uneventful day. “Al handled everything,” Carlson said. “He had to be terribly disappointed he had two of the worst fishermen in the history of the planet on his boat.” In 1993, Carlson was quoted as joking that then-Lt. Gov. Joan Dyrstad caught “overgrown minnows.” Reminiscing, he laughed and admitted that she always had more luck and had outfished him, which was not hard to do. In 2001, former Gov. Jesse Ventura came to Pelican Lake on a sunny day to fish with guide Marv Koep. The occupants of that boat landed a 21-inch walleye, 19.5-inch walleye and a 17-inch walleye. Ventura did not respond to efforts to reach him, but he is not the only governor who enjoyed a sunny opener. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty was on Easy Street fishing Leech Lake with guide Chip Leer 14 years after Carlson froze on Gull Lake, both in terms of weather and the catch. “One of the things I remember most about that is just how nice the weather was and how many fish we caught and the variety of the fish we caught,” Pawlenty said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. Every year we have a wide variance in the weather. There are a lot of really cold fishing openers.” 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Echo Journal file photo Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh and her brother accompanied Gov. Mark Dayton in May 2014 on Gull Lake.
Newspapers reported that Pawlenty’s first fish of the day in May 2007 was a 4-pound northern pike, caught off Stony Point just after 8 a.m. Before the end of the day he caught another northern and two walleyes, and his wife, Mary, reeled in three walleyes and two perch. The fishing was so pleasant and successful, Pawlenty returned to shore for lunch and then went back out after noon for more. It was an important success for the lake as a whole, which was finally recovering from a drop in the walleye population. “Leech Lake has had its ups and downs as a fishing lake. This was sort of a comeback story in terms of fishing,” Pawlenty said. “I definitely remember being on Leech with the sun out, catching fish. Mary and I being in the boat with Chip and just thinking, ‘Life doesn’t get much better than this.’ It was a beautiful day of fishing. We were catching fish in Minnesota. I remember feeling very grateful for the day and the opportunity to promote fishing and tourism and the local community. It seemed like it was what you hope for.” The next year, 2008, Pawlenty opened the season on Pelican Lake with Walleyedan (Dan Eigen) showing him the ropes. The weather wasn’t quite as pleasant with temperatures in the 40s with rain, but Pawlenty caught a 17-inch walleye just after 11 a.m. on a Lindy Rig with a shiner minnow. Mary caught nothing that day, but then-Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau caught a 19-inch walleye, winning her annual competition with Pawlenty. Former Gov. Mark Dayton, who fished Gull Lake in 2014, had a mixed bag. He caught nothing all day, but it was a fine, sunny day for relaxing on a boat. Guide Ray Gildow spent the day driving them around the lake. Before the sun rose, they used crankbaits near the Zorbaz narrows, but during the day they 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
switched to jigs and minnows in 18 feet of water in the larger part of the lake. Dayton said the trip was enjoyable for the company alone. At midnight, Dayton fished with former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson and during the day he shared a boat with then-Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh and her brother, as well as former state Rep. John Ward. While Dayton caught nothing that day, newspapers reported that then-Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon caught a walleye on her second cast and another only minutes later. “Ray Gildow was our guide and I repel fish,” Dayton said. “I almost never catch them. It wasn’t his fault in spite of his best efforts both at midnight and Saturday morning. I defeated some of the best guides in Minnesota.” On those days, the governors were participating in a day of great excitement for many across the state, and in few places is that excitement more tangible than in the opener’s host city. When Carlson fished Gull Lake there were signs lining the shoreline with fun messages, including, “This Bud’s for you” and others. In years after, the media presence at the opener exploded, making the events grow exponentially, but even in 1993, the excitement could be seen all over. “The focus had to be not just on fish but also on humor,” Carlson said. “We always had an awful lot of fun. I can’t think of one that wasn’t enjoyable.” “With all these events, the communities just knock themselves out to be great hosts,” Pawlenty said. “There’s a lot of work, planning and effort that goes into these things. People who don’t attend them don’t realize behind the scenes how much planning and community effort goes into it. Volunteers and city leaders and others.” Governors continued on page 24
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 23
Echo Journal file photo Gov. Mark Dayton bought his fishing license in 2014 from Sherree Wicktor at S&W Bait north of Brainerd. John Ward, state representative at the time, accompanied Dayton.
Governors continued from page 23
“It’s just a great kickoff to one of Minnesota’s most important recreational activities and tourism attractions, which is superb fishing all over the state,” Dayton said. “Half a million Minnesotans are out there on that weekend. To bring national media to highlight Minnesota and the appeal of the quality of our fishing is really important economically. The value of the media coverage exceeded $2.7 million. It has a huge economic impact for the area. It’s also interesting to see Nisswa hosted the community picnic (in 2014). It took most of a year to organize the community gathering for the whole weekend. It’s all volunteers. Hundreds of hours of time, and to see the enthusiasm and community spirit it brings is really inspiring. ” Governors tend to play off that attention, sometimes participating in special events or playing along with the community through special radio interviews and activities.
24 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
“Mary at some point started a tradition of having a tutorial or class on walleye filleting and she became quite proficient at that,” Pawlenty said of his wife. Dayton, like other governors before him, bought his fishing license the day before the opener at S&W Bait shop with a full film crew. He also let himself be coaxed into a stop at the Wendy’s in Nisswa by a billboard. “The Wendy’s there had a sign challenging me to eat a Baconator,” Dayton said. “On the way out on Saturday I stopped and had my one and only Baconator. It was delicious and I had a lot of fun.” Pawlenty threw out the first pitch at a Pequot Lakes Patriots high school baseball game. The lakes area has left an impact on these past governors as well. Not only did Dayton attend the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on at least one occasion, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he vacationed at Cragun’s Resort with family.
Echo Journal file photo In 2008, Gov. Tim Pawlenty threw out the first pitch in a game between Pequot Lakes and Pine River-Backus while in the area for the Governor’s Fishing Opener.
Pawlenty said he has, and continues to, vacation near Breezy Point since then, even when he had no official duties to attend. To Minnesota governors from years past, the Governor’s Fishing Opener and fishing as a whole represent the best the state has to offer in industry, tourism, natural environment and unity. All that is on display during an opener event. “It was an absolutely grand experience,” Carlson said. “One of the things we wanted to focus on was trying to change the fishing opener from just fish, to focus on the community. When people go out, they go out not just to fish. They go out for the totality of the experience. It’s really a lot of fun and you can’t beat an area like Brainerd. It’s got absolutely everything.” Governors continued on page 26
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
DO YOU KNOW WHY NOT TO HAVE A CAMPFIRE ON THE BEACH? The ashes that wash out of the pit during rainfall have an adverse effect on the lake. • The ash contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other micronutrients which support plant growth. So, the fire pit ashes promote growth of plants and algae in the lake. • Please move your fire pit to at least 25 feet from the lake to allow the run-off and ash to seep into the ground and be filtered before the unwanted chemicals run into the lake. • Also, clean your fire pit frequently to reduce the amount of ash that could flow into the lake.
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Governors continued from page 24
Travis Grimler is a reporter for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@ pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Travis.
26 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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“If you ask Minnesotans to identify things that are most connected to or reflect Minnesota, the outdoors are at or near the top of almost everybody’s list,” Pawlenty said. “For some people that’s hiking or biking. For some people that’s hunting. For some people that’s canoeing. For some people it’s snowmobiling. Obviously, for many, many Minnesotans that includes fishing. “It’s not only a great tradition that brings families and people together in a sport and pastime, but it’s also vitally important to our state sense of stewardship and celebration of our great outdoors and our obligation to protect and highlight it. Also, how important it is on the economy. Look at the effect on tourism and fishing on the economy. It’s huge. We want to promote that and try to remind people how important that is in terms of our economy, but also public policies that help it along.” Carlson felt similarly about the importance of the Minnesota outdoors, but went a step further and applied it to recent political decisions that might impact water quality and the environment in Minnesota in coming years. “I don’t think we’ve come to the realization of sitting down as a state and saying, ‘Where is our value?’” Carlson said. “You come back and say, Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota, certain companies, and they’re all valuable, no doubt about it. But long term what the state of Minnesota has is the quality of its water. That’s No. 1. Why would anyone with an IQ of room temperature have placed the most valuable asset we have at risk?” It’s possible that the former governors might not agree on what that protection for Minnesota’s environment might look like, but on the Governor’s Fishing Opener, none of that matters, because on that one day, fishing lines become important while political lines blur. “This was a moment or a weekend when politics generally got set aside,” Pawlenty said. “Republicans, Democrats, Independents and people who are neither or nothing came together to promote community. Put the community’s best foot forward and rally on a non-political basis to promote and celebrate the tradition of fishing in our state.” “I’m proud to be part of a Minnesota tradition that’s been going 70 years with a whole series of governors. That’s a very inclusive event and weekend,” Dayton said. “There are Republican and DFL legislators attending to go out fishing together, have a good time together. That’s a day where we’re all Minnesotans on fishing opener.”u
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1
23
4 1. Judy Nelson offered this photo of her daughter, Kelsi Zellinger, standing backward on a stool on a saucer on Little Pine Lake on the Whitefish Chain in Crosslake. 2. Briana Jordan shared this photo of her children - Ireland, 8, and Graham and Brayden, both 6 - building castles at Red Neck Point on the Whitefish Chain. 3. Julie Berg's niece, Madeline Rovn, jumps into Horseshoe Lake. Berg's family and her two sisters' families spend two weeks over the Fourth of July at the cabin every year.
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, SERVING THE LAKES AREA FOR OVER 25 YEARS
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Lake
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7
5. Taylor Sherack kayaks with her dog, Sedge, on Fawn Lake in Crosslake. Sedge loves the lake and Taylor!
with our
Readers
4. Chris Rovn, of Minneapolis, strikes a pose while jumping into Horseshoe Lake in Merrifield while visiting relatives Paul and Julie Berg's cabin. The Bergs are from St. Paul.
6. Debbi Foss shared this photo of her son, Andrew Foss, making waves on Pelican Lake on a personal watercraft. 7. Natalee Bray, Crosslake, contributed this photo of her son, Quinn, fishing on Goodrich Lake.
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28 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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2
3
5
4 1. Derek Ostrowski snapped this photo of Alayna, Giovanna and Vannessa Ostrowski riding a tube on Sunset Lake in Deerwood. 2. Sarah Herron’s son, Finn Herron, is a sandy mess while playing at Pelican Beach. 3. 1-2-3 jump! Cousins jump into Upper Hay Lake from the swim platform on Tom and Joanne Audette’s boat. Jumping are Henry, Joey (Ben's friend), Ben, Sam and Grace.
Lake
Fuonnthe
with our
Readers
6
4. Floatie fun - It doesn't have to always be about the action; sometimes floating is just as fun, says Kristin Larsen. Enjoying just that on a unicorn floatie are Aubrey Larsen and Riley Fogarty. 5. “I think I like this!” Linda Shalley takes Shiloh out for a paddle on a standup paddle board on Lower Whitefish Lake. 6. Donna Evans’ son and grandson, Eric and Corwyn Evans, enjoy a day on Gull Lake.
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 29
by
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LAKE CAMP OLSON is a niche among summer camps "I wanted to be there for a long time and make a difference. I thought it was the best place on earth. It was like an escape." Bailey Adkins, longtime camper and staff member
Submitted photos Camp Olson YMCA specializes in sailing and horseback riding, but the camp offers many other activities, including bicycling, archery, marksmanship, fishing, kayaking and more.
w BY TRAVIS GRIMLER
A YMCA camp near Longville has almost as many acres of land at its disposal as it does lake surface. Camp Olson YMCA is situated on the 1,300-acre Little Boy Lake and takes up 1,250 acres of the surrounding land, both of which make the camp what it is. “Typically, morning activities include archery, riflery, canoeing, sailing, kayaking, horseback riding. We have two specialty programs at Camp Olson, and that’s horseback riding and sailing,” said Executive Director Russell Link. “We have a fleet of over 30 sailboats and a herd of 40 horses in the summertime.” The camp started in 1954, founded on 1,600 acres that “E.O.” Olson and his wife, Bella, donated to the YMCA. In the 1970s, the camp downsized to 1,200 acres. Later, the camp grew by another 50 acres, making it what it is now. While the footprint technically shrank, the
30 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
camp has grown in other ways. What used to be a camp for Minnesota youth last year hosted children from 27 states and seven countries. It serves more than 1,000 children per year between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During any camp day, it has approximately 65 staff guiding 160 campers in a bevy of activities. Campers who don’t choose to sail can often be found horsing around on dry land, literally. The camp’s 1,250 acres lends itself well to horseback riding. In addition to all the horseback joy rides in the main camp and within fenced areas, campers experience a little bit of what it was like to travel long distances by horse. “Our kids will actually go on horseback and eat dinner out over a campfire, or eat breakfast over a campfire,” Link said. “They get on a horse at 6:30 in the morning, ride an hour, hitch their horses up like living in the Old West and then
cook their breakfast.” Those who prefer lake life have options as well. The proximity to Little Boy Lake led the camp directors and its donors to turn the camp into an esteemed sailing camp with the help of donor Pierce Johnson, who helped establish the camp’s fleet of boats. Campers age 11 and older get the chance to try sailing if they so choose. “We have been known for sailing probably for 20 years to be really topnotch,” Link said. “Before that, like all camps, we dabbled in sailing. Now we tout ourselves as the premier sailing camp in the Midwest, just because of our wide range fleet of boats that we have.” That fleet ranges from small Sunfish sailboats to C-Scow and E-Scow boats ranging up to 28 feet long and requiring a crew of several campers. Every Friday when the weather is good, campers 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
gather on the shore to watch as 16 manned boats, up to 80 campers participating, take to the lake in the camp’s sailboat fleet. On the outskirts of the regatta border is yet another audience. “Our neighbors on the lake will bring their pontoons out along the border of our markers and watch the regatta,” Link said. “That kind of adds some excitement. Our local landowners say it’s so fun watching all the sailboats out there.” The camp and its neighbors get along well. Not only do campers provide a show once a week, but the camp also helps to keep the lake peaceful and uncrowded. Camp Olson’s shore south of the main camp is protected from development with a conservation easement that encourages wildlife both on and off the water. The neighbors admire the camp so much that some enroll their children and grandchildren to attend. “It’s an interaction,” Link said. “They appreciate 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
who we are on the lake from the conservation easement. Many of the campers have been children of lake owners who say it looks like fun. Even if they own a place up there, they realize the specialness of maybe tying them closer to their lake by sending them to Camp Olson.” Whether they are riding horse or navigating sailboats, campers eventually have the option of taking advanced lessons in several areas, including sailing. Campers may start off as a boat hand, but with work they can progress through crew hand, mate and mate first class. Very dedicated campers can achieve the rank of skipper within three years. Camp Olson prides itself in its aggressive, self-guided, advanced lessons, and achieving skipper requires practice, study, training and, of course, passing a verbal and practicum test. “We have developed a complete sailing
manual. We have five levels of criteria that kids work for in achievement. We find a very aggressive program is important,” Link said. “We’re really hoping we develop a lifelong passion in a silent sport for our campers. A water sport. A skill they can use beyond Camp Olson when they leave here.” This program was what got former University of Minnesota sailing team captain Bailey Adkins, of Rochester, on the water, though she admits a mishap nearly led her down a different path. “I would say when I was about 12 or 13, the first year I did it I had a terrible experience,” Adkins said. “My friend and I sailed together every day. She learned to steer and I learned to trim the sails. They separated us on Friday, which is basically a test day. I had to steer the boat, but I didn’t know how to. I ended up stuck in the reeds and had to have the staff come and help me.” 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 31
Adkins’ friend encouraged her to try again the next year, and after the Camp Olson staff taught her the skills she was missing the year before, Adkins’ future was sealed. “One of my all-time favorite experiences I had was with the old director, Colton,” Adkins said. “He would bring me and my friend on his Regatta boat. He would let me steer. You want to keep the boat at a 30-degree angle all the time and he could get on the board. I got to do that and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I wanted to be really good at it.” Adkins returned every summer and got better and better all the time. She and her friend spent all their free time at the boat house, learning about sailing skills and practicing. She said they wanted to be the best in all the camp. Each summer she attended camp for longer stretches of time. They kept advancing through the skills at the camp, eventually becoming a skipper, but she wanted more because at age 12 she had decided she wanted to work at the camp. “I wanted to be there for a long time and make a difference,” Adkins said. “I thought it was the best place on earth. It was like an escape.” Adkins attended the camp’s four-week leadership program, which is yet another advanced program at Camp Olson where the camp aims to teach campers skills that will change their life outside of camp. They teach skills that increase self-esteem and motivation, leadership qualities, communication and personal skills and problem-solving among many other paths. Adkins not only completed the program, but after graduating high school she immediately turned it around and became a counselor and a boat house staff member. In college she joined the sailing team. “It gave me confidence in my leadership abilities,” Adkins said. “I was there a long time
32 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
and did their leadership programs and was going to be good at it. As soon as I came to our team I had decided I was going to be the leader. I stepped up and they told me I should run for captain. I did and was elected almost unanimously. It was awesome.” Between semesters on the U of M sailing team she was the boathouse director. After graduating from the university with a degree in education, including three years as captain of the sailing team, she will return to the camp as the program director. The camp not only equipped her with skills she has used in her life and work, but left a lasting imprint on her. That’s actually the camp’s main mission. “Our mission, in simple terms, is to share the spirit of the north woods,” Link said. “That’s really important to us.” It’s a mission the camp offers to any and all who are interested. The camp is driven by philanthropy, especially donations by alumni, which make the camp accessible to everyone. Link said 30 percent of the camp’s $1.3 million budget comes from philanthropic in-kind donations from those who want to
share the camp. “We are a nonprofit,” Link said. “All of our campers receive, in essence, scholarships since we are philanthropically supported. Last summer alone we provided directly $90,000 of scholarship assistance to 245 children. That’s an important part of our mission. Nobody that applies to camp will be denied admission for financial reasons. We will find a way to help them get to camp. That’s important to us. If a kid loves horseback riding, and there’s no way they can afford horseback riding lessons or afford a horseback riding camp, we will get them to camp. Locally we do a lot of scholarships. We work with family centers in Cass County. We work with county social service agencies to help get kids to camp locally. That’s an important part of what we do.” u Travis Grimler is a reporter for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@ pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Travis.
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
E
LITTLE BOY LAKE
LONGVILLE
Tow n
ship
Little Boy Lake
ux Ca mp Rd
Birch Ln
Sio
Birch Ln
NE
5 10 Little Boy Rd
20 30
NE
40 Sio
County Rd 54 NE
Little Boy Rd NE
Location: Near Longville Area: 1,451.68 acres Deepest Point: 74 feet Shore length: 10.02 miles Overall Condition: The water is suitable for both wading and swimming with good clarity and algae levels throughout the open water season.. Fish: Black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, northern sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, bowfin, greater redhorse, redhorse, shorthead redhorse, white sucker. Special Fishing Regulations: All Northern Pike from 24-36 inches must be immediately released. The possession limit is three with only one over 36 inches. Walleye are also regulated. All Walleye from 18-26 inches must be immediately released with only one over 26 inches allowed in possession. The bag limit is four for walleye. Public Boat Accesses: Southwest shore just off County Road 54. Interesting Fact: Little Boy Lake is connected through the Boy River to many nearby lakes. From this river, those who land in Little Boy Lake can travel To Inguadona, Leech Lake, Woman lake, Wabedo and other popular Leech fishing lakes. Lake
County Rd 54 NE
Wa be
do
VITAL STATISTICS
70
ux C
am
pR
dN
E
50 60
Whit
e Pine
Dr NE
Sioux Camp Rd NE
N Eagle Rd NE
Sioux Camp Rd NE
70 20
40
30
10
30
County Rd
Little Boy Rd NE
60
54 NE
N Eagle Rd NE
50 40
20
Sources: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, minnesotalakes.net and Wikipedia Co
unty
Rd
54
NE
10
NE
371
30
Leech Lake
N Eagle Rd
30
20
10
40 40
Walker
ittle
yD Bo
r. N
E
il N
E
200
Tra
NE
art
Ln Boy
dst
Lazy
Re
County Rd 54 NE
371
S Little Boy
200
50
Lazy Boy Trail NE
34
SL
Norway Ln NE
30
Pin
40
Dr. NE
eS iski n Tr ail N
S Little
NE Boy Dr.
E
30
Longville
Bar
5
gen
7
Ln
10 20
Bargen Ln Mar
y-M
ar Ln S Little Boy
Co un ty Rd NE
10 20
6 Cou
nty
Rd
54
NE
NE
Wa be
Fro n
tag
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Rd NE
do Fro
nty
Wa be
I
E
Pass
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371
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Little Boy
Cou
Rd
Woman Lake S Little
120
84
10 Boy Dr. NE
20
Hackensack
Iguadona Lake
Dr. NE
54
Ten Mile Lake
12
54
8
84
55
Lake Wabedo
2019 LOVE47OF THE LAKES 33 54
L
muskies LEECH LAKE
Submitted photos Department of Natural Resources Fisheries specialists collect eggs from a female muskie at Lake Rebecca. Fish are anesthetized for ease of handling and close attention is paid to prevent contamination of the eggs with water, blood or excrement.
stocked in many Minnesota lakes
Submitted photo Eggs and milt are mixed with a feather to prevent damage during the fertilization process.
w BY TRAVIS GRIMLER
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages approximately 4,285 waters for muskellunge, according to DNR records. It might surprise some to find that lakes managed by stocking are stocked exclusively with Leech Lake strain muskellunge. According to documents provided by Paula Phelps, DNR fish production supervisor, in 2017 and 2018 alone the Minnesota DNR transferred 13,679 pounds of muskellunge (approximately 705,289 fish) in some form or another to 75 bodies of water throughout the state. All of those fish are of a genetic line originating in Leech Lake. There was a time when the DNR stocked muskellunge using a strain from Shoepack
34 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Lake near the state’s northern border, but that fell by the wayside when wildlife officials found the Leech Lake strain to be genetically superior. “Eventually they figured out that even where they were stocking them (the Shoepack Lake strain), that they weren’t really growing large,” said Loren Miller, Minnesota DNR Fisheries research scientist. “They thought it was because they came from a border lake out of Voyageurs (National Park). That was the reason. You get that far north and it gets cold.” The DNR compared Leech Lake fish to fish from other lakes. “They compared them in a study where they stocked Leech Lake, Shoepack and two
Wisconsin streams into a couple Minnesota lakes and then tracked them for seven to nine years,” Miller said. “That study showed the superior growth of the Leech Lake strain, especially relative to Shoepack. Wisconsin’s fell somewhere in between, but Leech Lake was the best growing of all.” In the study, Leech Lake muskies in Grace Lake grew to 40 inches. Shoepack and one of the Wisconsin strains grew to 32 inches. In Waconia, Leech Lake muskies were approximately 40 inches yet again, with Shoepack at 31 inches and one Wisconsin strain just slightly smaller than the Leech Lake strain. This showed a 20-25 percent faster growth among the Leech Lake muskies. A 2014 story in the Minnesota 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
LEECH LAKE (origin) Miller Bay REARING PONDS Tower Bemidji Brainerd Detroit Lakes Hinckley Little Falls New London Park Rapids Waterville
HATCHERIES Park Rapids Saint Paul Waterville
BROOD PONDS
Elk Lake Lake Plantagenet Lake Rebecca Little Wolf Lake
RECREATIONAL FISHERIES Round Lake Lake Alexander St. Croix River Detroit Lake Lake Minnetonka Lake Vermilion French Lake Lobster Lake Island Lake Reservoir Lake Oscar Lake Waconia Lake Miltona Big Lake Pelican Lake Horseshoe Lake Pokegama Lake Cedar Island Lake Rush Lake West Rush Lake Boat Launch Sugar Lake Forest Lake Island Lake Cross Lake White Bear Lake Zumbro Lake Lake Bemidji Mille Lacs Lake West Battle Lake Beers Lake Gull Lake Lake Independence French Lake Eagle Lake Many Point Lake Mantrap Lake Bald Eagle Lake Lake Owasso Bde Maka Ska Lake Harriet Roosevelt Lake Shamineau Lake North Star Lake Spider Lake Blandin Lake Fox Lake George Lake Budd Lake Sisseton Lake Hall Lake Amber Lake
Conservation Volunteer, “The Muskie Source,” by Michael A. Kallok, said the state shifted gears to stock exclusively Leech Lake muskies in the early 1980s. He credits muskie researcher Robert Strand with finding the spawning beds and initiating the process. Today there are still some lakes where characteristics of the Shoepack strain, which Kallok said had been stocked since the 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
1950s, can sometimes be found. But in lakes where stocking continued with Leech Lake muskies, the Shoepack line faded out almost completely. “That Shoepack ancestry faded out in a lot of the lakes where it was stocked,” Miller said. “There were a handful where we found it. By now it had been so many years you could see where they had some descendents with
shoepack ancestry. They tended not to be so large as Leech or other local strain.” The fish started as gametes, or eggs and milt, harvested from Leech Lake in Miller Bay, which is protected from development by a partnership between the DNR and the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation that resulted in the DNR acquiring many hundreds of feet of shoreline in that bay, Kallok wrote. 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 35
Submitted photos Fertilized muskie eggs, on the right, are kept under controlled conditions until they hatch into fry, on the left.
Transplants are harvested from Waterville.
The DNR harvests only the milt and eggs to prevent transmission of aquatic diseases. They harvest them from Leech Lake every four years. The other years, they take the milt and eggs from Elk Lake in Clearwater County, Little Wolf Lake in Cass County (rarely), Lake Plantagenet in Hubbard County or Lake Rebecca in Hennepin County. These lakes are called brood lakes. Early in the DNR’s stocking program these lakes were stocked with Leech Lake muskies that now produce eggs and milt for stocking from the same genetic line. Brood lakes ensure that the DNR can stock muskies every year without overtaxing the spawning beds on Leech Lake. “They set up the whole program based on these brood lakes,” Miller said. “They knew they had a fairly large, robust source population to go back to. By putting them in brood lakes, they have access to more without continually taking away from the Leech Lake population.” From there, the eggs and milt are disinfected and go to hatcheries in Park Rapids, St. Paul and Waterville. These hatcheries hatch the muskie eggs and raise them to fryling size, or approximately 2-3 inches long, before sending them to the next step. From hatcheries they are transported to well regulated, monitored, drainable rearing ponds in Bemidji, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Hinckley, Little Falls, New London, Park Rapids, Tower and Waterville. The populations here are tested for diseases (eggs cannot be tested in this way), and once they pass they can be safely transported to recreational fisheries.
Leech Lake muskies are a long way from home. Those in Amber Lake in Martin County are 282 miles from their origin lake, but in past years muskies have been shipped out of state to waters in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Lake Superior because of their almost legendary status. “Generally it’s to create an angling opportunity, to supplement a naturally reproducing population, to re-establish a population where they previously existed or to boost a population,” Phelps said. Everything must, however, be approved according to a water body’s management plan and permitting by the DNR, which analyzes bodies of water based on their suitability for stocking. “It still needs to be a native species or go through a review panel to make sure it’s appropriate for stocking in the state,” Phelps said. “We aren’t going to introduce non-native species and create a problem like that.” In many lakes, stocking is paid for through the DNR Fisheries budget, paid for with license fees for the most part. Private groups, however, can apply for permits to stock muskies as well. In those cases they can be paid for by various groups, property owners, lake associations and others. The Leech Lake muskie strain is so in demand that without
36 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Submitted photos
many people realizing it, they spread all across the state and beyond. “Leech is our premier natural muskie population in terms of both numbers and size. It’s a popular fishery because of its large size,” Miller said. “It consistently produces trophies. You can get 50-inch fish. In terms of our native populations, it’s one of our largest, consistent muskie populations that produces large fish.” u Travis Grimler is a reporter for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@ pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Travis. Submitted photos Milt is added to a pan of eggs from one female. Milt from several males is combined with the eggs from one female to ensure genetic diversity of the offspring.
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
VITAL STATISTICS
Leech Lake
64
Leech Lake
371 Walker
5 10
200
371
34
200
Laura Lake
Akeley
1015 20
Longville
5
7 54
34
15
20
7
Iguadona Lake
10 5
Ten Mile Lake
6
12
84
Little Boy
Woman Lake
Island Lake
8
FOOT HILLS STATE FOREST
48 Blind
Hattie
371
5
Pistol
Clough
Mitchell
56
Eagle
2
1 1
Clamshell
Bertha
16 Grass
145
Jenkins
39
103
Ossawinnaamakee
10
5
168
Pequot Lakes
5
5
371 East Twin
E.V.
29
Upper Gull
1
15
15
Nisswa
5
Nisswa Roy
15 25
45 65 8595
40 30 40
Markee
77
371
35
Sorenson
119
North Long Lake
25
55 65 75 75 371 75 Baxter 210 150 15 125
Wilson Bay
15
Mud
1
Hardy
10 371
B ul Pa
nE ya un
CROW WING STATE PARK ippi siss Mis
s
Hamlet
35 E.V. 25
133
Wolf
45 45
Nokay
7565
Crooked
5
8
18
Portage Grave
23
144 123
159
Mud Twin Island
Russell
25
75
44
Garrison 144
65 75 85
8
121
169
er Nokasippi Riv
131
2
Sugar Lake
30
Mille Lacs Lake
15
10
21
White Fish
35
5
ro
ok
139
27 8
Isle
E.V.
5
10 15 15
47
169 25
10
30
30
15 20
Dag ett B
5
5
20 20
30
18
5
E.V.
2
20
38
g
Sebre
20 25
25 15
5
5
15
35 25
10
10
Bear Island
65
20
35
10
10
47
Mille Lacs Lake
30
15
27
Twenty Lake
18
20
5
27
10
Swamp Lake
10 Pelican Island 5
2
Round
20
Clear Lake
12
20
23
2
47
5
Rice Lake
4
2
10
20
26
22
22
16
10
5 10
10
10
25
20
Long Lake
Rabbit Lake
10 15
15
18
South Long Lake
25
21
4
Section Twelve Lake
169
30 35
10
Borden
8
20
Turtle Round
18 Scott
5
Birch
10 Partridge
20
11
Tame Fish
Rice
24
28
Farm Island Lake
14
Bay Lake
Clearwater 124
25
Elm Island Lake
Lone Lake
35 25 15 20
6
159
40
Portage
8
169
25
Dam Lake
Sissabagamah Lake
20
Nord Lake
Hanging Kettle Lake Ripple Lake 12
28
al ls
Randall
kas No
le F To Litt
Cushing
Ri
ver
2
Fort Ripley
142
5 10
121 131
Mud Lake Alexander
res xp
y wa
Deerwood
5
Lookout
v
er Riv
Crow Wing
Fish Trap Lake
Rice
48
85
102
10 65
10
13
40
Cedar Lake
12
102
Brainerd
lR
48
Pillager
Shamineau Lake
20
White Sand
36
CAMP RIPLEY NATIONAL GUARD RESER VATION
Gilbert
Whipple
Gul
Motley
210
12
Portage Lake
20
pi
Staples
28
McGregor
Aitkin
111
210
Eagle
Red Sand
18
Agate
Serpent Lake
Ironton
210
49
77
77
Sylvan
iver
PILLSBU RY STATE FOREST Pillager
Horseshoe
Wise
146
10
30
Carlson
31
Black Hoof
15 210 10 5
Hartley
77
25
Crosby
Riverton
Campbell
Merrifield
er
5
15
210
25 30 35 40
i Riv
ssipp
East Rabbit
West Rabbit
128
Crystal
126
64
20 30
E.V.
Rock Lake Fleming Lake
105
11
Menomin
31
Wilkins Lake
141
Fawn
3 127
127
115
Rock
Bass
3
4
Gladstone Little Hubert
6 Round Lake
Gun Lake
32
Miller
Hubert
115 Round Lake
Nelson
Lower Dean
Missi
Black Bear
19
Minnewawa Lake
Flowage Lake
5
French Lake
11
Lake Edward
13
Island Lake Horseshoe Lake
Blind Lake
Stark
6
Mollie
137
Gull Lake
77
116
Garden
Clark
13
3
20 15 10
105
15
Fool
5
Lower Mission
Perch
118
Margaret
5
Upper Mission
19
Rat Lake
35
3
Perry
CROW WING STATE FOREST
Lougee
Lower
Sandy River Lake
Palisade
1
Ross
Upper Dean
r ive
eR Pin
109 Bass
109
36
Adney
Goggle
E.V.
4 Little Pelican
107
107
Lake Shore
Greer
Horseshoe
Pelican Lake
Upper
llen CuMiddle
West Twin Edna
5
Breezy Point
Goose Island E.V.
Rogers
114
ne Ri ver
20 25 30
Big Sandy Lake
36
36
11
Mayo
E.V.
Pi
Lizard
25 10
Round Lake
29
3
14
Glacier Lake
5
Mud
Dolney
E.V.
3
Bass
106 Island
11
Sibley Loon
Pine
Fawn
112 17 11
1
Pickeral
36
103
Birchdale
Snodgrass
O'Brien
Crosslake
Duck
Emily
Aitkin Lake
169
Waukenabo Lake
Mary
Goodrich
3
Star
Kimball
Clear Lake
Upper Hay 16
112
66
Cross Lake
15
Sand
gett Dag
Rush
16
Ideal Corners
Esquagamah Lake
Lows
10
Little Pine Lower Whitefish
Lower Hay
15
Upper Loon
5
Mud Lake
15
5 10 15
Duck
1
Ruth
Emily
1
Ox
Upper Whitefish
17
6 Butterfield
Manhattan Beach
Big Trout
371 Minnesota Island
5
134
Arrowhead
10
Pine River 1
64
Anna
West Fox
Fifty Lakes
Swanburg
84
371
10
Little Pine
Blue Eagle
Norway
15
Squaw
Kego
54
Mildred
30
18
25
Papoose
Horseshoe
43
29
Morrison
Lawrence
Roosevelt
136
Jail Lake 56
Lizzie
15 10 5
20 25
Outing
48
E.V.
84
58
Lake Leavitt
E.V. 20 65
160
Lake Ada
Lind Lake
Backus
15
Washburn Lake
49
87
Pine Mountain
15
54
84
64
5 10 15
Lake George
47
87
20
55
Lake Wabedo
371
87
15
Thunder Lake
Hackensack
ip
s
LEECH LAKE
WALKER
10 25
27
Wahkon
27
47
169 27 47 8
65
Onamia
27 3
Pomroy Lake
3
LOCATION: Walker, Cass County AREA: 110,311 acres DEEPEST POINT: 150 feet, located in Walker Bay DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS: The lake is the third largest lake entirely within Minnesota’s boundaries and covers approximately 112,000 surface acres, nearly 80 percent of the lake is less than 35 feet deep. It is geographically located in three glacial zones and has an irregular shape with many large and small bays. NUMBER OF AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES: 49 FISH: Crappie, sunfish, bowfin, bullhead, catfish eelpout, large/small/rock bass, muskellunge, northern
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
pike, tullibee, walleye, white sucker, perch. Special 169 Fishing Regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence.Walleye: All from 20-26" must be immediately released. One over 26" allowed 169 in possession. Possession limit four. INVASIVE SPECIES: Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels PUBLIC WATER ACCESSES: Many located around lake including on northwest shore at Squaw Point off State Highway 371 and Oak Point Road; on northeast side at Battle Point off County Road 136; on southwest side at Stony Point off County Road 39
Knife Lake
21
5
33
20
34
37
32
16
24
Ogilvie
11
22
11
6
18
12
13; on Leech Lake River off Highway 8; on southeast corner off County Road 39; south end off State Highway 200. HISTORIC FACT: According to “Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance,” the name “Leech Lake” is historical, if not particularly glamorous. The French called it “lac Sangsue,” literally “Bloodsucker Lake.” The French adopted an earlier name, as Lac Sangsue is the French translation of the Ojibwe “Ozagaskwaajimekaag-zaaga'igan,” which translates to “Lake abundant with bloodsuckers.” 19
8
Ann Lake
47
65
6
1
5
23
70
65
Sources: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, minnesotalakes.net leech-lake.com and Wikipedia
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 37
Submitted photos Clockwise from top: Max Nelson, of Crosslake, sets up behind the boat for a wakesurfing session. Kameron Lee shows intense concentration while surfing on Gull Lake. Whitefish local Kaylie Pikus poses for the camera while riding a wake on the Whitefish Chain. Karter Lee gives two thumbs up while surfing on the Whitefish Chain.
Making waves: Wakesurfing dominates other watersports in the lakes area BY DAN DETERMAN
Nelson said one of the reasons for the sport’s It should come as no surprise that people will don’t see anybody water skiing anymore, except come from throughout the state, and the nation, to for some of the old-timers … If it weren’t for surf overwhelming popularity is simple: It is safer than enjoy the recreational activities available on the boats, we wouldn’t have to sell inboard boats. water skiing or wakeboarding. In fact, many There just wouldn’t be enough demand from the former water skiers who may have aged out of waters of the Brainerd lakes area. that sport have taken to wakesurfing. In this decade, however, more and more occasional water skier or wakeboarder.” C&C Boat Works employee and avid Though Nelson said it is still possible to people have been taking part in a newer activity: buy boats tailored for skiing, wakesurfing has wakesurfer Tyler Obele echoed that statement. As wakesurfing. someone who has participated Wakesurfing, like in all three water sports, wakeboarding, sees an his reason for gravitating individual riding a board “(Wakesurfing) is just a lot easier on the body. toward wakesurfing is that behind a boat. Unlike Everyone can get out and do it, from kids who are 5 “wakeboarding hurts.” wakeboarding, wakesurfers “(Wakesurfing) is just a lot use a standard surfboard and years old to grandparents who are 75 years old … You easier on the body,” Obele are not pulled by the boat. can get just one surfboard and everyone can use it.” said. “Everyone can get out Instead, they use a rope to get and do it, from kids who are going before dropping it and Tyler Obele, avid wakesurfer 5 years old to grandparents simply riding the waves of the who are 75 years old … You boat’s wake. can get just one surfboard and The sport has become so popular, in fact, that it has altered the practices overtaken it in such a way that he might sell one everyone can use it.” “You are going 11 mph on a big old surfboard,” of many of the industries centered around lake ski boat every three years. Though the sport of wakesurfing has been around at least since the Nelson said. “If you fall, you don’t have bindings recreation. “It is basically driving the speedboat market,” 1960s, Nelson said it really gained traction in on your feet so you can’t break your ankle or tear said Brad Nelson, owner of C&C Boat Works the area in the past 10 years - beginning around your ACL. You are just going to fall into a pile of in Crosslake. “The days of the tournament water the time of the Great Recession. Since then, it has burbling water, laugh and giggle, get back up and do it again.” skiers - the true water skiers - are over. You just almost completely taken over.
38 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
“We can take 10- to 15-year-old wake Obele, who has been surfing for roughly five years, cited the sport’s social aspect as a reason boats and turn them into darn good surfing for its sharp increase in popularity over the past boats,” Nelson said. “They just don’t have all the automatic stuff and technology of the new boats.” few years. “You can connect with everyone while you With the larger wakes comes some complaints are still riding,” he said. “You can talk to your from property owners though, as the waves buddies in the boat while you are riding and it is created by these boats have a tendency to very easy to learn from them because you are in erode shorelines. close quarters.” “The big push right now is to educate the people While the sport is “If you fall, you don’t have who own these boats to seemingly simpler than those that came before bindings on your feet so stay more than 100 yards it, the cost to begin can you can’t break your ankle from shore,” Nelson said. “A wake dissipates 80 be high. Though a simple or tear your ACL. You are percent in 100 yards.” surfboard is used, the Both Nelson and Obele specifications required of just going to fall into a pile the boat are noteworthy, of burbling water, laugh expect another productive season in and purchasing a surf and giggle, get back up wakesurfing 2019, and Obele does boat can be incredibly and do it again.” not expect the sport’s pricey. However, popularity to slow any inboards originally Brad Nelson, owner of C&C Boat time soon. designed for water skiing Works in Crosslake or wakeboarding can be “I think it will just keep modified to accommodate growing,” Obele said. “It surfers with ballasts - also known as “fat sacks” seems to be a wakesurfing and pontooning world - placed in the back to weigh it down and a now. As long as there are kids itching to get in the wake-shaping device to create a larger, more water, I think wakesurfing will stick around.” u precise wake. Dan Determan is a reporter for the Pineandlakes Echo If a potential surfer has an inboard, Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He be reached at 218-855-5879 or dan.determan@ performance-focused boat, it can likely be may pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at tailored to fit a wakesurfer’s needs. www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Dan.
Submitted photo Ellie Johnson, 14, has been an avid surfer for several years.
h e t r e h e W o G s l a c o L Now serving the Walker area lakes
ENJOY OUR OUTDOOR PATIO DINING
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-1pm - Closed Sun.
TROPHY • KARAVAN • FLOE
218-587-2564 | www.BitesGrill.com
On the Paul Bunyan Trail a mile south of the light in Pine River
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
8322 St Hwy 371 1-1/2 miles north of Walker MN on Hwy 371
218-547-1558 | www.lakesareapowersports.com Check us out on Facebook at Lakes Area Powersports and on Instagram @lakes_area_powersports
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 39
Photo by Nancy Vogt Spider Lake is located in the Spider Lake recreation area in the Foot Hills State Forest.
F E AT U R E
Submitted photos Left: Ron Engblom skis on Lake Ossawinnamakee. Right: Ron Engblom is shown with his dog, Winston, who loves to go in the boat when Engblom skis and his wife, Lisa, drives the boat nearly every night just before dark.
Lake Ossie: Banana Ron loves his million dollar water ski mornings BY NANCY VOGT
If you live on Lake Ossawinnamakee near Breezy Point, chances are you’ve seen Banana Ron. That’d be Ron Engblom, a 71-year-old water ski enthusiast who loves nothing more than taking a spin around the lake behind his Mastercraft Prostar boat every summer morning, afternoon and evening. “I ski every day unless it’s rainy or windy. If I can get in three runs, I’m pretty happy,” Engblom said of his summertime passion while sipping coffee from a cup brandishing a picture of himself barefoot skiing. The Engblom home decor includes a chair made from water skis, pillows sporting pictures of friends and family water skiing, and even a lampshade with family water skiing photos. A water ski run only lasts several minutes, so for Engblom, it’s the experience as a whole that means so much. Friendship and camaraderie play as much a part in his self-proclaimed “million dollar mornings” as the act of water skiing itself. His “Ossie ski team” includes his neighbors - Tony Sandeen and his children, Thad, 13, and Audrey, 11. Tony and Hillary Sandeen and their children
40 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
live in Hong Kong, but the family returns to Lake Ossie every summer. Engblom taught Thad and Audrey to water ski, and during the summer the group meets up around 7 a.m. every day for water ski runs around part of the lake. “I cannot tell you what a joy our friendship with Ron is and what our million dollar mornings mean to us all,” Tony Sandeen said in an email. “Our million dollar mornings with Ron start at 7, one of us picking the other up dockside, where we slow motor (to minimize wake) our way to the south end of the north arm. Most days, the water surface is glass and the chilly air makes the water seem all the warmer. We take turns with our sets, Ron usually first, followed by my kids, Thad and Audrey, with me going last. For good measure, the kids each get a second set in before we are finished for the morning.” Sandeen agrees it’s the overall experience that counts. “While the skiing is great, the best part happens after as we’ve finished, floating in a quiet bay, the sun warming us up, talking, laughing and realizing how good we have it,” Sandeen wrote. Audrey Sandeen called the million dollar
mornings one of a kind: “Million dollar mornings mean a lot to me because I love to spend time with Mr. Ron and be with him to do what we all love,” she said in an email. Thad Sandeen called their million dollar mornings a special feeling that can be found nowhere else. Engblom’s evening run includes wife Lisa as boat captain and their dog, Winston, who loves to ride shotgun. Again, it’s the entire experience that is so special as the couple takes time together after Engblom skis to turn on music, have dinner, talk about their day and soak in what Mother Nature offers. “There’s nothing I’d rather do,” Engblom said. “I always enjoyed the lake. It’s a real workout to shortline water ski and barefoot (ski). God has blessed us with an opportunity to be in an area that’s perfect.” He has other skiing companions on the lake, including good friend Joe Eberhardt, whom Engblom motivated to start water skiing again. For those wondering where he got his name “Banana Ron,” Engblom shares the story. Lake Ossie continued on page 42
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Sh
Lake Trail
Norway
Cross Ave
W
Lake St
371
r
West Fox
Swanburg
84
Mezzenga Ln
D ay
11
ke Fawn La
ore
Dr
Mildred
Rd
ar Stew
Fifty Lakes
Pub Landing Rd
OSSAWINNAMAKEE r
Pine River
134
1
Big Trout Bayshore Dr
Fawn Lake Rd
103
IDEAL TOWNSHIP
1
Arrowhead
W Shore Dr
39
1
Mud Lake
Upper Whitefish
VITAL STATISTICS Lower Whitefish Cir
39
39 Bingham Dr
103
3
Pi
tC
ir
Maya Cir
ne Ri ver
11
39
11
Hillto
10
Ln Peo ny
30
30
30
Point rlane
11
20
Timbe
iare
lla
Dr
Poin Timberlane
Ch
Oak Grove Dr ke e
Ct Ke nt
Merrifield
Hartley
ll Dr
Fore
st K
nolls
Rd
Rd
ek
nolls
Cre
st K
den
1st Ave
2nd Ave
3rd Ave
4th Ave
11
Hickory Way
rnu
t Ln utte lde
Pine Cir
20
Rd
Ct
Knolls
Fore
Hid
10 r ve Ri pi p i ss ssi Mi
23
nB
Ln
Forest
RESER VATION
CROW WING STATE PARK
ul Pa
15
an ny Bu
ss pre x E
y wa
123
144
Northwoods Ln
5 Wartman Rd
Russell
25 21 44
144
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 41
v
121
South Long Lak
Buschmann Rd
e
CAMP RIPLEY
5th Ave
Liza De
Dellwoo
48
ods
Hardy
371
Mud
Brainerd
30
30
hwo
Timber Ridg
Tim Rid ber ge
St
Northwoods Ln
0
25
142
Go
ove st C
20
r
Ln
st We
Rice
West St
Baxter
10
30
ke D
Fore
Nort
NATIONAL GUARD 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
20
Verna Dell Pl
Butternut Cir
48
36
210
Gilbert
371
d Dr
40 30
ll R
d sR ore Sh ee ak am n Win
ine
30
20
20
10
210
Graf Rd
st Cov e
ite P
La
Tamarack Heights Fore
White Sand
Wh
We ave r
40 50
t St
t St Eas
r ive
nam
30 20 10
Whipple
Gu
d
10 20 30 40 50 60
e
50
ake
sR
Pillager
Mud
Rene Adell Pl
Red Sand
Sylvan
18
1
East St
49
77
77
Horseshoe
East St
Jacobson Dr
Win
Sh ore
Ct
10 20 30 40
146
Eas
Kimble Bluffs Os sie
Wilson Bay
Beverly Dr
Wise
Rolling Oaks
125
Clear Blue Ave
PILLSBU RY STATE FOREST
25
10
20
126
Ossawinnamakee Rd
Rd ake yL err aw b Str
30
Kimble Lake Access
77
Pillager
119
North Long Lake
Liza Dell Dr
Rd SK
im
ble
15
t
Sorenson
115 Rock
R
cons Way
Dea Campbell
Buschmann Rd
10
Trail wa Otta
p
40
Drive
20
Ossawinnamakee Rd
ma na
Os
Crystal
d Ct
Strawberry Lake Rd
Rd
127
Fawn
3 127
Little Hubert
Round Lake
Bass
3
4
Gladstone
115
Black B
19
Castle woo
39
20
Southba y Ln
sa win
ell Dr
Strawberry Lake Rd
O’Donn
S Kim
ll Dr
13 Mollie
137
M
Lake Edward
Hubert
Gull Lake
O’Donne
371
116 g Dr
13
Violet Ln
Garden
Clark
Lower Mission
Perch ay
77
19
Markee
118
Nisswa
Upper Missio
Lougee eB
Lower
Bass
109
Cre
ble Rd
Channel Rd
Little Pelican
107
Nisswa Roy
Horseshoe
Orchid Ln
Lake Shore
Lizard
4
Channel Rd
West Twin Edna
1
20
G
11
Pelican Lake
Upper
llen CuMiddle
Upper Gull
77
Balsam
Fawn
Cir
371 East Twin
Mayo
107 29
Breezy Point
Cir
168
Margaret
Weaver Lake Dr
Pine
Dog Le
Pequot Lakes
Sibley Loon
Source: Lake-Link; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder
lls Rd
36
103
tS
39
103
Star Lake Camp Dr
Duck
Ash Ave
Choctaw
Upper Loon
1
Wild Berry Ln
Shamineau Lake
39
Cedar St
Old Co Rd 39
11
Public Boat Access: 4 miles North and East of Breezy Point on Co. Rd. #11, then 1 mile North on Co. Rd. #39. FACILITIES: 1 concrete ramp, 10 vehicle/trailer parking spaces, 1 dock, 1 toilet.
Forest Kno
O
Crosslake
Cedar St
17
Gasink Rd
Motley
Kimball
Ossawinnaamakee
112
17
Fish to catch: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, bowfin (dogfish), golden redhorse, greater redhorse, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, white sucker. 39
Old Co Rd
Duck Lake Trail
Water Quality: Suitable for swimming and wading, with good clarity and low algae levels throughout the open water season.
16
3
Star
Clear Lake
Upper Hay 16
112
Grass
66
1s
20 10
Jenkins
Shore Length: 31.31 miles.
Clamshell
Bertha
145
Cross Lake
Ideal Corners
Lower Hay
15
Deepest Point: 63 feet.
Little Pin
tt gge Da
Rush
16
Star Lake Camp Dr
Area: 711.33 acres.
Ox
15
371
Location: Ideal Township & Breezy Point, Crow Wing County
Manhattan Beach
Lindove Ln
39
D ay
2
Hamilton Cir
oB
ton
Ech
mil
oB
Ha
Ech
22
Lake Ossie continued from page 40
Water skier George Alfred Blair was a well-known ambassador for barefoot water skiing who became known as “Banana George” because of the yellow wetsuit he wore. He lived to age 98, and more spectacularly, he was still barefoot skiing at age 93. “My goal is to beat Banana George,” Engblom said without hesitation, noting neighbors started calling him Banana Ron. He and his daughter, Brittney, ran Banana Ron’s Water Ski School for a couple of summers in the early 2000s, teaching people to water ski. Over the past 55 years he’s shared his passion with hundreds of friends and relatives by teaching them to ski as well. Engblom’s father got his son hooked on water skiing as a boy. Engblom grew up in Robbinsdale. His father worked hard and was able to buy a family cabin on Cedar Lake in the Maple Lake/Annandale area where the family spent their summers. They got a boat, and Engblom learned to water ski at age 10. He started barefoot skiing around age 15. “I can tell you the kind of boat and motor I learned behind,” he said. After working for 35 years in Robbinsdale, first as a park and recreation director and then for 22 years as a city police detective, Engblom retired at age 53 and his family
42 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Submitted photo The Lake Ossie ski team on a million dollar morning – Audrey, Tony and Thad Sundeen, and Ron Engblom.
moved to their home on Lake Ossie that they had bought in 1998. “I grew up on a lake in the summertime. I wanted to buy a lake place,” Engblom said. “I knew it was a fantastic ski lake,” he said of Lake Ossawinnamakee. “This is heaven for
me because my passion was skiing.” Engblom realizes his sport of choice is being taken over by wakeboarding and wakesurfing. “I can name the people on this lake who are water skiers. It’s totally changed. It’s dying,
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
ITE FAMILY
A
This Place is a MUST stop for the Families – it’s so much more than what you see from the Highway!
Submitted photo This is the sign on Ron Engblom’s boathouse on Lake Ossie.
in a way,” he said, noting the majority of boats on Lake Ossie now cater to wakeboards and surf boards. His advice? “Give it (water skiing) a try. I’ll gladly pull people, introduce them to the sport,” he said. Engblom said he told Thad and Audrey Sandeen they have to carry on million dollar mornings tradition. “So it keeps going,” he said. That’s Engblom’s plan - to keep water skiing and barefoot skiing. “My passion started as a young kid and I’ll never give it up as long as I can get down to the boathouse and I can ski,” he said. He even published a video on YouTube in August 2018 titled “OLD MAN [70 1/2}
TION
BRAI NERD
R AC
’S
VO R
TT
FA
Dino-Dig Petting Zoo • Parakeet Landing • Camel Rides
•
Submitted photo Ron Engblom skis barefoot on Lake Ossie, which he has done for more than 55 years.
BAREFOOTING ON LAKE OSSIE BREEZY POINT.” Check it out. u
•
•
• Giraffe Feeding
•
Snack Shack Picnic Area Kids Play Area
•
Nancy Vogt is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. Reach her at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 43
BLANDING’S TURTLE
► Appearance: Shell resembles an army helmet, tall and domed. Long neck with bright yellow chin. ► Habitat: Widely distributed throughout Great Lakes region. Open wetlands, shrub swamp and lakes. Can move through grasses and forest when traveling between habitats. ► Lifespan: Up to 80 years. ► Diet: Insect larvae, freshwater snails, small crustaceans, frogs/tadpoles and scavenged dead animals. ► Clutch: Roughly 20 eggs. Oblong, about 1 ½ inches long. ► Fun fact: Blanding’s turtles dig their nests at night, and it takes several hours.
We should shell-ebrate our lakes area turtles BY ERIN BORMETT
The Brainerd lakes area is home to four species of turtles - painted turtles, snapping turtles, spiny softshell turtles and Blanding’s turtles. Many people don’t think twice about these reptilian inhabitants, but paying a little more attention could help keep them surviving and thriving much longer. “These are important parts of our natural heritage,” said Carol Hall, herpetologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Hall said the DNR, along with other state and national organizations, has spent decades researching local turtle populations. They already have been doing work to reduce the amount of commercial turtle harvesting done statewide, and now are learning how to support the remaining populations. “If you look at wanting to maintain populations, you need to know where they live, when and how they move, if there is mortality issues,” she said. Using telemetry, or satellite data collection from turtles outfitted with trackers, researchers have not only learned the habits of various turtle species, but they can also discover how human activity may impact their routine. For example, when the state had plans to change the route of State Highway 371 in the 1990s, the DNR conducted a study on the impact the new highway would have on Blanding’s turtles, a threatened species that lives in lakes, streams and wetlands around Minnesota. These turtles travel a lot when they switch between habitats, said Hall, moving up to a mile to reach their nesting sites. It was important to consider those nesting locations and travel paths to ensure a new highway wouldn’t prevent them from safely accessing their home.
44 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Left: A Blanding’s turtle.
SNAPPING TURTLE
► Appearance: Tough, ridged shell with rough skin. Long claws and strong jaws. ► Habitat: Lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams. Do not mind flowing water. ► Lifespan: Up to 50 years. ► Diet: fish, frogs/tadpoles, small invertebrates, scavenged dead animals. ► Clutch: 25-50 eggs. Look like small ping pong balls. ► Fun fact: Snapping turtles used to be a species of special concern, but were delisted with changes to harvesting regulations. Photo courtesy of Jeff LeClare, DNR Left: A snapping turtle.
“A major (problem) is road mortality,” said Hall. “We need to address it.” Other species of turtles may encounter dangers by attempting to cross roads, but more often than not, Blanding’s turtles are the victims of fast-moving cars. “And road signs don’t necessarily work well,” said Hall. “They only work for a short time before people become oblivious to them.” Hall said Blanding’s turtles can produce offspring throughout their entire lifespan, which has helped them sustain their population count
“Turtles are a fascinating part of our natural world, and we want them around. During nesting, be aware of turtles and be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads. They will be helping future generations of turtles." Carol Hall, Department of Natural Resources herpetologist
in the past. However, as the world around them changed and the adult mortality rate shot up, there are no longer many adults that live long enough to hatch enough eggs to make up for the decline in population. “Populations no longer have that viability,” Hall said. “Since they are a bit unique, their species are threatened by the loss of each adult turtle.” Habitat loss is another contributing factor to changes in turtle populations, both due to natural effects and human activity. Climate change has caused more droughts than before, Hall said, and that dries up the wetlands that creatures like painted turtles like to inhabit. Painted turtles usually do not travel very far, but when food and adequate living conditions become scarce, they have to find their way to a new place that could be very far away. Humans can create trouble for turtles’ habitats too. With more land being developed and built on, turtles often find themselves getting confused when they try to make their way home. “Turtles in general have a home range they become familiar with,” said Hall. Painted turtles have a lifespan of roughly 25-30 years. Spiny softshells and snappers 218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
PAINTED TURTLE
can live up to 50 years, while Blanding’s turtles have an impressive 80-year lifespan. These turtles have seen decades of change and expansion, and it can be hard for them to keep up with the curve. Spiny softshell turtles are fairly skittish, most likely due to the fact that they do not have a hard shell to protect them as other turtle species do. They prefer to lay their eggs very close to water, so sandy beaches are ideal. However, people living on the lakeshore can make it difficult for spiny softshells because they will not feel safe to lay their eggs. “They’re not going to risk waiting to see if you’re going to bother them,” said Hall. As a rule, she said, if you stumble across a turtle or a clutch of eggs, it’s best to leave it alone. “Some people do catch them on a fishing line,” she said, referring to spiny softshells and snapping turtles. “They can have bad tempers. The best thing to do is just cut the line. It’s not worth risking trying to pull a hook out.” Hall said it’s great to be interested in local turtle species and learn about them, but it’s important not to disturb them and let them live life as they see fit. “They are one of the few critters that can be observed up-close, for example along
a roadside, in a yard, or basking along a lakeshore or wetland,” she said. Hall said turtles are important to the state for many reasons. They play a valuable role in the food web as scavengers by consuming dead animals that they find within foraging areas. They also provide a food source for many other animals, though predation has also contributed to the decline in turtle populations. Also, Hall said, when turtles lay a clutch of eggs, they move nutrients from wetland or river habitats to upland habitats and help scatter seeds in the soil. “Turtles are a fascinating part of our natural world, and we want them around,” she said. “During nesting, be aware of turtles and be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads. They will be helping future generations of turtles.” Because Blanding’s turtles are a threatened species, they are hard to find. To help the DNR with their work to preserve and support
2019 MODELS ON DISPLAY!!
SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE
► Appearance: Flat, leathery, sandpaper-like back with small spines outlining the soft shell. Pointed nose. ► Habitat: Backwaters of large rivers, small streams, quiet lakes. ► Lifespan: Up to 50 years. ► Diet: Fish, crayfish, dragonfly larvae, small invertebrates. ► Clutch: 20-30 eggs, ► Fun fact: Female spiny softshells can grow to over a foot long while males remain at a maximum of 7-8 inches.
► Appearance: Dark, smooth shell, relatively flat, with orange and yellow markings. ► Habitat: Lakes and wetlands. Prefers slow-moving water and lots of vegetation. ► Lifespan: 25-30 years. ► Diet: Fish, frogs/tadpoles, dragonfly and beetle larvae, small invertebrates, some vegetation. ► Clutch: 6-10 eggs. Oblong, about an inch long. ► Fun fact: Painted turtle hatchlings can withstand freezing temperatures, so some choose to stay in the nest over winter and make their first trek to the water come spring. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Left: Painted turtles.
Minnesota turtles, Hall asked anyone who finds a Blanding’s turtle to report the sighting (but not to bother the turtle). Reports should include who the observer was, where the turtle was observed, either an address or nearby intersection, the date of the observation and preferably a photo of the turtle to provide documentation. Send reports to mbs. report@state.mn.us. u
Erin Bormett is a former reporter for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River.
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Photo courtesy of Jeff LeClare, DNR Above: A spiny softshell turtle.
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 45
Echo Journal file photo Boats prepare to take off from Moonlite Bay on Cross Lake at the start of a high school fishing tournament in summer 2018.
Echo Journal file photo Pine River-Backus Tigers fishing team members Logan Wipper (left) and Konnor King haul their bass catch up the hill at Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant in Crosslake to be weighed at a 2018 tournament on the Whitefish Chain.
Tournament angling catches on with students BY DAN DETERMAN
Submitted photo In its five years of existence, the Brainerd Warrior fishing team has grown to more than 120 anglers, with plenty of fish caught along the way.
“I just love the passion of the young anglers,” A decade ago, high school fishing was kids,” he said. “We had our first meetings at virtually nonexistent in Minnesota. The sport Forestview (Middle School) and at the high Bahr said. “So many kids never really had the has been prominent in southern states - where school, and we ended up with 80 kids. We opportunity to fish much. Maybe Mom and Dad don’t fish, maybe they didn’t have the open-water fishing is possible longer - for were a little surprised by that.” several years, but it had not gained much The following year, the Warriors had 120 boat or the equipment. We help those families traction locally. anglers, and they have remained around - and out and we teach them how to fish. We have seen families who didn’t fish who are now at That changed around 2014 in a big way, sometimes above - that number ever since. the access almost every and a few area teams weekend. were at the forefront of that “I just love the passion of the young anglers. So many kids The sports meteoric rise change. The Pequot Lakes team got never really had the opportunity to fish much. Maybe Mom in popularity, according to coaches, is primarily its start when coach Tim Bray’s and Dad don’t fish, maybe they didn’t have the boat or the area due to the fact that fishing is son qualified to take part in a equipment. We help those families out and we teach them simply an enjoyable hobby, junior fishing competition, but had to be a member of a club how to fish. We have seen families who didn’t fish who are and the sport gives young, aspiring anglers a chance to take part. now at the access almost every weekend." to get out of the house “There were none up during the summer months here, so we had to join a Jason Bahr, Brainerd High School fishing team coach when school is out. club in the Twin Cities,” Bray said. “It was on paper, “We are in Minnesota, pretty much, but we decided to travel down A few years after that, other teams started and Minnesota likes to fish,” Alfords said. there some and I would drag my boat down locally, including in Pine River-Backus and “Fishing is pretty common ... It is another to some of those lakes so he could fish with Crosby-Ironton. activity kids can do in the summer when there other young kids. He ended up loving it and I “I heard Brainerd had a team and I thought, are really no other sports going on. It gives thought, ‘Why can’t we do this?’ I can do it.” ‘Why can’t we?’” Crosby-Ironton coach Perry them something to do other than stay at home.” In the Patriots’ first year, 12 student-athletes Alfords said. “We’re just right down the road, Though the teams are allowed to use logos took part. In 2018, the team had 55 anglers. and I know there are kids there that like to fish. I and facilities of their respective schools, fishing Around the same time, Jason Bahr met with threw it out there to the school and they absolutely is not an official school-affiliated activity. Therefore, the teams receive no school funding. the Brainerd High School administration about thought we should try it and see what happens.” starting up a Warriors fishing team, expecting When the Brainerd and Pequot Lakes teams To cover costs, the teams conduct fundraisers a handful of interested students to take part. began, there were maybe five other teams in and accept donations, but also take advantage of corporate sponsorships many fishing-centric “I thought we would have about 20 the state. Now that number is well over 100.
46 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
companies are happy to provide in an effort to see the sport regain some of its popularity. “Lund and Rapala are trying to capture this wave of young anglers,” Bray said. “Not only are the young kids getting into it, but it is also bringing a resurgence of an older generation that may have hung up their rods for one reason or another.” “License sales have been declining for a • KAYAKS, SUPPLIES AND GEAR for sale & rent (including sails) long time,” Bahr said. “(Fishing companies) • Stand-up PADDLE BOARDS for sale & rent see an opportunity to grow the sport again. • BIKES for everyone in the family for rent. They are willing to invest in the youth, and I think that has really helped this take off.” • NEW: Guided Tours of Pine River One challenge these teams face is their • SHUTTLE SERVICE to Pine River, Whitefish Chain and area waterways schedules. With the season taking place • FLOATING FOAM PARTY PADS for sale & rent primarily over the summer - which Bray • Locally made BEACH RACKS to store kayaks and stand up paddle boards. described as “short and precious” to area families - it can be difficult for the athletes TRY BEFORE YOU BUY WITH OUR to attend meets on a regular basis. Younger ACCESS ON THE WHITEFISH CHAIN athletes without driver’s licenses may find transportation to be a challenge for some E HOM OF CALL events. However, that does not have to mean the athletes will not get anything out of being 218-692-1200 a part of the team. to plan your paddle/pedal this year “Of our team, probably 35 percent are tournament anglers,” Bahr said. “The rest are Our amazing kayaks there to learn how to tie knots and use a big are durable, stable, casting rod and the simple techniques of fishing.” portable and affordable. “Competitive bass fishing isn’t for everyone, We make them on site! but we have kids who want to be a part of the Group Rates Available Located 1 mile North of DQ team,” Bray said. “We try to do extra things around here so those kids don’t have to travel all over.” Much like trap shooting, Bray, Bahr and Alfords said their sport appeals to a wide variety of students, but noticeably to the “non-traditional” athletes - those that do not or cannot play other sports - giving them a chance to be a part of a team and represent the Warriors, Patriots or Rangers. “Not everybody is an athlete,” Bahr said. “Not everybody wants to play chess or be in drama. We are taking those kids and giving them an opportunity. We are giving them a jersey and a team and getting them into the yearbook. They are passionate about fishing and they get to compete against kids their Your Trusted Bank Since 1902 own age.” The sport has seen a meteoric rise in the state over the past five years, and area coaches doWE FINANCE IT ALL not see that slowing down in the near future. Purchases - Construction - Remodel Loans Bahr expects continued growth,-including at the - Home Equity Loans - Land/Acreage - Refinance collegiate level, and Bray believes a greater Loans - Lake Lots - VA Loans amount of school involvement is- Commercial coming. Purchases Construction - Remodel Loans “I think it- will be on the same trajectory- as Local Team - Fast Approval -Process - Remodel Loans -Purchases trap shooting, and become more alignedLending with - Home Equity Loans - Land/Acreage - Refinance Construction schools,” Bray said. “That is coming, but I don’t -Home Equity-Loans - Refinance - Commercial Loans - Lake Lots Loans - Land Acreage Purchases - Remodel VA Loans know at what speed … I think- itConstruction will continue to -Commercial Loans - Lake Lots - VA Loans gain traction and we will continue to provide Home EquityLocal Loans - Land/Acreage - Refinance Lending Team Fast Approval Process u quality opportunities for the kids here.”
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 47
F E AT U R E
Keith and Pam Rice carry on a family tradition by owning and operating Sandy Beach Resort on Gull Lake. The resort dates to the early 1900s.
Submitted photos
Gull Lake: Five generations work hard to keep resort successful BY PETE MOHS
Many things change, but some remain the same - like the amount of work that goes into managing a lake resort. “It’s a lot of work, and I grew up on a farm so I know about hard work,” said Pam Rice, whose family owns and operates Sandy Beach Resort on Gull Lake. “I probably would rather have had horses and cows, but I like people. Running a resort is a great lifestyle, but resort people are also hard workers.” Everyone in the Rice family understands that hard work. They represent five generations of family members who have worked at the resort going back to 1938. The resort’s history dates to the early 1900s, when Gustav Schumacher bought the property, with one cabin, on Gull Lake’s Sandy Point for about $100. Schumacher’s son, Herbert, and his wife, Lillian, moved from Illinois and remodeled the home on the point in 1933. “The lake was gaining popularity with visitors in the summer months and Lillian began baking homemade bread, pies and
48 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
cinnamon rolls and sold them out of her home,” Rice said. “With many requests for needed lodging on the lake, they built the first guest cabin in 1938.”
“We’re lucky to have this property. That’s why we won’t sell it. We want to pass it down to the kids.” Pam Rice, Sandy Beach Resort owner
Herbert and Lillian operated the resort until their passing in 1968. Their two adult children, Nancy and Lee, operated the resort until 1978, when Lee moved away. Nancy and Bill Rice continued to operate the resort. Bill passed away in 1981, and
their son, Keith, along with Pam, made it their home and helped operate the resort. Keith and Pam purchased the resort from Nancy in 1998 and added more cabins the following year when they bought a small neighboring resort. Pam and Keith, along with their sons, Shane and Eric, and their wives manage the resort, which now features 31 cabins, a store and laundry service on the west side of Gull Lake. “Shane does reservations and Eric does the financials,” Pam said. “Their children have also helped out since they were teenagers. We’re lucky to have this property. That’s why we won’t sell it. We want to pass it down to the kids.” Pam said the resort has a “great working environment” despite the busy schedule. “Our guest season goes from the walleye opener in May to Oct. 1,” Pam said. “You can’t schedule things during the summer - especially on Saturdays (with guest turnover). Saturdays are pretty crazy when Gull Lake continued on page 50
218-829-4705 | pineandlakes.com
Leech Lake
64
Leech Lake
371
GULL LAKE
Walker
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA Akeley
Area: 9,947 acres
6
Defining Characteristics: The Gull Chain of Lakes, for which Gull Lake is the namesake and largest member, is a collection of a number of connected lakes and two bays: Gull Lake, Upper Gull Lake, Nisswa Lake, Roy Lake, Margaret Lake, Spider Lake, Spring Lake, Love Lake, Round Lake, Bass Lake, Steamboat Bay, Wilson’s Bay. 64 The chain collectively covers 13,000 acres and its shores host over 2,500 homes. The chain87 spans across Cass County, MN and Crow Wing County, MN.
Little Boy
Woman Lake
Hackensack
30 3020 20 10 10
371
Lake Marg aret
20 20
Lake Wabedo
47
371
10 10 20 20
8
30 30
30 30 20 20
54
84
40 40
77
87
10 10
20 20 Pine Mountain
49
13
30 50 30 50 40 40
Water Quality: Mesotrophic - clear water with occasional algal blooms in late summer.
10 10 20 20 30 30 40 40
60 60 10 10 20 20 10 10 30 30 FOOT 20 40 20 40 30 30 HILLS
87
371
Fish: Panfish, largemouth & rock bass, northern pike, walleye, bluegill, crappie, tullibee, yellow perch
40 40
2
10 10 10 10 30 30 40 40
Historic Fact: Nisswa Marine was once located on Nisswa Lake.
43
50 50
50 50
70 70
10 30 10 30
84
Norway
60 60
10 10 20 60 60 20 40 40
10 10
371
60 60
85 85
50 4050 3040 30
5040 50 40 30 30 20 20 10 10
Pine River
1
77 77 48 48
1
371
20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50
16
60 60
77
70 70
112
60 60
50 50
168
40 40
10 10
33 33 20 20 10 10
125
Sorenson
119
25
Pillager
146
77
Sylvan
Gu
1 36
210 Pillager
Gilbert
77
77 Red Sand
Whipple
210
49 Mud
18
Horseshoe
Wise
Wilson Bay
PILLSBU RY STATE FOREST
10 Motley
Campbell
Merrifield
127
Hartley
77
40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10
77
Crystal
127
126
40 40
20 20 10 10
Little Hubert
Fawn
3
North Long Lake
Rock
70
218-829-4705 Staples | pineandlakes.com 210
115
Bass
3
4
Gladstone
Round Lake
19
Mollie
137
115
30 30
Lower Missio
116
Lake Edward
Hubert
15
20 20 30 4030 40
Perch
13
13
Gull Lake
77
Upp
Garden
Clark
371
r
60 60
Markee
Nisswa Roy
1
64
10 10
Lower
77
Bass
109
20
371
ive
40 40 20 1020 10
70 70 80 80
30 30 20 20
Little Pelican
118
Margaret
40 40
30 40 30 40 50 50 60 60
50 50 60 60 40 40
50 50
Horseshoe
4
Upper
Nisswa
ll R
10 20 10 20
Pine
Fawn
Lougee
Upper Gull
Lake Shore
10 10
36
103
103
Pelican Lake
107
107 29
Breezy Point
llen CuMiddle
West Twin Edna
40 40
Duck
Lizard
371 East Twin
Mayo
10 10
30 30 40 50 40 50 10 10
10 10 20 20 40 3040 30
39
3
Pequot Lakes
Loon
57 57
10 10
Star
Kimball
11 1
3
11
Sibley
40 40 30 30 20 20
66
Cros
112
Upper Loon
50 50
16 Grass Clear Lake
Upper Hay 16
17
17
60 60
60 60
Bertha
145
10 10
60 60
tt gge Da
Rush
Cross Lake
Ideal Corners
Clamshell
Ossawinnaamakee
60 60
Sources: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, minnesotalakes.net and Wikipedia
Lower Whitefish
Lower Hay
371
Jenkins
78 78
Mud Lake
15
15
10 10
Manhattan Beach
Big Trout
Ox
60 60 60 7060 70
134
Arrowhead
Upper Whitefish
1
West Fox
Fifty Lakes
Swanburg
60 60
50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10
Kego
54
50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10
84
80 80
Clough 10 10 20 56 20 30 30 40 40 50 50
50 50
64 Eating Places by Boat: Places to eat by boat include Bar Harbor, Zorbaz on Gull, Lost Lake Lodge, Sherwood Forest, Dock 77 at Quarterdeck Resort, Ernie’s on Gull, Cragun’s Resort and Madden’s Resort. Nisswa Lake Park offers public docks for people to tie up and walk to eating establishments and shops in downtown Nisswa.
Pistol
Jail Lake 56
Lizzie
60 60
30 30
10 10
48
Horseshoe
10 10 16 16
40 40 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10
60 60
Mildred
10 10 20 20 30 30
Public Accesses: East shore off County Road 115; north end of Boomingout Bay near Upper Gull Lake; off County Road 70 near dam; on northwest side off County State Aid Highway 77.
30 30
Eagle
10 10
Blind
10 10
20 20 Hattie
10 10 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50
STATE FOREST
Invasive Species: Zebra mussels
48
Lake Ada
Lind Lake
Backus
Number of aquatic plant species: Over 35 species
40 40
Iguad
84
ke La
12
7
54
e ak yL RRo
Ten Mile Lake
Homes Per Shoreline: 27.8
Longville
5
wa ss Ni
Deepest Point: 80 feet, 30 percent of the lake is 15 34 feet deep orNevis less
200
200 U ppe r G ull Lak e
Location: Cass & Crow Wing County, MN
VITAL STATISTICS
371
34
Rice
Sand 2019 White LOVE OF THE LAKES 49 Baxter 210
48
48
25
142
Brainerd
371
144 123
Pete Mohs / Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal Pam and Keith Rice sit in their kitchen at Sandy Beach Resort, which has been owned by generations of Keith’s family.
Gull Lake continued from page 48
we have about 20 people who come about 9 o’clock in the morning and work on cabins until 3:30. We also have family members who oversee the cleaning and check-ins. “(Years ago) resort work was pretty primitive since they didn’t have bathrooms in the cabins. So I think it’s more work now.
Keith and Pam Rice are shown with their extended family at Sandy Beach Resort on Gull Lake.
We also have two or three people who work at the store, and another person who does yard work,” she said. The busy season actually starts in April, Pam said. “That’s when we start preparing the cabins and the property,” she said. “Then in October, we make repairs and winterize
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Harbor at East Gul Lake at East Gul Lake
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the cabins.” There are other factors that can increase the workload - like inclement weather. “We had straight-line winds in 2007 that took out one of our cabins,” Pam said. “We also had 60 trees go down (in a recent storm). There were trees down on the roads, and a police officer came by and said, ‘It’s
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50 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
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Submitted photo Sandy Beach Resort is on a point on the west side of Gull Lake.
going to be months before you open.’ I told him that, ‘You don’t know us. We will be open as soon as the power comes on.’” Despite the “ups and downs” with the weather and economy, Pam insists owning and operating a resort is all worth it. “We used to have a waiting list for cabins but we haven’t been full since (the economic slowdown) in 2007 and 2008,” she said. “We’re not as full, but it’s picking up. We have guests, some from as far as Kansas, who come back year after year. Some families are second and third generation.” Those relationships help offset all of the hard work, according to Pam. “You don’t really have time to go fishing,” she said. “And you can’t get sick - just like a farmer.” u
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Pete Mohs is publisher of the Brainerd Dispatch daily newspaper and the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5855 or pete.mohs@brainerddispatch.com.
“We’re not as full, but it’s picking up. We have guests, some from as far as Kansas, who come back year after year. Some families are second and third generation.”
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 51
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Zebra mussels are shown on a larger native mussel.
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources A trained watercraft inspector decontaminates a boat at a decontamination station.
Photo courtesy of Crow Wing County A boat is decontaminated at the station at the CrosslakeCrow Wing County Joint Highway Maintenance Facility in Crosslake.
Lake users urged to continue fight against aquatic invasive species BY NANCY VOGT
When it comes to combating aquatic invasive species, don’t forget your water toys. That means looking beyond your trailer, dock, boat lift and boat. Check your personal watercraft, your kayak, your canoe, your water trampoline, your standup paddleboard, your swimming raft. “Any kind of boat - anything that goes into a lake - has the potential for picking up an aquatic invasive species; or if they are contaminated, of dropping one off,” said John Ringle, Cass County Environmental Services director, adding that anything that moves between lakes has the potential to transfer AIS. Phil Hunsicker, AIS prevention planner with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Brainerd, agreed. “Anything that goes in and out of the water should be properly inspected to be sure it’s clean going in and to be sure it’s clean coming out,” Hunsicker said. “It can be canoes and kayaks. It can be anchors from boats. It can be boats and trailers. It can be duck hunters with their decoys and their waders.” Make sure you inspect and remove anything you can see from items that have been in the water, and let the items dry for a reasonable amount of time, he said. “These aquatic invasive species need
52 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
“You don’t have to know what the plants are that you’re pulling off. All you have to know is to pull them off.” Phil Hunsicker, DNR AIS prevention planner water or they will die,” Hunsicker said, noting inspection is simple. “You don’t have to know what the plants are that you’re pulling off. All you have to know is to pull them off,” he said, adding motorists can Just 10 miles South of Pine River in Pequot
be ticketed if driving on a road with any plant still attached to a boat or trailer. Trained inspectors staff many area lake accesses during the summer to check watercraft and trailers for weeds, and to educate watercraft operators to do the same. The recommendation is to decontaminate boats or leave items out of the water to dry for five days before going to a different body of water. Items that have been in the water - including boats, docks, swimming rafts, kayaks, canoes, slides and water trampolines - can transfer AIS if moved to a different body of water after being in infested waters.
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Jake Frie, environmental services supervisor with Crow Wing County Land Services, said even landscapers doing projects near water need to be cognizant of AIS rules. For example, they may use equipment near water when working on a shoreline that should then be checked for weeds. Wakeboard boats, which have become popular in recent years, are believed to pose the most serious threat of infestation by lake-to-lake boat movement over a short period of time because they take in so much bilge water that’s it difficult to completely empty that water, Ringle said. That makes it easy for zebra mussel veligers to hitch a ride. “They can all be decontaminated,” Ringle said of the boats. “We’re seeing more and more decontamination stations appearing annually.”
Decontamination stations
You don’t necessarily have to decontaminate all water toys, Hunsicker said, noting it’s suggested when coming out of a zebra mussel-infected body of water. He said a lot of people are scared of the decontamination process, thinking the use of hot water and high pressure spray will damage a boat and take off decals. Hunsicker assured that the level 2 watercraft inspectors certified through the DNR are trained to operate the decontamination units. “They understand at times you don’t need high pressure. They know how to use high temperatures properly on a boat and trailer,” Hunsicker said, noting decontamination stations are always staffed. “Once the hot water comes in contact with a zebra mussel, it will kill it.” Ringle said the decontamination process takes less than 10 minutes. And it’s free. The DNR has four mobile decontamination units that operate in Cass and Crow Wing counties. “We tend to stay on or near bigger, busier lakes that have already been infested with zebra mussels. That allows the counties to send their inspectors out to lakes that aren’t yet infested and act as shields for any incoming boats that might be moving AIS around,” Hunsicker said. Crow Wing County has a permanent decontamination station at the CrosslakeCrow Wing County Joint Highway Maintenance Facility. Other stations are at Pelican Square in Breezy Point, the Ruth Lake public access near Emily, the Big Pine Lake public access in western Aitkin County and at Farm Island Repair and Marine in Aitkin. Frie said hundreds of decontaminations are done per year. “We always want to see more use,” he said. “We have 16,700 hours of watercraft inspections we will do in 2019 on 43
A boater and DNR inspector look over a boat and trailer.
landings. We’re always educating the public about those opportunities to have a decontamination, especially a courtesy one.” Cass County offers seven watercraft decontamination station locations: the Gull Lake Recreation Area in East Gull Lake, 001703377r1
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Northwoods Dock north of Hackensack, Musky House north of Longville, Cass Lake, Walker Marine, Crooked Lake Town Hall in Outing and the Federal Dam Recreation Area. Cass County also lists locations in Emily and Crosslake in Crow Wing County.
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 53
Programs
Cass County has a 2019 budget for an estimated 14,500 projected inspection and decontamination hours on 30 lakes in the county, using 25-30 inspectors. The county also assists lake associations in cost-share projects the associations develop that meet Soil and Water Conservation District board approval. This is Cass County’s fifth year with an AIS program, and the county just hired Levy Bergstrom as AIS lake technician. The county works with an employment agency in Brainerd that hires and schedules lake inspectors to work at lake accesses, monitoring and educating boaters. Bergstrom oversees inspectors and arranges for their training, and he works with lake associations on AIS projects specific to the individual lakes, such as remote monitoring, control of established AIS and education. He’ll also work with selected resorts to establish resort-based AIS projects. Lake associations will attempt to work with schools to integrate AIS education into their science curriculums, Ringle said. Crow Wing County intends to hire a full-time, year-round environmental services specialist to coordinate the county’s AIS prevention and management program. The county receives state funds for AIS prevention plans, and in 2019 has around $467,000 in funds. The AIS prevention plan includes $376,284 for inspections, $23,100 for education and awareness, $35,000 for Eurasian water milfoil treatment, $18,297 for decontamination and $2,000 for innovation or special projects. The 2019 plan calls for the allocation of 16,700 watercraft inspection hours on 43 public access landings across the county and an estimated 750 hours to remove AIS using DNR-trained inspectors at the Joint Maintenance Highway Facility in Crosslake. Funds will also be spent on up to 18 lakes for lake association public awareness campaigns ($250 per lake with a boat landing), handouts at the landings (bait bags, towels, etc.), print media (rack cards, newspaper ads, stickers, posters, etc.), newsletters and more. The county also provided $9,000 for a Mississippi Headwaters Board Minnesota Traditions Campaign, a social media campaign to spread the word about AIS prevention. The DNR also does a lot of AIS education and works closely with counties, Hunsicker said. Of the state’s 87 counties, 83 receive $10 million from the state for AIS prevention programs. The four counties that don’t receive AIS funding don’t have public accesses. The amount of money each county receives is based on the number of public accesses each has. “Lake-rich counties do really well,” Hunsicker said. Crow Wing County receives more than $400,000, and Cass County gets more than
54 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
$500,000 to put together AIS management “We need to prevent the spread and hopefully allow science to develop better measures of programs, he said. Education is important, Hunsicker said, control. Some of the species may become citing inspectors, educating students at schools, naturalized and may reach a level that blends educating the public at county fairs and in with native vegetation. Some may become community events, and monitoring lakes and uncontrollable and render a body of water extremely difficult to utilize. There is a lot we doing sampling. The DNR also brings county officials together don’t know, and no one that I know of has a crystal ball.” to talk about Hunsicker AIS program “We need to continue education said efforts are challenges and and get better buy-in by the public being made to successes. keep AIS from Follow the to take the necessary steps to spreading, and rules clean, drain and dry their boats they aren’t in as “It’s not going lakes as to go away,” and water equipment. We need to many people think. Ringle said of prevent the spread and hopefully In fact, AIS are AIS, “and every in less than year it seems allow science to develop better 10 percent of like there’s a new Minnesota lakes, measures of control.” one.” he said. However, John Ringle, Cass County Environmental Services director “People think understanding it’s everywhere, and following but it’s not everywhere. It’s in the bigger, the rules remain important. Though AIS may busier lakes, which makes people think AIS never be totally eradicated, they can be are everywhere,” Hunsicker said. managed and maintained. According to the DNR website, about 7 “We need to continue education and percent of Minnesota’s more than 11,000 get better buy-in by the public to take the lakes are on the infested waters list. Less necessary steps to clean, drain and dry their than 3 percent of Minnesota lakes are boats and water equipment,” Ringle said. listed as infested with zebra mussels.
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As of October 2018, the DNR had confirmed zebra mussels in 180 lakes and wetlands, and listed 167 bodies of water as infested with zebra mussels because they are closely connected to a waterway where zebra mussels have been found. Ringle pointed to the importance of good water quality for summer tourism and the economy in our area. If the area loses its water quality, it loses what lures people here. “Boaters can’t boat. Swimmers can’t swim. Fishermen can’t fish,” Ringle said, adding if everyone tries to keep AIS out of as many lakes as possible now, someday those better control measures may be in place. “With layer upon layer of different invasive species, our job becomes tougher,” he said. Hunsicker cited a law the DNR is targeting, but that is hard to track and enforce. If selling a used dock, boat lift or swim raft, the item needs to be out of the water for at least 21 days before moving it to new water. “We have recently put more emphasis on this since we have evidence that some AIS has been moved around by docks and lifts,” he said.
Compliance
“We are slowing the spread,” Hunsicker said. Frie thanked lake associations and lake improvement districts for all they do, and said counties and states that have implemented AIS prevention programs have prevented the spread of AIS successfully. While Crow Wing County has “the big three” - spiny waterflea, eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels - Frie said many other AIS have not found their way into the county yet. He said people should ask themselves what they can do to help: They can become a trained AIS detector through the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center to learn how to properly detect the threat of AIS, or become a trained DNR volunteer inspector at public accesses. “Prevention is so much more cost-effective and easy to do than eradicating,” Frie said, noting research is being done to eradicate AIS so people must bide their time to slow the spread of AIS. Hunsicker said the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center in St. Paul is doing interesting research on how to control AIS, including different treatments and mapping genomes to find zebra mussel weaknesses in hopes of finding something harmful to zebra mussels but not to other plants and animals. “I think the hope is if we can slow down the spread … and give research time to catch up with what we have going on, there’s hope we can get ahead of this,” Hunsicker said. “The hope is to keep things from moving around and let research find answers for us.” u
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
Invasive species are species that are not native to Minnesota and cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. LOCAL AIS INCLUDE: ► Eurasian watermilfoil ► Purple loosestrife ► Curly-leaf pondweed ► Zebra mussel ► Rusty crayfish ► Spiny waterflea ► New Zealand mud snail
RULES
► CLEAN all visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels and other prohibited invasive species from watercraft, trailers and water-related equipment before leaving any water access or shoreland. ► DRAIN water-related equipment (boat, ballast tanks, portable bait containers, motor) and drain bilge, livewell and baitwell by removing drain plugs before leaving a water access or shoreline property. Keep drain plugs out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft. ► DISPOSE of unwanted bait, including minnows, leeches and worms, in the trash. It is illegal to release bait into a waterbody or release aquatic animals from one waterbody to another. If you want to keep your bait, you must refill the bait container with bottled or tap water. ► SPRAY, RINSE or DRY boats and water equipment before transporting them to another water body. Spray with high pressure water, rinse with very hot water (above 120 Uncompromised Quality - Exceptio degrees F) or dry for at least five days. Since 1989
Compliance with AIS laws is increasing, Hunsicker said. Watercraft inspectors at public accesses are finding 97 percent of boats arriving at accesses are in compliance, he said, meaning they have the boat’s drain plug out, there’s no standing water in the boat and no plants attached to the boat. “They are doing exactly what they have to do,” he said. “But it only takes one boat to Nancy Vogt is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal move things around.” However, that compliance number is rising; weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. Reach her at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her a number of years ago it was in the 80s on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy. Uncompromised Quality - Exceptional Value percent range.
Uncompromised Quality - Exceptional Uncompromised Quality - Exceptional Value Source: Minnesota Department Value of Natural Resources Since 1989 Since 1989
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2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES 55
Photo by Mike Rahn The tools of angling have changed much with time and inventiveness. Rods shown here, from top to bottom, are of solid flexible steel, split bamboo, solid fiberglass, hollow fiberglass and finally a graphite blend.
Photo courtesy of The Orvis Company, Inc.-Sunderland, Vermont Among the rod makers that have sparked a renewed interest in fiberglass are pioneers like Orvis (whose rod is shown here) and Fenwick.
Old fishing rod recipes suit some modern anglers’ tastes BY MIKE RAHN
The French are credited with the saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” The expression has meaning in angling, too. Despite time’s passage bringing better angling tools and innovative techniques, sometimes progress turns back on itself. Sometimes what is old becomes new again. In fishing rods, for example. Defying history, rods made of materials that long ago were eclipsed by newer rod technology are again in the hands of today’s anglers. Before answering the “why?” of today’s return to a fishing rod technology of the past, let’s take a short trolling run through history to better appreciate the tides and currents of rod technology.
Natural rod materials, naturally
If our great-grandfathers were sport fishermen, they might have used solid wood rods made of tapering lengths of ash, hickory or lancewood, common in the 19th century and even into the early 20th century. The next major development, the successor to solid wood, were rods built of tapered strips of bamboo. These strips were mitered to fine tolerances, then glued into 6-sided rod blanks with a cross-section resembling the six facets of an everyday pencil. Bamboo - especially the variety grown in China - had an important quality of fiber stiffness and the ability to quickly return to a stable state after being flexed, which makes for more precise casting. Multi-strip construction also made it easier to design stiffness or flexibility into a defined portion of a rod. This construction method also made it unnecessary to find long
56 2019 LOVE OF THE LAKES
strips of solid wood with uniform grain structure and stiffness, something nature is not known for. Transitions like this don’t happen overnight, of course. Rod technologies overlap as a new one is tried, understood and adopted. Besides being a technological improvement, bamboo rods were beautiful. They gleamed like fine furniture under their protective coats of varnish. Some were soaked in resins to make them waterproof. Split bamboo rods were built to designs for casting live bait, for pitching plugs and spoons, for trolling and for casting tiny, feather-adorned hooks with long fly rods. The important variables were a rod’s length, its action - the taper and stiffness that controlled its flexing - and the hardware for mounting an appropriate reel and line guides. Bamboo rods were both functional and elegant, especially those on higher rungs of the price ladder common to most manufacturers.
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The better bamboo rods may look inexpensive at prices we see in old heirloom catalogs. But considering the wages of the day - for some, as little as $20 a month - the better rods might cost as much as a month’s pay for a “working stiff.” And therein lies the problem. The bamboo rod making process was time-consuming, and time is money. Even the lowest of low-end bamboo rods required many machine and hand operations.
Steel the first synthetic
No surprise, then, that tackle innovators were looking for less labor-intensive alternatives, even at the height of the bamboo rod’s heyday. One with promise was steel, at a time when skyscrapers were beginning to intrude on city skylines. Steel skyscraper skeletons and bridge girders do not suggest the suppleness needed in a fishing rod, but - in the right dimensions - steel could be fashioned into practical and useful fishing tools.
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Wartime tech meets angling
The next rod material to come onto the scene, and thereby signal the decline of the steel rod, was fiberglass. Fine glass strands were woven into a fabric and fused together in resin. As early as 1942, the Owens-Corning Company was making some airplane parts of this new material for the U.S. war effort. As often happens, a development for one purpose finds usefulness in others, and fishermen would be among the beneficiaries. The first fiberglass rods were solid and were a mixed blessing. Their most obvious virtue was low price; certainly so when compared to labor-intensive bamboo rods. Another virtue was durability. A shortcoming of solid fiberglass, however, was its weight in rods of longer lengths, like surf casting or fly rods. But by the 1950s, fiberglass rod making had evolved to hollow construction. Fiberglass fabric was wrapped around a metal rod, called a mandrel, whose varying diameters from butt to tip created the taper called for in the rod. The fabric was impregnated with resin, its smooth-finished surface concealing the woven fabric beneath. Hollow fiberglass offered a leap forward in lightness, plus an opportunity to improve the connections in two-piece and multi-section rods. Instead of the tubular metal ferrules that joined two and three-piece bamboo rods - a rigid connection that interrupted the continuity of a rod’s flexing hollow fiberglass rod sections could be designed to overlap, or telescope, onto the mating section. This allowed a smoother delivery of power from grip to tip in two- and three-piece rods.
The graphite revolution
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Back to the future?
All of which brings us back to the question we began with. What is it about that long-sidelined rod-making material - fiberglass - that has sparked interest and use among modern anglers? Two things, for sure. The first is forgiveness. Accurate casts depend on timing. For the spin fisherman or bait caster, the key moment is when the line is released and the lure or bait begins its trajectory to the target. For the fly fisherman, it’s the moment when the fly line has straightened on the forward or backward stroke, and power is applied to reverse the line‘s direction; and ultimately, to lay out the line smoothly for the precise delivery of a fly. Stiff rods high in graphite content need more force to bend, or load, to create energy for the cast. It might not be apparent in the moment, but this greater force speeds up the casting cycle. That makes line release at the perfect time more difficult to accomplish, with a greater chance that a cast may be off target. A fiberglass rod bends more fully and loads more easily, requiring less speed in the casting stroke. This slower casting stroke makes it easier for the angler to execute at just the right moment to hit his target. There is yet another benefit in the slower, more flexible fiberglass rod, this benefit especially important to live bait fishermen. Minnows,
001694408r1
The 1960s and 1970s brought still another revolution: rods made of graphite. The “glass” in fiberglass is mostly silica sand and limestone. Graphite is carbon-based, and of the same substance as diamonds, but exposed to less heat and pressure while being formed. Like fiberglass, single strands of graphite are woven into a fabric, then wrapped around a steel mandrel to define the rod’s taper. Graphite is lighter than fiberglass, stiffer and more resistant to bending. More expensive, too. All else being equal, the same power can be generated by a graphite rod that weighs less than one made entirely of fiberglass. Graphite is also touted for its sensitivity, its ability to convey subtle vibrations from the angler’s terminal tackle back to his hands.
But graphite is also more brittle, and more likely to break under high and sudden flexing stress. Anglers initially believed, simplistically, that the higher the graphite content - the higher the “modulus,” as it was called - the better the rod. But in truth, most so-called graphite rods are actually blends of graphite and fiberglass, the proportion determined by what’s needed to achieve a performance objective, or a price point. It bears mentioning that an even rarer raw material, boron fiber, became a minor sideshow starting in the 1970s, as the graphite revolution was still gathering steam. Boron is stiffer, lighter and more expensive even than graphite; it’s also more brittle. Some of the comparatively few boron rods being made today use this material in the rod’s butt for power, and more flexible and durable graphite or blends in the tip.
nightcrawlers and some other live baits are soft-tissued. The force of a cast can sometimes tear a hook out, with your bait going one way and your slip-sinker rig another. It’s a lost bait for you, and a free meal for a fish or an opportunistic gull. Stiff rods - like those of high-modulus graphite, or boron - require more force to load the rod and give it proper casting energy. This makes it more likely that from time to time we’ll snap off live bait on a cast. A fiberglass rod, on the other hand, loads more gently and delivers less shock to your terminal tackle. The result is likely to be less frequent loss of live bait, except to the fish! I’ve also read that some tournament bass fishermen like fiberglass rods, or at least rods with a fiberglass-to-graphite balance strongly in favor of fiberglass. The rationale given was that - with cash, a trophy and lucrative endorsements on the line - an aggressive hook setting, fighting and fish landing style can lead to jerking a lure out of a fish’s mouth. Apart from the practical, tactical reasons some anglers have returned to rods of fiberglass construction, there is another angling subculture that is drawn to a different old rod technology. Specifically, these are the rods that preceded steel and fiberglass, the rods made of bamboo. Bamboo rods, like fiberglass, are also considered “slow” in their action. They bend deeper into the rod’s butt, and - again, like fiberglass - are more forgiving of imperfect casting mechanics, and do a better job of cushioning and protecting fine leader material at the fish’s end of the line. There is also an aesthetic reason why some fish with bamboo rods. Some call it snobbery. Others call it appreciation for craftsmanship and beauty that - at its best - approaches an art form. And some think bamboo rod users just like to be different. These once-dominant rod technologies - one three-quarters of a century old, the other twice that - are neither primitive nor old-fashioned in their function or effectiveness. Anglers know a good thing when they see it, or when they see reason to give it a new lease on life. u
Mike Rahn writes Inside the Outdoors, an outdoor column published in area publications, including the Pineandlakes Echo Journal.
www.NISSWADOCK.com
Some steel rods were solid, others tubular, or hollow. The ones I best remember, seen in secondhand stores or in the hands of veteran anglers, were of the solid variety, usually short casting rods. In their longer lengths solid steel rods were said to be top-heavy and slow - meaning without desirable stiffness or backbone. Steel rods of any popular configuration could be had, from the short bait casting rod to the long fly rod. A few anglers use them still today, some out of sentiment, others having concluded that, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Hwy. 371, Nisswa
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Healthy shores continued from page 10
Educating the public
Because human activity can have such a significant impact on the quality of lakes and health of shorelines, Laurel, Brandt and Roedl all agree that education and awareness are among the most important items when it comes to tackling shoreline restoration. “When you moved up here, you just thought you wanted a pretty lawn and a nice-looking cabin,” said Brandt. “You think the lakes are going to be here forever. Then you find out over the years that there’s a lot you don’t know.” He said both locals and vacationers should feel welcome to use the land, but they need to find good and non-destructive ways to do so. “So many people are doing the right thing, and there’s plenty that need to get up on the learning curve,” he said. Laurel said it’s easy for people who don’t own property, or only come up to the lakes for a short time, to feel like this isn’t their burden. “I sort of understand it, because for a long time I was just up here on vacation. But if they want to continue to enjoy it, have their kids enjoy it and their grandkids enjoy it, then it’s extremely critical that we be doing the right kinds of things to preserve the habitat now,” he said. “This is a time of heavy pressure on the lakes with development on the shore.” Roedl said there is an opportunity for a new wave of advocates because younger millennials
An example of a completed management project on the Whitefish Chain.
Submitted Photo
are coming into money and looking to buy or inherit property around the Whitefish Chain. “They truly want the environment to be good, but they just don’t understand (how to help),” she said. “If you can get the message out there, that’s so important.” Laurel agreed that the concept of public education can be vital to answer the questions of “why should I care?” and “what should I do?” “It affects our water from a recreational point of view and also affects the habitat for fish and wildlife,” he said. u Erin Bormett is a former reporter for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River.
Submitted Photo Planting native wildflowers near shorelines instead of grasses can help slow rainwater runoff.
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