World Famous Fish House Parade - Aitken, MN

Every year the day after Thanksgiving, the town of Aitken, Minnesota holds the world famous Fish House Parade. It's the wacky unofficial beginning of a new ice fishing season. Bring your lawn chair or favorite five gallon bucket and watch the zaniness unfold before your eyes down Aitken's main drag. Fish houses are outrageously decorated and prizes are given out to the most creative, humorous and the loudest. Can you say fish house that turns into Optimus Prime?

Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza - Gull Lake

This is the biggest ice fishing tournament in the world! 12,000 people, 25,000 holes and a weigh in line that stretches a football field long.They give away $150,000 dollars in prizes that includes ice augers, atvs, a boat and a pick up truck. Holes are spaced about 12-15 feet apart and be warned, you've never seen so much beef jerky in your life. FYI: The event is held on Gull Lake's Hole In The Day Bay. The bay is named after the famous Indian chief-Chief Hole In The Day.

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Mankato Area Lakes - Le Sueur County

The 3 lakes you should check out in this area are Lake Washington, Lake Jefferson (famed for its panfish) and German Lake. It's really quiet in these parts and it's a perfect place to either tow out a fish house or just auger a hole for a day. On the shore of Washington, warm up with some hot chocolate at the Westwood Marina Bar and Grill and talk to the bartender if you need bait.

Lake of the Woods - Northern MN

This is the place for trophy walleyes and northern pikes. The DNR also claims that this lake has the highest catch rate in the state. I recommend three resorts that can hook you up with a comfortable fish house to rent. They are Sportsman's, Zipple Bay(pictured) and Ballard's. FYI- You can travel to and from Ballards Resort aboard a deluxe (49) passenger motor coach called the "Walleye Connection". FYI#2 -If you're interested in going all the way up to Northwest Angle, you don't need a passport.

Dark House Ice Fishing - Secret Location

I hooked up with Josh Stevenson from Blue Ribbon Bait and he blindfolded me with my scarf and led me to his secret location. The main difference between dark house fishing and standard ice fishing is that the hole is much larger making it easy to SEE fish. Native Americans used to cut holes in the ice and put teepees over the hole to spear fish. When it's dark inside the house or shelter, sunlight from the outside illuminates the hole making it easier to bait fish or spear.

Lake Phalen - St. Paul

The popular Lake Phalen is located in Phalen Lake Regional Park. A great lake for Walleye but you won't hear that from the locals. They want to keep it a secret.

Mille Lacs Lake - Near Onamia and Garrison

Every year 5000 fish houses move on the 200 square miles of lake ice. Some are simple shacks suitable for a couple guys huddled around a couple of holes and some are McMansions worthy of pictorials in Architectural Digest. If you want to rent one for weekend, check out Jerry Brandt's Ice Fishing run out of Onamia on the southern end of the lake. The Bayview Bar is right there as well if you need a burger and want swap fish stories. Roads are plowed on the ice and they even have street signs!

Lake Winnibigoshish - North Central MN

Lake Winnie is located in Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest. Its name comes from the Ojibwe language Wiinibiigoozhish, meaning "putridly stagnant waters". It's known for its walleye and jumbo perch but the Minnesota record muskie was caught in here in 1957 weighing in at 54 pounds. Jig with a Swedish Pimple and you'll have a decent pile at your feet in no time. The Chippewa National Forest provides hundreds of miles of groomed trails so snowmobile and fish in the same day.