Photo:  Jeff Hanson Guide Svc.

Guide Jeff Hanson sent us this report after the opener.  "Fishing was steady on the sand breaks in 14-19' lindy rigging with leeches. About half the fish are keepers, the rest too big. Out on the mud flats and gravel bars, there are lots of fish being caught in 25-29' but they are running bigger with only about 1 out of 5 being a keeper. Lots of 22"-26" inchers!"

We fished the south end.  Saw many large fish caught on Sloppy Joe's and 5-mile gravel in the morning on Lindy Rigs and leeches.  The longer the snell the better.  About one in every five fish caught were in the slot.  One of the nicest openers in the last few years.

If you have a story to tell, contact Make It Mille Lacs at 320-353-8342.  We'll be riding along with KJ's Mermaid launch service later this week to photography and write a story on this new addition to the south shore fishing scene.

If you haven’t been up to Mille Lacs Lake in a while, there are a few new places to visit and some big changes at other favorite haunts.  Last fall The Wahkon Inn reopened and its Thursday night key chain drawing has developed icon status on the south shore.  Slippers Bar and Grill and Motel is based on the former Pat’s site off Highway 27 in Isle.  Hideaway Hill has developed a loyal following in the former Jack’s on Mille Lacs site on the eastern side of the lake between Isle and Malmo.  Appeldoorn’s Resort has done major remodeling, including new cabins, a convention center, roadwork,  and permanent dockage.  The Red Door Resort on the north shore now features a restaurant, the Waypoint Cafe.  Hunter Winfield’s added a new cabin when owners Mike and Margie Christensen moved across the street to their new home.  The Bayview cabin is now available.  Izatys will reopen Sanctuary Golf Course’s original front nine holes, over the Memorial Day Weekend.  Bayview is headed toward a sports bar theme and has changed up some seating inside and added some new menu items.  Izatys also rolls out its new menu May 1 after chef Kevin Aho garnered a national “Best Chef” award recently.   

Area guide Matt Treno is putting together a Mille Lacs Lake Weekly Walleye League.

The league will run Wednesdays from 6-9:30 pm, starting May 16th.

"I've always just wanted to fish on a league here rather than going to the cities," Treno said. "I've been thinking about doing this for the last 3-4 years."

The league will feature two anglers per boat and entry fee is $250 for the six-week season.  Treno said he is hoping to get 15 boats in the mix this first year.  The league is limited to 25 boats or less.

"So far, I've received real positive feedback,"  Treno said.  "I expect a few of the local guides to be in on this."

Treno has a vision of a future northern and southern divisional setup on Mille Lacs and said there is no special permit required if the league is under 25 boats. 

"I think fishing will be phenomal with lack of pressure this winter and lower water levels,"  he said. "And the perch forage seems to be down a little."

An informational meeting will take place at Izatys on April 4th at 6 pm at the clubhouse. For more information, you can contact Matt at 612-619-5690.  Last day to register is May 11.  Payouts will be based on number of entries.

Mille Lacs Lake is sure to break its April 2nd earliest ice out this year due to record-breaking March days in the 70s as of late. It really kind of went down as the winter that wasn't at Mille Lacs. A late start to ice fishing had about a third of the ice houses normally placed on the lake mothballed in holding areas for the winter. More than 20 autos went into the water this winter on Mille Lacs. The diver/recovery teams were as busy as ever.

With spring here, local business owners I talked with are optimistic. Golf courses are sure to open early. I was told Izatys will be open April 14. Fiddlestix probably much earlier. Higbees is open. That's good news to the area. As many travel north to put in docks in the coming weeks and get their places ready for summer, a boost in area businesses should occur. Most will tell you that November after deer hunting and March are the two cruelest months for local businesses as very few people are up.

April is shaping up to be a banner month if the weather continues to hold. One question that all seem to be asking is what will our lake level look like this year? Remember, we had little snow, not much runoff and a very dry fall last year. Unless we see substantial rains, I expect the lake level to be low out of the gate but its too early to tell just how low.

Others are asking what the powers that be will do about the Mille Lacs walleye slot? I have heard various rumors but am hoping for the continued 18-28 inch slot and no lower. As the ice recedes and all the garbage left on the lake washes ashore, please lend a hand and do your part to keep the Big Pond clean this season. Looking forward to a very good year on the lake with some awesome fishing tourneys and events all around the lake! There are alot of upgraded resort offerings as well that we hope to provide readers with.

ONAMIA--Turns out that great fishing, good golf, giant jackpots and stellar state parks aren't the only draws for visitors to Mille Lacs Lake these days.

You can now add:  award-winning chef's cuisine.

Meet Kevin Aho, executive chef, at Izatys Resort  –  winner of the 2011 Certified Hereford Beef's Distinguished Chef award Thursday.

In an eclectic version of chef "show and tell", Aho celebrated his win by dishing out Beef Carpaccio, Steak and Blue Salad, Filet Veloute, Sirloin Duxelle and Steaks and Eggs Oscar for key people who had a hand in selecting him for the award.

"It's an honor.  It's a personal honor," said Aho , sporting the ‘Hereford Distinguished Chef' patch, just above the right breast pocket of his starched, white chef coat.  He wins a weekend, all-expense paid trip to Chicago, a much-needed vacation from work and feature billing in Certified Hereford Beef LLC's Distinguished Chef literature and website. 

"It puts Mille Lacs on the map for good chefs," Aho said, grinning. "Maybe it means more people coming up to our area, too."

Aho is the second winner of the award, according to Michael Welch, vice president of food services of Certified Hereford Beef LLC.  Headquartered in Kansas City, Certified Hereford Beef is featured in more than 10,000 restaurants nationwide.  Welch said Aho was nominated by Izatys and Sysco Foods.  His nomination, coupled with letters of recommendation, his resume, the Izatys menu and his entrees won him the Hereford Award. 

Aho's endorsement already graces a Hereford company brochure: "… I would never go back to any other beef, including any of the Angus brands.  It's all about the customer and quality in my establishment and Certified Hereford Beef rates #1 in my culinary book. Certified Hereford Beef has made my ratings for food at Izatys 5-star."As photographers snapped shots of his entrees Thursday afternoon and onlookers began to sample the entrees, you could tell Aho was in his element.  "They're almost too beautiful to eat, so they take pictures.  They think food like that only comes from the Twin Cities."

For several years now,  Aho's skills have been on display locally. He's in his third season as Izatys executive chef – his second stint overall at the resort.  Golfers, fishing enthusiasts and owners of the 184 townhomes and timeshares at Izatys have had the regular fortune of dining on Aho's delights.

Until now, word of mouth has been his biggest boost. He will get national exposure in several food service and travel magazines and websites along with the Hereford Distinguished Chef designation. 

"There's Manny's, Seven and places like Crave," said Aho, citing benchmark s for great steak in the Twin Cities. "And there's Izatys.  It means Izatys will be a home for me.  Our food is right up there with the (Twin Cities') best."So what's with Hereford  vs Angus anyway?   It's the young heifer or steers with the "white face", that are the 'mark' of the Herefords.  They have taste-proven genetics, making the meat juicier, more tender and tastier than the more than 30 Angus beefs offered at fast-food franchises and some steakhouses, according to a Hereford brochure. Even a local Hereford Beef farmer from Princeton was on hand for the award.

But you be the judge.  Give Aho and his cousine a try at Izatys. We're pretty sure you'll be delighted, back for more and talking about Hereford. Izatys is open weekends all winter.  For hours and the Izatys menu go to Izatys.com.

Current players Toby Gerhart, Joe Webb and Jasper Brinkley will headline the Minnesota Viking Arctic Blast XVII cast, which kicks off Friday night at Izatys Resort at 7:30 pm.

Izatys will hold a raffle, giving away a signed Jim Kleinsasser jersey and an IPAD at 8pm. The band Sellout Stereo kicks off at 9 pm in the Shore Room. So Friday night looks like a great kickoff!

You will also be able to mingle with Viking coaches Mike Priefer and Ryan Silverfield as will Vikings Alumni Soloman Wilcots, Pete Bercich, Darrin Nelson, Mike Merriweather, Everett Lindsay, Carl Lee, Bob Lurtsema, Fuad Reveiz, Robert Griffith, Doug Sutherland, Robert Tate, Willie Tea, Joey Browner, Vikings Cheerleaders and Viktor the Viking.

The weekend event will be held regardless of snow conditions. At this time, it is anticipated that the entourage will be bused around the lake to the various Blast Points on Saturday. Those points are Blue Goose, Castaways, Hunter's Point and Buzzies.

Doors open at 8 am at all Blast Points and fans can register at each point. Blue Goose is serving as the Vikings Saturday headquarters. Grand Casino Mille Lacs will host the Sunday morning $30,000 prize party from 11 am to 12:30 pm. All proceeds from the event go to the Vikings Children's Fund.

The Mille Lacs Drift Skippers and Mille Lacs Trails snowmobile clubs will be operating shuttles around the lake, each visiting the designated Blast Points. Players, cheerleaders and Victor the Viking will be on hand at all sites for autographs and pictures.

February  means fishing tourneys and great fun on Mille Lacs lake with the Fantastic Four back again this year!  Every weekend has a Mille Lacs signature event.  We kickoff with KJ’s Ice Fishing tourney on Saturday, February 4^th followed by a huge pig roast and party at Izatys with three bands – Carpet REMS, Killer Hayseeds and Hangfire. It’s also Super Bowl Sunday weekend, with the big game happening Sunday night with all establishments offering fun and specials!

The second weekend plays host to the Minnesota Vikings annual Arctic Blast fundraiser.  The weekend kicks off with the Vikings at Izatys on Friday, February 10^th, starting at 7pm.  Team officials, as well as some current and past players will attend, preparing for Saturdays snowmobile ride around the lake (we need snow!).  This year, Blast Points are at Blue Goose in Garrison, Castaways in Malmo  and Hunter’s Point and Buzzies in Isle. Grand Casino Mille Lacs will host the Sunday awards drawings again.

The wildly popular Fishing for Ducks, sponsored by the Garrison Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the is on Saturday, February 18^th from noon to 3 pm in Garrison Bay.  This event can draw nearly 5,000 people and the prizes are awesome.

The annual eastside Perch Extravaganza is on the weekend of February 24-26, starting with a Friday night pre party at Hunter’s Point in preparation for Saturdays fishing contest at the same locale from 8 am to 2 pm.  This might be the grand daddy of all ice tourneys on the Big Pond in both numbers of participants and the prize drawings.  Buttons for fishing are offered in many locations. There is also ice racing in Garrison on 24-26 with ATV, car and cycles vrooming around the ice tracks.  This is a great event.