Few things can unburden a mind quite like casting a line into the water.

Especially in Albert Lea, where many residents are enthusiastic about fishing — no, super enthusiastic — and they are fortunate enough to have plenty of places within the city to go fishing. On warm spring days, you start to see people standing on the shores and casting their lines into the lakes.

They allow their minds to wander while patiently waiting for a strike on the end of their lines. This recreation continues through the warm months until winter’s cold sets in. Of course, then many go ice fishing.

Simply put, local folks have a love affair with fishing.

Plenty of people last week tested the waters in search of crappies and perch on the waters of Albert Lea Lake, Fountain Lake and the Shell Rock River’s channel between the two lakes. Much to their delight, the crappies and perch were biting.

Those in search of crappies found success near Dane Bay on Fountain Lake and also near Edgewater Park. For those trying for perch, their quest took them to the channel and Albert Lea Lake at Frank Hall Park.

Either spot seemed rewarding with anglers reeling fish in while taking in the serenity provided by the waters.

When asked where the best spot to go is, Albert Lea resident Gary Wilds replied, “I go to where the people catch fish.”

Wilds caught six crappies during his three hours fishing at Dane Bay.

Wilds caught them with a tube jig and caught them frequently.

Over at the channel Leonard and Tom Schultz of Hartland were fishing for perch using minnows.

It was a time to relax for the two and fishing success was second to enjoying the sunny afternoon.

“A nice day like this, it doesn’t matter how many fish you catch,” Leonard Schultz said, “as long as you’re fishing.”

The warmer weather has brought fishermen and women out in droves this spring.

On a given afternoon there will be a handful of people at various spots around Albert Lea Lake and Fountain Lake, enjoying the sounds of nature.

Over by Edgewater Park more than a dozen people lined the shore Friday fishing for crappies.

The game fish season doesn’t begin until May 9 but that hasn’t stopped people from getting out and enjoying a relaxing day at the lake.

The crappie catch has been good at Dane Bay on Fountain Lake while the perch catch has been just as good in the channel.

Albert Lea resident Larry Sunde was there testing the waters and enjoying the weather. Sunde has fished Fountain Lake for the past 20 years and said he’s always had luck on Fountain Lake.

Although he’s more of a walleye fisherman, he soaked in the warm weather while fishing for crappie.

“I’ve always had pretty good luck on this lake, but now it seems like everyone is fishing Albert Lea Lake,” he said.

Sunde said he has heard Albert Lea Lake will be a good spot for the walleye opener in just a few weeks.

The popular spots remained where the water was shallow and the water temperature warm and also the places where the fish went to feed and spawn.

But the best may be yet to come when the walleye season opens May 9.

Albert Lea Lake has been stocked with walleye for a number of years and those fish have done well. In 2007 2.1 million walleye fry were put into Albert Lea Lake and 550,000 added to Fountain Lake.

Despite the shallowness of Albert Lea Lake and Fountain Lake the aerators installed decades ago and the restocking of fish have gone a long way to make the lakes viable fishing lakes.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the help of the Fountain Lake Sportman’s Club.

Years ago, before the Sportman’s Club installed aerators on Albert Lea Lake, dead fish lined the lake at ice out and the smell infiltrated many parts of the city.

Work is under way to possibly dredge Fountain Lake by 2012 or 2013, which would be a boon for boaters and fishing alike.

Because goodness knows, that if there is good fishing, Albert Leans will be out in droves.