Here it is! Labor Day weekend. Where has the summer gone? It seems that it only got started and now it’s almost history.

Labor Day weekend, like Memorial Day weekend, always has a way of bringing back a few of my more memorable experiences. When the kids were small and we had the old pickup camper, and even before that, we always seemed to find a place to go camping and fishing this weekend.

One year we were camping at a campground on Lake Jefferson. It had been a summer similar to this one and the one thing that seemed destined to hang on, besides the ever-growing lawns were the mosquitoes.

The weekend started out hot and there was little or no breeze. Armed with all the deet we could legally put on ourselves we sat around a campfire and enjoyed the evening.

Once in bed, there was this buzzing that you hear occasionally when there are swarms of mosquitoes in the area. Once inside the camper we managed to squish all the little pests that rode inside with us on our clothes. Soon we were sleeping peacefully.

That lasted for about 2 hours. I woke up swatting mosquitoes that were buzzing around me and, to make matters worse, there seemed to be a swarm-like buzzing noise now located inside the camper. Nothing is more fun than a hot humid night spent swatting mosquitoes full of your blood. We all woke up and began swatting every mosquito in sight.

After about an hour of this the walls and ceiling of the camper started to take on the look of what you would imagine Custer’s last stand looked like.

I couldn’t figure it out until I double-checked one of the windows, only to find that one of us had accidentally pushed against the screen and created a very large opening just behind the curtain so it wasn’t noticeable at first glance.

At one point I had thought about going outside and sleeping because there couldn’t have been any mosquitoes there. They all had to be inside the camper.

When we were first married we went &uot;Up North&uot; fishing for Labor Day weekend with a group of friends. We were staying on a lake by Hackensack. This lake was loaded with small northern and we caught a lot of them, but occasionally someone would hook up with a nice one.

As Monday rolled around and it was time to leave this friend of ours, who we will call Charlie, (because that was his name) decided to take a couple of the small northern home to his aquarium. He put them in a cooler and then packed it in a larger cooler and packed ice around it. He had it all figured out because he even had a battery operated aerator.

When we reached the end of the driveway he checked his fish and there they were, belly-up. How could that happen? Two coolers, aerator, fresh water, dry ice &045; oops! Well Charlie has since passed on, but I am always reminded of him and that trip whenever I happen to catch an exceptionally small northern.

When looking at the present color of Albert Lea and Fountain Lakes I am not really excited about fishing, but these lakes are not the only ones that look like this in our area. A lot of the lakes in southern Minnesota have that kryptonite green look this time of year. For some reason this year seems to be a little worse than normal. It doesn’t hurt the quality of the fish but it sure does make it a little harder to want to fish in these lakes. I did go fishing on Tetonka last Saturday evening and the stripers are still active and I managed to catch a small northern along with a couple stripers before a storm forced us off the lake. I did see a nice size walleye brought in along with some perch, a few sunfish and crappie.

There are many other outdoor activities for us to take advantage of in the area. We have a lot of nice parks in the area to take the family to for a little picnic and recreation. Besides Edgewater, there are Bancroft Bay Park, Pioneer Park, Pickerel Lake Park, White’s Park by Twin Lakes, Arrowhead Park on Freeborn Lake, Stateline park in Emmons, just to name a few and I know I have forgotten some.

If there are any trail enthusiasts there is a real nice trail that runs the 39 miles between Mankato and Faribault.

The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail is a 39-mile, multiple-use trail from Mankato to Faribault, which has been developed on an abandoned railroad grade. The trail lies in the transition zone between what was once the Big Woods and the vast prairies. Remnants of these plant communities can still be found scattered throughout what is now cultivated land.

The trail has been developed for bicycling, hiking, in-line skating, horseback riding, skiing, and snowmobiling. However, snowmobiles with studded tracks are prohibited. It begins at Lime Valley Road near Mankato and ends east of Interstate 35 at Faribault (trail users will need to use the signed route on city streets through Waterville).

The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail provides a paved treadway. A second treadway for horseback riding is completed from Lime Valley Road to Eagle Lake. A second horseback segment travels from Sakatah Lake State Park to Morristown. Sakatah Lake State Park is along the trail and provides a separate bicycling campground, picnic grounds, boat access, and additional hiking trails. There are several other lakes and public parks within an easy ride of the trail.

Parking is located at the following locations:

Mankato – North on old State Hwy 22 to Lime Valley Road, 1/4 Mile North. Mankato – North on State Hwy 22. Eagle Lake – West on State Hwy 14 to Co. Rd. 186/3 – 1 Mile North. Madison Lake – State Hwy 60 to Main St., 3 blocks North on Main St. Elysian – Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail Wayside Rest Area. Waterville – State Hwy 60 to State Hwy 13 – 1/4 mile North on 13. Morristown – State Hwy 60 to Co. Rd. 16, West on State Hwy 60 – 1/4 Mile. Shager Co. Park – on State Hwy 60. Faribault – State Hwy 60 & Co. Rd. 21, North on Co. Rd. 21 – 1/2 Mile.

Nearby DNR recreational areas:

Sakatah Lake State Park, Minneopa State Park, Straight River Canoe & Boating Route, Cannon River Canoe & Boating Route, Minnesota River Canoe & Boating Route, Townsend Woods Scientific & Natural Area, Cannon River Trout Lily Scientific & Natural Area

More information on trails across the state can be found on the Minnesota DNR website.

Have a Safe Holiday!

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Minnesota Fishing Report:

ALEXANDRIA

Minnows on jigs or live bait rigs have started being the preferred bait for walleyes on Lake Miltona and Lake Ida in 25 to 34 feet of water. There’s been some limited evening action on crankbaits in shallower water on Lake Reno and Lake Carlos. The Le Homme Dieu Chain of Lakes still are producing numbers of largemouth bass. Crappies remain schooled and active in 15 to 18 feet of water on Lake Geneva. Tube jigs or small minnows are turning better numbers of fish. The bigger muskies and northern pike have started hitting topwater baits on Lobster Lake and Lake Miltona. The weed edges have held better numbers of bigger fish.

BATTLE LAKE

Otter Tail Lake is giving up quite a few walleyes in 12 to 28 feet of water. Live bait rigs and leeches are still the best during the day, while shallow-running crankbaits are the way to go late in the day. Look to Mollie Stark Lake, Turtle Lake, and Eagle Lake for consistent largemouth bass action. The bigger northern pike have started hitting along the weed edges of Turtle Lake. There’s an occasional muskie coming off West Battle Lake, but most people continue to report more follows than strikes. Panfish action has been slow over the past week on most area lakes.

BEMIDJI

Muskie action has picked up on Cass Lake, Lake Bemidji, and Big Lake. The deeper weedlines are holding the majority of fish, and bucktails have fooled most fish. Walleye action is picking up on Lake Bemidji in 16 to 18 feet of water. Leeches and crawlers on spinner rigs are still working better than minnows. Red Lake and Lake Bemidji are kicking out quite a few big northern pike. Work the weed edges with minnows or crankbaits.

BRAINERD/NISSWA

Minnows are the preferred walleye bait on Gull Lake again this week in 15 to 20 feet of water. Round Lake and North Long Lake are worth noting for walleyes as well. These fish are most active in 20 to 22 feet of water. Lakes such as Gull, Nisswa, Edwards, and Round continue to provide numbers of largemouth bass and panfish. Work the thick weed edges or weed pockets.

CASS LAKE AREA

Walleyes continue to be very active on North Cedar Bar and Deadman’s Bar on Cass Lake in 20 to 25 feet of water. The evening crankbait bite on Wishbone Bar and East Cedar Bar also has been good on Cass. The best perch reports are coming from the 10- to 12-foot weed edges. Muskies are really active on the main lake bars of Cass. Bucktails have produced the bigger fish.

CROSS LAKE

Redtail minnows are turning walleyes on Whitefish Lake and Pelican Lake in 18 to 24 feet of water. There’s also been a pretty consistent crankbait bite in shallower water during the evening hours. Expect a mixed bag of panfish, northern pike, and bass along the weed edges of most area lakes.

DETROIT LAKES

Big Detroit Lake is producing walleyes in 18 to 24 feet of water on crawlers and spinner rigs. Northern pike continue to hit on Cotton Lake, Lake Melissa, and Big Detroit. Smallmouth bass also are hitting on Cotton Lake. Look for sunfish on Lake Sallie, Melissa, Sour Lake, and Tamarack Lake in relatively shallow water. Muskie reports have dwindled in the past week on most area lakes.

EAST-CENTRAL Minn.

Ann Lake is kicking out sunfish and crappies along the weed edges in 14 feet, and right in the bulrushes. Northern pike and bass are an easy catch on all area lakes, but walleye action has been very slow.

ELY AREA

Walleyes are hitting minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water on Snowbank Lake, Shagawa Lake, and Burntside Lake. The weedbeds of most area lakes are holding smallmouth bass in seven to 20 feet of water. Look to the weedbeds of Fall Lake, White Iron Lake, and Basswoood Lake for northern pike. Lake trout reports are pretty slow right now, but look for the action to improve as they begin to move shallower on Snowbank Lake and Burntside Lake.

GRAND RAPIDS

Bass fishing continues to be very good on North Star Lake, Balsam Lake, and Stingy Lake. Spinnerbaits or plastics are producing bigger fish. Northern pike are hitting at a good pace on Lake Pokegama and Wasson Lake. Sugar Lake and Deer Lake are giving up walleyes at night on shallow running crankbaits. Moose Lake and North Star Lake are still the area’s best bet for muskies in this area. Look to Portage Lake and Bowstring Lake for consistent crappie action in 10 to 14 feet of water.

HACKENSACK AREA

Largemouth bass are hitting at a good pace along the weed edges on Sandburn Lake, Pleasant Lake, and Birch Lake. Crappie action has picked up on Pleasant Lake in 12 feet of water. Small jigs and a minnow have worked best. Look to Birch Lake for sunfish, right in the weeds, over 10 to 12 feet of water. The best bite here has been early and late in the day.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

The walleyes have started to move back to shore and they’re starting to hit minnows and jigs. The Pigeon River area, Stoney Point, and Raven’s Point all have produced fish in less than 12 feet of water. Look for some good-sized perch in these areas as well. The northern pike bite is improving along the north shore as crankbaits or minnows are beginning to turn a few larger fish.

LEECH LAKE

Bass and muskies continue to dominate the angling action here. The reeds and wild rice patches of Steamboat Bay, Sucker Bay, and Boy Bay all are producing numbers of big bass. The cabbage beds of Portage Bay, Agency Bay, and Sucker Bay are worth noting for muskies. Most anglers who are hooking fish are doing so with a fast-moving presentation. Walleye action remains relatively slow with best results during the twilight hours in 11 to 13 feet of water. Shallow-running crankbaits have worked best.

MANKATO AREA

Walleyes continue to be had in the narrows of Madison Lake. Shallow-running crankbaits and minnows have worked best early and late in the day. On Lake Washington, anglers are catching numbers of panfish off the docks in less than five feet of water. There are still a few catfish coming from the deep holes of the Blue Earth River.

MILLE LACS

East &045; Spinner rigs or live bait rigs tipped with minnows or leeches are producing a few walleyes during the day. Work the edges of the flats and deep gravel areas for better numbers of daytime fish. Slip bobbers and leeches still are producing walleyes at night and when the wind blows on the shallower rocks and points. Crankbaits also are working in these areas early and late in the day. The rocks reefs and points are safe bets for smallmouth bass, and the north end continues to give up a few muskies.

West &045; The night bite, with slip bobbers and leeches, continues to provide the most consistent walleye activity. Work the tops or edges of most main lake flats. There are fish to be had during the day, but the consistency hasn’t been nearly as good as it has been at night. Northern pike and smallmouth bass anglers are finding plenty of fish during the day off points, shallow rocks, and in the bays. Muskie reports are improving in the bays. Try bucktails or crankbaits.

PERHAM AREA

Walleyes and northern pike are hitting minnows on Big Pine Lake and Little Pine Lake in 12 to 15 feet of water. The morning and evening hours have been most productive. Crappie action remains strong on Rush Lake, Dead Lake, and Star Lake. Small leeches or minnows are working best.