Oh by golly have a holly jolly ice time...right now!  For this guy, the holidays mean more than just family cheer, christmas jingles and opening gifts.  If you have a hankering for ice fishing and walleyes, then right now is go time!

At this very minute, someone, somewhere is pulling a walleye through a hole of a Minnesota lake.  It is no secret that the early ice is the best time to land ol' marble eye.  For myself, I liken it to the opener of the fishing season in May, the deer opener in November or even the peak of the muskie fishing in the fall.  I simply love getting out on the ice for the first crack at a walleye dinner.  Not only is it new scenery, but the fishing is simply the best early in the ice season.  My escapades started as soon as we had walkable ice in Minnesota.  Well before most people even think about getting their shanties ready for water.  But I have to admit, I have landed a lot of very nice walleyes already this winter.  I used extra caution, and in this case, the early bird did get the worm!

While the early minutes of the 2009 ice season have already come and gone, it doesn't mean that "early ice" is necessarily over completely.  The next few days and weeks are going to offer up some of the best ice fishing of the season.  The ice has just now reached a point where anything is fair game.  I assure you that there are still spots on all lakes that haven't been fished yet, and that likely means first come, first walleye.  Here's where I have been, what I have heard and what I have found. 

I started my year on lake Minnetonka ice.  This metro gem is full of walleyes for anyone willing to work hard to catch 'em.  We found sizes either too big or too small for the frying pan so far.  If you want to head out there, focus on rock piles.  This is why I said "work hard" to find 'em.  You will want to drop a camera down there to see what you are on.  Generally speaking, the bigger bays offer plenty of the afforementioned goods that the walleyes love.  If you find rocks, sand and weeds near deep water, get ready for an overnight sit, because you are in for a treat.  Just remember your digital camera, because Tonka is full of trophies!

Two words - Mille Lacs!  This lake is back on again.  The last two winters brought iffy ice and lots o' snow and slush.  So far, the ice is growing fast, and there is no snow keeping you from any spot you desire.  What makes it all the better?  The walleyes are biting again too!  I have spent two days on that lake so far, and we have about 80 walleyes to show for our efforts.  Not to mention the bonus jumbo perch, otherwise known by my fishing crew as "BBJP" or Big Bellied Jumbo Perch.  Mille Lacs should be on every anglers choice again for 2009.  And like I said earlier, they are biting right now!

Lake of the Woods is once again an anglers haven.  I personally have not been there yet, but after talking with Gary from Ballards resort and a bunch of my fishing buddies, one thing is clear, they are biting!  Here is a very common phrase from everyone I have talked with so far.  "yeah, about 100 fish a day." 

I know it is early in the year, but the conditions have made travel such that anglers are now able to fish anywhere they would like.  The traffic from the vehicles will likely hit the ice within the next few days, so the early ice season is almost to the mid-winter point.  Whether you hit any of the lakes I just mentioned, or find one of your own, this holiday season I encourage you to wet a line for a fresh walleye dinner.  Who knows, you just might surprise yourself!  Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Travis Frank - travis@mnbound.com