?? fish more, worry less with tips from an outdoor enthusiast -





explore minnesota | minnesota outdoors | keeping it reel (R-E-E-L) | photo of angler, Karlee Winkelman holding up her catch [ [link removed] ]





interview with karlee winkelman

From watching her dad, Babe, fish all over the world to growing up on a lake in Brainerd (and having a large mouth bass named Tanker), it should be no surprise that Karlee has been around fish her whole life. Her earliest memories involve ice fishing with dad’s first AquaVu (which allowed her to see under the water and comprehend what her dad was doing), and catching fish after fish while their boat sat on top of a bluegill bed in the summer. 

 

For Karlee, it’s not specific fishing memories that keep her returning to this past time. To her, fishing holds the same essence of what it feels like to live in Minnesota. It's early mornings, when the sun is rising and the boat is launching, and everyone is settling in for their first cast of the day. It's the cold wind blowing when you're in a little portable ice house in the dead of winter, jigging for a walleyes with good friends, waiting for the fish to come through.






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there really isn’t a bad time to hit the water in our state.

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Karlee Winkelman smiles while holding up a long, skinny fish. The blue water behind her blends into the blue of the sky. [ [link removed] ]





are there good times of year for different fishing experiences?

There's great fishing year-round, and, to be honest, no one season that’s better than the other. But there are also different experiences with each season, and ice fishing is really near and dear to me. I think that ice fishing is a little bit more low-key and not as fast-paced as being in a boat is.  

 

Fly fishing in Minnesota only lasts from that second weekend in April to somewhere in September so getting out mid-to-late summer can be really great for that dry dropper fly bite when targeting stream trout.

 

Summer is a great time for bass, walleye, and pike fishing. June through early August is decent for bobber fishing walleye, bass or panfish from weed edges.

 

All in all, there really isn’t a bad time to hit the water in our state. There’s something for everyone in any month of the year. 






Karlee, wearing glasses & a visor, holds up two pan fish, one in each hand. There's an orange glow as this photo was taken during the golden hour. [ [link removed] ]





why is fishing one of your favorite things to do outdoors?

Not only is it challenging, but it can take you out of your head and into the present moment. You have to be watching your bobber, you have to be jigging, you have to be maneuvering the boat, you have to be thinking about what the next move is, and be ready for anything, because you never know when the next fish is coming.

 

Even with general fishing knowledge, it's always going to be a challenge to finesse an animal into believing that what you're presenting to them is real and not an artificial representation of food. This is always a lot of fun and challenges me to the max, which I think is what always keeps me coming back for more.

 

Fishing is also the way I connect with loved ones. Hooking into a huge fish, feeling its strength fighting, and losing it — that’s a story we'll tell for years. Catching the biggest fish you’ve ever seen and being able to show a fun picture of it? That’s what we all are trying to do, in our own ways. The entire experience of fishing is something I associate with our state itself. 






Karlee smiles with a netted fish in her hands. She's wearing shades and a white baseball cap with her reel strapped to her back. [ [link removed] ]





do you need a boat to enjoy fishing here or are there good spots to cast from shore or a dock?

Thanks to great organizations like *MNFish [ [link removed] ]*, more shore fishing spots are being created or fixed up to be more accessible. Many boat accesses offer public docks to fish from and many parks on lakes/rivers will have docks/spaces to shore fish from, along with BBQ grills to make a day out of fishing with the family.

 

You don’t need a boat to enjoy our waters, but there are also so many great options to try fishing with a guide from their boat or hop on an evening charter on *Mille Lacs [ [link removed] ]* for a unique bobber fishing opportunity. Finding bridges and fishing around them offer a lot of structure in the water. It gives fish a great place to hide, so bridges can be a great bet when fishing from shore.






A close up a small trout in one of Karlee's hands. The green trees of the of shore reflect in the water behind her. [ [link removed] ]





what do absolute beginners need to get started?  

If you are totally new to fishing and have never tried it before, there are a couple different ways to go about it. Booking a guide and going out with them is a great way to just kind of learn the ropes.

 

If you want to go out on your own, a fishing rod and reel, probably 6 pound test line, and a small selection of baits that are geared towards the species that you're targeting. You should be able to get all of that for $150 or less, and be able to start hitting the water, catching bass or sunfish or pike from the shore.

 

If you were to pay for a day and go out with a guide, they'll provide all of the equipment needed to have your first fishing experience.






for someone new to fishing, what’s the one essential tip or trick that can make their first experience a success?

Make sure that the location is actually holding fish. Make sure that you look at a nautical map, so you know you're in water deep enough to be holding fish. That way you actually have an opportunity to catch with a hook and a bobber on a line.

 

The other thing I would suggest is to speak with a local bait store. They can really offer valuable insight as to what’s biting in the area, what techniques have been working, and what bait you should buy to find success in the local waters.






Karlee, in fishing bibs and a sweatshirt, holds up a medium sized fish while in a pop-up ice fishing shack. [ [link removed] ]





are there any places you’d recommend to first-timers wanting to try fishing in minnesota, but are hesitant to go out on their own?

Definitely get up to *River Bend's Resort [ [link removed] ]* on Lake of The Woods in any season, ice or open water, to come home with your possession limit of walleye/sauger. For a great Minnesota experience you can actually bring your fresh catch into the bar and have them cook it up for you same day.

 

I also think for beginners, trying out barge fishing on a charter can be a great way to fish with a large group of people in a casual setting, while still having the opportunity to catching some nice fish. A lot of people on bigger lakes will choose charters, such as *Lake Mille Lacs [ [link removed] ]* or *Lake of the Woods [ [link removed] ]*.

 

I also recommend checking into local nonprofit organizations in the industry, such as *Women Anglers of Minnesota [ [link removed] ]* or *MNFish [ [link removed] ]*, as they can provide a lot of great insight. They hold local tournaments,  education-based seminars, and other things to educate the public about fishing and how to fish while keeping the waters clean and protecting the environment.






are there any spots that make it easy for families to fish?

When you’re looking for easy access to fishable water with high changes as success, beneath dams can be a great spot to go. I grew up fishing the Orwell Dam in *Ottertail County [ [link removed] ]* with my mom and a lot of people love fishing Little Rock Creek off of 10 west. They're great spots to pitch a chair and cast a line. There's also access to the *Vermillion River [ [link removed] ]*, just south of the cities in Farmington to catch stream trout.






Karlee holds a fish with two hands while bundled up in a wind breaker and sweatshirt to block out the wind. [ [link removed] ]





besides catch and release, what are other ways people can improve, protect and conserve the fishing environment and habitat?

I’m a huge advocate for bettering our waters in any way possible. It's vital to release big egg-laying females - the bigger the fish (of any species), the better the brood from them, which means a higher rate of life amongst their fertilized eggs and a higher reproduction rate for the waters.

 

Beyond that, *proper fish handling technique [ [link removed] ]* is really important. I don’t recommend keeping the fish out of water for any time beyond what is absolutely necessary, so pull it from the net, snap your shot, and send it home safely. This is especially important in cold temps as the slime coating and water can cause the fish to begin to freeze pretty immediately in sub zero temps.

 

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) is a huge topic in Minnesota, and prevention is the best method to stopping the spread of them into every body of water we have. *Clean, Drain, and Dry* [ [link removed] ] is a great way to make sure your boat is all clear of any signs of AIS before leaving or going into another body of water.

 

You always want to leave the water better than you found it, so picking up trash or line is always a good practice even if it’s not your own. Keep our waters clean and keep our fish happy!






Karlee holding a bluegill she caught in Northern Minnesota [ [link removed] ]





what makes minnesota such a standout destination for fishing?

The fact that we have over 10,000 lakes in the state means there are no shortage of opportunities to get out on the water. Anyone fishing in Minnesota can expect a fun experience because we have so many species here that you don’t always know what’s going to bite your bait!

 

The many riverways and streams in Minnesota offer opportunities for anglers looking to catch Great Lakes steelhead. And people looking to fly fish for rainbow or brown trout can head to the southeastern side of the state.

 

Panfish like bluegill, sunfish and crappie can be found up shallow in the summertime. Both big and small lakes offer great panfish angling for people who enjoy eating their fish and want to get the kids involved in rapid-action fun!

 

Further up north towards Lake of the Woods, you can always count on big bags of eater walleye and sauger. It’s a fun outing that can end in a shore lunch, which is, in my opinion, a Minnesota staple. I have gotten really into walleye fishing as of late. There is something so suspenseful about those big fish, and how it really takes skill and knowledge to pursue them with any luck.

 

For those who love bass fishing, Minnesota really holds its own with incredible smallmouth angling on a number of lakes in the area like Mille Lacs. Largemouth bass are in just about every body of water we have here. You might even get a really strong fight from a northern pike. Rock bass hang around often, along with catfish, burbot and other miscellaneous fish.

 

In designated waters, you can also find particular species like lake trout or brook trout. 






there's no shortage of species to catch

* Great Lakes steelhead 

* Panfish — bluegill, sunfish, crappie 

* Walleye and sauger 

* Large and smallmouth bass 

* Rock bass 

* Catfish and burbot 

* Lake and brook trout 

* Northern pike 





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"All photos provided by Karlee Winkelman."

_

""This interview has been edited for length and clarity.""






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