Not too long ago I spent a couple of days at Best Point Resort on Lake Tetonka in Waterville. This is where I had a year-round campsite for a number of years. My sister Judy had invited me up for the weekend and I was happy to take her up on the invitation.

It was good to see some old friends and go fishing with my brother-in-law Mike. The fishing was good. We found the sunnies on the flats thanks to a tip from our old friend Roger.

The sunnies were definitely in a biting mood and this made for a nice Sunday night supper. There’s still nothing like a good mess of fish fresh out of the lake.

Revisiting the old campground was fun and it brought back memories of the fun times we used to have there. One of the things I miss about not having a camper there is the laughs we shared sitting around the campfire. You never knew what conversation would pop up next and a person always had to be on his toes because one slip-up and someone would notice and you’d most likely be the highlight of conversation for the rest of the night.

I did get my share of ribbing about the high gas prices and having to drive 5-plus hours to get to my cabin, compared to the hour or less it takes to get to Waterville. That goes with the territory but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Jerry and Linda Miller own Best Point Resort and Campground and you’ll not find more genuine people. They will always go out of their way to make you feel welcome. They have both cabins and campsites, which they rent out right up until ice-over.

The weeks that lie ahead of us can be very good weeks for fishing Tetonka. I always seemed to do quite well in late August and actually, all the way up to ice-over. If you like to fish stripers (white bass) this is the lake for you. They are some real fighters and will give you a thrill, especially on light tackle. If you find one striper you’ll more than likely find more because they travel in schools.

This is why working an area can usually have good results.

The sunnies are biting right now in about 10-12 feet and a walleye or northern may also be had. Nice perch and crappie are also plentiful in the lake. I have found the northern fishing to be very good in the fall and of course there are some dandy Largemouth Bass. I happened to be fishing Tetonka the same fall day that the state record Largemouth Bass was caught. That’s probably about as close to any state record that I’ll get (I don’t think there are any records for being in the area). This is a record that still stands as far as I know.

There’s still plenty of open water fishing left and a short drive can result in some mighty fine fishing.

Here are some fishing reports that may lead to some mighty fine fishing for you:

MANKATO &045; Catfish are still taking crawlers on the Minnesota River. Lake Washington is still your best bet for sunfish in 12 feet of water during lowlight hours. Walleye reports are beginning to pick up on Washington.

HACKENSACK &045; Muskies hitting on Leech Lake in shallow water.

Walleyes best on Woman Lake using fatheads, golden shiners or redtails in 22 feet. Crappies taking crappie minnows on Birch. Bass are active everywhere, topwater baits best.

RED WING &045; Action remains steady with a mixed bag of fish still hitting at Reed’s Landing on the south end. Or try down by Wabasha at the wingdams. Pitching plastics, Rapalas, rattle traps working well. Walleyes, bass and northern pike are being caught.

RAINY LAKE &045; Walleye anglers are finding fish in 20-25 feet of water, fishing toward the east end of Rainy Lake, but the rapids at Ranier continues to be a popular spot. Jigs tipped with live bait best. Large pike are going after live baits and artificial lures. Find them in the weedy edges of shallower bays.

PARK RAPIDS &045; Walleye bite is best on Fish Hook in 26-27 feet of water. Minnows have been working best. Panfish also biting on Fish Hook in 12-14 feet. Try an ice fly/waxworm.

Northerns hitting a jig/sucker minnow on the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes. Bass action is best on Long Lake in 14-16 feet at the deep weedlines using Carolina rigs.

GRAND RAPIDS &045; The walleyes are starting to move to the shallow areas. A jig and minnow work well here. Still a lot of walleyes on the deep humps and bars. On Winnie try Sugar, Raven’s, Center and Bena bars for starters. Use a rig and crawler in deep water. Pokegama smallmouth bass are really hot. Good muskie action on Moose and Deer lakes. Northern are still good on most lakes. Crappie and sunfish still hit and miss. All fishing is getting better as the water cools.

DETROIT LAKES &045; Last week we received 4-6 inches of rain in the area so lake levels are up. The walleye bite continues to slowly get better. Jigs and minnows are turning a majority of the fish. The midlake humps and sharp breaks seem to be producing the most fish. White Earth, Big Toad, Shell, Elbow, Strawberry, Pelican and Cotton are kicking out a few fish. Cloudy, windy days seem to be the days when the bite is best. Bluegills and crappies continue to be caught on area lakes along the deep cabbage on Lindy Little Nipper jigs and plastic tails. The largemouth bass bite continues excellent fishing plastics in the deep edge of the weeds on all area lakes. The northern bite has slowed a bit. Muskies are continuing to be seen more than caught on Detroit and Pelican lakes. Bucktail spinners are working the best.

BEMIDJI &045; Walleyes hitting a jig/minnow on Plantagenet in 20 feet. Bigger fish being caught right before dark. Crappies best on Marquette while trolling in 20 feet of water. Pike are biting on North Twin. Try throwing Shad Raps or a Salmo Boxer. Bass taking skitter pops, spinners and jawbreakers.

Just a reminder &045; The Southern Gateway Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association will be holding it’s Annual Banquet on September 10th. This will be at the American Legion Club in Albert Lea. It kicks off with a 6 p.m. social hour followed by Dinner at 7 p.m. Cost for this year’s event is $45 for an adult, spouse is $20 and Forkhorn (16 & under) is $20.

There will be a &uot;Wall of Fame&uot; photo contest with prizes for the best photo. Bring your favorite deer hunting photo (4×6 or larger) along to the banquet and you may just win a prize.

For more information contact Ed Miller at 373-1050 or Jack Adams at 373-4153. You may also e-mail Ed at epmiller@smig.net.

Until next time &uot;play safe; take time to enjoy the outdoors and let’s go fishin’.&uot;

Remember to show your support for the troops that are serving our country so that we may enjoy these many freedoms that we have.

(Dick Herfindahl, outdoors writer)