In just a few weeks, lakes across the upper Midwest and southern Canada will be freezing over, locking billions of fish under a thick sheet of ice for over five months. To diehard ice anglers, this is a time to rejoice, since new fishing opportunities appear with the advent of ice fishing season. Small lakes, inaccessible by boat during the summer, easily give up their secrets to the mobile angler on ice. And large lakes often wind-whipped during the open water period no longer threaten small watercraft owners. In northern climes, ice freezes to four feet thick, making vehicle travel on ice in wintertime the norm.  Large lakes, especially in Minnesota and North Dakota, feature thriving winter fishing businesses that cater to anglers seeking perch, walleye, and northern pike. If you've never fished through the ice, a winter trip to one of these famous destinations is a sure way to get hooked. Resorts and guides cater specifically to ice fishing, featuring heated rental "cabins on the ice" for rent by the day or night.

On some lakes, plowed access roads mean any vehicle—even those without four-wheel drive or vertical clearance—can travel across the lake to hotspots like rock reefs and perch flats. On others, guides are available with all the latest ice fishing gear, including portable shelters, augers, ice fishing electronics, and terminal tackle. You don't have to be an expert to fish any of the lakes listed here; you only need the enthusiasm to venture iceward in search of fishing success. You can't go wrong with any of the ice destinations listed here.

MILLE LACS LAKE, CENTRAL MINNESOTA
Located two hours north of the Twin Cities, Mille Lacs Lake has always felt the pressure to produce. Yet it kicks out one of the state's largest walleye populations without the aid of DNR stocking. The fishery is on the front end of a walleye growing cycle that's producing excellent average size for anglers: fish in the three- to five-pound range are common, and you have a good shot at a 26 to 28 inch fish weighing seven to nine pounds (fat winter weight). Huge numbers of jumbo perch also are a big draw on Mille Lacs, and some bonus northern pike can be found in the weedy bays soon after the ice is safe for travel.

For both perch and walleye, jigging spoons and minnow imitators are the ticket most of the time. The new Nils Master Jigging Shads in blue/silver and perch colors have proven to be immediate winners on Mille Lacs, while old standbys like JB Spoons and Gem-N-Eyes from JB Lures also produce well. Tip either lure with the head of a minnow for added attraction.

Resorts on Mille Lacs cater specifically to ice fishing, plowing extensive road systems to all nearshore hotspots as well as far out to the famous "mudflats" in the middle of this 16 by 11 mile mecca. Sleeper rental fish houses and thousands of "private" shacks dot the ice throughout the winter months; visitors can choose to stay onshore in any one of dozens of fine resorts and motels with ample night life (and fish during the hours of your choosing), or rent a sleeper house on the lake complete with gas heat and lights, bunks, and other amenities to fish nonstop day and night. Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council 1-888-350-2692; Twin Pines Resort; 1-800-450-4682; Jerry Brandt's Ice Fishing (320) 532-3674. 

LAKE OF THE WOODS, NORTHERN MINNESOTA 
At one million acres, Lake of the Woods is truly a magnificent fishing opportunity in any season. But the U.S. resorts in the town of Baudette, and the group of wilderness lodges at the "top of the nation" in the Northwest Angle area, are an unforgettable destination for winter fun.

In the stained water of Lake of the Woods, most successful ice fishing takes place during the daylight hours. A typical day for a lodge guest begins with a hearty breakfast followed by transportation via track van or "Bombardier" to a rental day house miles out in the main lake basin. Here, amongst gradually sloping sand and mud bottoms and the occasional rock reef, anglers find a steady day long bite for sauger, bookended by morning and evening walleye flurries. In February and March, jumbo perch action heats up. At dusk, the Bombardiers return to pick everybody up and return them to their shoreside accommodations complete with evening dining and entertainment. 

Gold-painted ballhead jigs tipped with a whole shiner threaded through the mouth, or gold jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads, are the ticket on Lake of the Woods. Gold is especially productive on sunny days. For an alternative, look to variations of chartreuse, glow, or green to deliver results in the whiskey-colored water. The remote Northwest Angle area offers a wilderness alternative and more varied fishing structure. Here, the Lake of the Woods basin gives way to the Canadian Shield, and the lake structure gives over primarily to rock. Reefs are the ticket, holding numbers of walleye and sauger, and on the adjacent flats in late season, a torrid perch bite. At night, you may hear wolves howl, but not much else. The Northwest Angle is quiet and relaxation at it's best, with the added bonus that the fish houses are spread far and wide across the lake, ensuring that you'll have schools of fish all your own. You owe it to yourself to visit. 

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH, NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA
Nestled in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest lies 65,000-acre Big Winnie. Long a primary destination for winter perch fishing, this is undoubtedly the easiest lake on which to catch perch in the winter. Of course, there is the odd slow day, but it's more likely your jigging spoon won't hit bottom before a jumbo perch sucks it in. An added bonus is the proximity of the fishing grounds to the resorts. Most fishing takes place only a mile or two offshore, with the resorts plowing roads to the rental houses situated over the perch flats.

Big spoons are the norm here: Northland's Rocker (in blue glow or green glow) and Buck Shot Rattling Spoon (in variations of green) are deadly when tipped with a minnow head. Much of the fishing takes place in 25-40 feet, so these heavy spoons are key to getting back down to the bottom quickly when the perch are on a hot bite. No need to finesse these fish. Winnie is great lake to take the kids to introduce them to ice fishing. Bonus walleye and northern pike round out the package.  Judd's Resort 1-800-635-8337.

LEECH LAKE, CENTRAL MINNESOTA
Although a booming summer fishery, many Leech Lake resorts close for the winter months, leaving anglers to fend for themselves on the ice. Many folks go portable to target walleye, jumbo perch, northern pike, and crappie on Leech Lake, but several winter operations offer heated rental fish houses and guide services. You have the option of fishing shallow or deep across 116,000 acres here; the huge main basin averages 20 feet deep, while plunging Walker Bay gives you the chance at a hot deep water walleye bite, especially at early ice.   Leech Lake Tourism Council 1-800-735-3297.

DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA
The high water period on this prairie lake is approaching the 10-year mark. Gone are the days of low water in the 1980's, when the quality of fishing declined dramatically due to the high salinity, which reduced habitat and resulted in poor spawns.  Now Devils Lake is booming. A huge population of jumbo perch, with fish averaging 12 inches most days, draws ice anglers from far and wide. With the lake over 125,000 acres (up from less than 50,000), walleye and northern pike spawning success has improved immensely. Where walleye were once a rarity, if you find a school nowadays while on the ice, you may catch 40 or more fish before you're done. Most run small, but make excellent eating.

Lure choices are different than on other meccas. On Devils Lake, matching the hatch is the key. The hatch on Devils Lake? Billions upon billions of freshwater shrimp that coat the lake bottom up to a foot thick in some places. These critters, less than an inch long, offer an endless high protein forage for the fish, and are responsible for the fast growth rates and large overall size of the perch, as well as the ongoing strong walleye year classes. Stick with small horizontally-riding ice flies like Custom Jigs' Ratsos and Shrimpos that imitate freshwater shrimp for best success. Besides excellent walleye and perch fishing, expect numbers of northern pike and the occasional two- to four-pound white bass to show up in your catch.