Saturday morning our family will be coming up to Park Rapids for a much needed week long vacation. We will be staying with another FM regular (fishhook) on Fish hook Lake. We have a 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old so we need to also look for something fo rthem to do and see also. Could any of you tell us the must see and do things in Park Rapids plus must go to places to eat.

Of course we will be fishing so what are the fishing reports for the area. I usually fish for panfish, walleye. Basically anything that is biting.

Our family is so excited and Saturday morning can't get here soon enough.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

We're usually a little east on 34 from there, but the lakes should have similar bites. My last two trips have been a little slow for fishing. Incredible weather though so maybe try to do a little recreational boating as well (tubing, skiing, lounging). Leech isn't all that far either (maybe 25-30 miles?) and there has been a good bite this year.

Go to Companero's in Dorset (east on 34) for some good mexican food and margaritas (Get there early or make a reservation). Lots of other restaurants there too. Itasca State Park has had some improvements within the last few years. Wilderness drive within the park is always a scenic one. You'll be sad to hear that we are searching for a new "Largest Red Pine in MN" as the one inside the park lost it's top in a recent windstorm. Lots of other stuff to do I'm sure. Have a good time.

If you are interested in some crappie action close to there shoot me pm. We pounded them last weekend.

Dan

Whisker,

Solbes has a must with Companero's in Dorset. Your youngsters might like World of Christmas off of 71. Bumper Boats, Go Karts, Balloon Wars, Train Rides. Might get them tired so you can fish. The Logging Camp is pretty neat for the family for breakfast, think they might have dinner as well.

Fishing has been spotty...Moon phase last weekend was nice

2nd the logging camp. Make sure the meal you eat before you go is a light one! It's up for sale if you want to move to the Land of Sky Blue Waters. Our oldest daughter and her cousins also had a great time terrorizing the chickens on the property.

On our lake anyway, it isn't that the fish aren't hungry. There's just so much natural prey in the lake right now that it's tough to divert their attention sometimes. I sometimes think our new boat is unlucky, but probably it's just the time of the year that we've had it.

I'll reiterate the props for both Companeros and the Logging Camp. As for World of Christmas, it's a fun time, but not much for a 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old, although it would be a good time to see them smiling as you take them on the bumper boats.
Itasca is a must.
You won't have to travel far for good fishing, Fish Hook is a great lake, as is Potato and Long. The bait shops will lead you in the right direction or shoot me a message and I'll give you some ideas.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions guys. We plan on leaving at 6 am tomorrow morning and I guarantee I will not sleep a wink. I should just go out and sit in the van and listen to the radio all night, or watch the olympics.

I will also give a big two thumbs up to Comaneros. Been going there since it was called Compadres years back. My parents have a cabin on 11th crow wing and used to have one on Stocking Lake by Menagha and they go to Comaperos just about every time they are up there. Make sure you get a Mexican Mudball for desert, can't beat 'em. Might want to buy some of their chips and salso to bring home too. As far as the fishing goes, can't help ya there since I have only been up once this summer I will be on 11th this weekend, good luck out there.

Jason, do you have any tips for 11th CW? My email is listed below if you have any pointers. Thanks.

Well we are finally here and it is everything we expected, pine trees, loons, geese, eagles, and good fishing. Yesterday was nice and cool which is a relief from the heat and humidity from Iowa. I think we will be heading to Wold of Christmas, Campaneros, and the Logging Camp.

We did get out today on Fishhook Lake. Our excellent guide (FM's very own fishook) put us on some fish. We casted twister tails and jigs and boated quite a variety of fish. Crappie, blugill, rockbass which I will get too later, northern, walleye, and largemouth. We caught enough Crappie for a delicious supper.

Now about Rock Bass, man were those things huge. Are those things any good to eat? If so what species are they close to tasting. I heard they don't taste worth a hoot.

Well that is the report for now, will update tomorrow night.

I want to get out a huge thank you to our excellent hosts. We had a blast and if it wasn't a problem of my wife and I finding jobs, selling our house back here, and finding a new one, we would move up there in a heartbeat. Anyone have any leads on jobs?

We did go to Itasca and had a great time, it is beautiful up there. It is an awesome view from the top of the firetower.

We also had Campaneros mexican food and was stuffed. Of course had a pitcher of margaritas!!

I took our kids up to World of Christmas, be sure to bring some cash, it cost more than I was expecting, but we had a blast on the go carts, bumper boats, and the train ride. They also had battery operated 4 wheelers that the kids could tear aroudn on a track.

Finally in conclusion I would like to thank all of you FMer's for the suggestions on places to go and see. Hopefully we will be back up there on vacation again, move up there to live, or retire up there in about 30 years, unless we hit the lottery!!

Glad to hear you had a great time and come back soon!

Dan

There's been many posts on rock bass and whether to eat or not eat. Some people won't touch them, some say you can't pick them out in a filleted out medley of fish. They do tend to get two types of parasites more often. The black spots in the meat can turn some people off, and sometimes there is a yellow wormy thing that's even more disturbing. Both are safe if you cook them fully. I've also seen these parasites in bass, sunnies, and northerns though. I've tried the rock bass and truthfully I thought it was okay. I'd take sunnies, walleyes, or pike over it any day though.