PRESS KIT

To arrange interviews or for additional story ideas, contact Geoff Gorvin at gorvin@charter.net or Kathy Schroder at laundrylight@gmail.com

Story Ideas

Pelican Lake Conservation Club: Caring for the Lake, Community and More
For more than 30 years, the Pelican Lake Conservation Club has played a caretaker’s role for Pelican Lake. With more than 300 members, the club owns and maintains the lake’s buoys, produced signage at the lake’s landings, works with DNR on fisheries issues and is working with DNR to finance workers to educate boaters on the public accesses about exotic plants. But the club’s reach also extends well into Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes, through the giving of upwards of $100,000 annually for educational and environmental programs.   
 
DepthFfinders: Local Man Played a Role in Evolution of Fishing Electronics
Jim Wentworth is a local electronics specialist who has been repairing depth finders and other fishing electronics for 35+ years. His expertise dates back to the days of the Lowrance “Green Box.” Since those days, he’s serviced more than 5,000 units and has been instrumental in the development of fish finders.
 
Who Needs Bowling or Softball When You Can Join a Fishing League?
Like softball, pool and bowling leagues, fishing leagues have been popular in the Lakes Area for more than 30 years. There are a variety of single-species leagues (Northerns Inc., Muskies Inc., Baxter Bass Club) that offer a tournament format, and multi-species leagues (Lazy Ike League and Hairy Minnow League, both of which are about 15 years old) where teams fish for a combination of walleye, bass and northerns, earning points for quantity and size.   
 
May is Prime Time for Bird Watching in the Lakes Area
Many bird species are migrating in early May, making for prime bird watching in the Lakes Area, which is one of the top birding destinations in the country. As home to 313 regular species of birds and six of the top 12 most coveted species by bird watchers, this area attracts bird watchers from throughout the world. It’s not unusual for them to identify 70-90 species in a day. The Northland Arboretum in Brainerd is hosting a team bird-watching competition May 11.
 
Paul Bunyan Cyclists use Peddle Power to Enjoy the Lakes Area
Wednesday evenings were made for bicycling, if you’re a member of the Paul Bunyan Cyclists. With members from as far away as Iowa and Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Paul Bunyan Cyclists combines all skill levels, from novice to hard-cores. Their weekly rides accommodate all skill levels, as everyone starts at the same place, but trails vary each week and are as short as 20 miles for some and as long as 50 miles for hard cores. Weekend trips are offered throughout the season as well. 

Pelican Lake by the Numbers
If you like to crunch numbers when analyzing a fishing lake, the DNR's Tim Brastrup can help. Pelican Lake, specifically, typically has good survey numbers when it comes to studying fish populations. An annual walleye stocking program helps ensure those types of numbers. At 8,253 acres, Pelican Lake is a popular lake for walleye fishing. The last survey, conducted in 2003, revealed an average lenght of 21.3 inches and 2.2 pounds. Northern pike have strong numbers, too.

A Weekly Experience Worth Paddling For
Every Tuesday evening during the summer, you can find 25 - 30 paddlers enjoying the local lakes from the comfort of their kayaks. They're the Paddle Pushers, avid kayakers whose social activities include weekly kayaking trips on local lakes, and overnight trips one weekend a month.

Other Angling Opportunities
Although the focus will be on walleye fishing May 10, the Lakes Area has excellent fishing opportunities for most other freshwater species, including northern pike, bass, panfish, muskie, and lake rainbow and brook trout. This area has 465 hard-bottom lakes, the Mississippi River, crystal-clear mine pits and several streams and small rivers, providing superb habitat that encourages strong, sustainable fisheries. The DNR's Tim Brastrup can talk about our diverse fisheries and stocking efforts that supplements them.

Pioneering the Science of Guiding
The Nisswa Guides League wrote the book on guide services. You can't talk about fishing the Lakes Area without talking about the Nisswa Guides League. Founded in 1961, the biggest names in the fishing industry have worked as guides for the league, including Gary Roach, Al and Ron Lindner, Jeff Zernov, and founder Marv Koep. The 12 current guides have more than 150 years of combined guiding experience, and logged more than 2,500 hours on the water last year.

Tales from the Byway
The 54-mile Paul Bunyan National Scenic Byway is rich with history. Stories range from gangsters to cows that got drunk on mash. Here's your path to the lakes and lands that helped give life to the great legend of Paul Bunyan.

Paul Bunyan Trail
The Paul Bunyan Trail is the pride of the Brainerd Lakes Area, where it starts and extends 100 miles north to Bemidji. Along the way, it passes through 16 quaint little towns, past 21 picturesque lakes, through pine forests and over rivers and streams. The trail is on an abandoned railroad bed and is now one of the longest paved "Rails to Trails" projects in the country. Access points can be found throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area, including a parking area in the heart of Pequot Lakes, providing easy access to shopping and dining.

Cuyuna Recreation Area
In 1924 the Milford Mine disaster, one of the worst tragedies in Minnesota's mining history, claimed the lives of 41 miners. Today the area provides a simulated mine tour sharing the past and inviting visitors to enjoy what has now become Minnesota's newest recreation area just east of Brainerd. Over 5,000 acres welcome visitors, featuring a newly added mountain bike trail. The 27 Cuyuna Range Mine Pit Lakes, some of which are 400 feet deep, support rainbow, brown and brook trout, among other game fish.

It's Gotta be the Golf
The Brainerd Lakes Area features 25 golf courses and 520 holes within 50 miles of Brainerd. There are courses for all skill levels and budgets, including the 20 award-winning courses that together comprise the Brainerd Golf Trail. Some of the finest courses in the nation, designed by legends such as Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rober Day, are located here. This concentration of championship courses has made the Lakes Area on of the "Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World," according to Golf Digest.

Image Gallery

Brainerd Lakes Chamber In Pequot Lakes




Breezy Point Resort on Pelican Lake


Ride Your Bike On The Paul Bunyan Trail

Rollerblading On The Paul Bunyan Trail

Generations of Fishermen - - - - Catching The Big One



How Many Are On Your Stringer? - Fishing From A Dock

Enjoy Bird Watching

Fantastic Shopping in the Pequot Lakes / Brainerd Lakes Area

The End Of Another Great Governor's Fishing Opener!

The Lakes Area is one of the "Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World"