Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-15
Summer Days on Minnesota Lakes.
Editors Democrat:
am thinking. now. Of sultry Jul,
And the lake 10 the forest 80 green;
With low wooded hills beslde and beyond,

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Never shall l forget one warm
morning last July when l stepped
into boat and took the oars for a
pull along the shady shore of pretty
Lake Tetonka. Gliding along the
shore of this beautiful lake, the cool
iake-breeze tanning my brow, fish
jumping around mo in every direc-
ton, the adjacent shore lined with
maple, oak, elm, Eastwood and
birch. prolific in shades of richest
green, impregnating the atmosphere
with wildwood fragrance, the songs
of the robin and thrush in the low
bushes along the shore, filling the
air with sweetest music, was such a
delightful change from sun-baked
streets and business cares, that it
seemed indeed, like trip in Fairy
Land"
For fifteen years I have been
spending my vacation among these
northern lakes, exploring and ang-
ling, and yet l have visited but
few of the many, composing this
great lacustrine system and have
never grown weary of their ever
changeful beauty and moods.
In spring, summer, autumn, storm
or calm, these little woodland Jewels
in their settings of brown or green
are always enhancing,
Very few people realize the mag
nitude of Minnesota's great lake
region. Over one-thirty-ffth of the
entire area of the state is covered
with lakes which number ten
thousand, and vary in size from a
few acres to three hundred and
fifty thousand acres. There are
lakes of every conceivable shape;
ronnd lakes with pebbly beach; OBJ
long lakes bordered with wild rice
and reeds; lakes wooded to the very
brink; and lakes lying out in natural
meadows that look like well-kept
lawns. There are insulated lakes
hidden away in the deep wood soil
tudes, and chains of lakes stretch
ing away through wood and prairie,
and furnishing uninterrupted
thoroughfares for boats for over a
hundred miles.
In this short article | can only
take up three points, beginning
with Douglas county. Douglas
county is a perfect network of
lakes, there being nearly two hun
dred within its borders. At all the
larger lakes are well-kept resorts
and boat liveries. Pike, pickerel,
perch, sun6sh, croppies and pike
perch are the principal fish, and
you can catch them with spoon,
minnow, frog, caddie or fly.
Lakes Geneva, Ida, Maple, Darl-
ing, Andrew and Milton are easily
reached from the town of Alexan-
dria.
Lake Ida, think, is the most
picturesque lake in the group. All
varieties of fish are caught in the
lake, and occasionally MuscaIonge
that tips the scales at twenty or
thirty pounds.
This is the home of the far-famed
small-mouth black bass. Speci-
mems are taken weighing as high as
six and one-fourth pounds. For
camping parties, this locality is
simply ideal. Grand old trees,
clean beaches and camping sites
without number are on every side.
Beautiful Lake Bemidji lies in
the southern part of Beltrami coun-
ty. The little town of Bemidji is
situated on the south end of the
lake between lakes Bemidji and
Irving through both of which the
Mississippi river flows, insuring a
never failing supply of Mississippi
river fish, such as pike, pickerel,
perch, rock bass, mascalonge, and
even white fish.
The shores of Lake Bemidji are
covered with pine, spruce, birch,
elm, ash, and other hardwood trees.
The sandy beach extends the whole
circuit of the lake. The lake is six
miles long and one and one-half to
three miles wide. There are many
available and beautiful sites for cot
tages and summer camps on the
high wooded banks, where families
and parties can enjoy camp out
ing.
AS each new wonder we see is
grander than the rest, so to my
minds eye, as I write are the lakos
of South Central Minnesota, that be-
ing the place where I have enjoyed
my summer vacations for the past
two years.
If the reader will take map of
Minnesota and put one finger on
the town of Mankato and another on
the town of Waterville, between his
two fingers will be found the most
attractive group of lakes in southern
Minnesota.
From the towns of Waterville
and Mankato, these lakes are easily
reached. On the north shore Of
Lake Tetonka, three miles west of
Waterville, is Maple Point very
comfortable resort with good fishing,
boating, bathing, and shooting III
season.
A half mile west of Tetonka, is
Bass Lake, an ideal lake for bass
casting. Nothing but bass is caught
in this lake, and they average very
large.
Twelve miles east of Mankato is
Madison, Lake, one of Natures
gems. There are good hotel and
cottage accommodations here on
Point Pleasant" and it makes a
good central stopping point. Roads
ramify in all directions to the, other
lakes winding through sternate
groves and nrairia naatlu