The Top Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

The infamous Minnesota winter is enough to scare people away and keep them inside during the winter months, but not for the avid ice fishing enthusiast who bare the weather in search of the perfect walleye and northern pike. With well over 10,000 lakes, it is no wonder why ice fishing is one of Minnesota’s biggest winter activities. The question is what are the best lakes to go ice fishing in the winter?

Upper Red Lake

Stretching over 288,000 acres, Red Lake is made up of the “Upper” and “Lower” region which is located in Northern Minnesota’s Beltrami County. If you are in search of world class caliber walleye, Upper Red Lake is the place to go. With plenty of access points spread out on the eastern shore, this lake is known for its walleye, northern pike, and crappie.

Lake Mille Lacs

Located north of St. Paul, Lake Mill Lacs spans more than 132,000 acres and stretches across Mill Lacs, Aitkin and Crow Wing counties to be recorded as the second largest lake in the state. The lake is known for their walleye, rock bass, northern pike, jumbo perch, muskie, smallmouth bass, and tullibee. Mill Lacs offers plenty of access along their 74-mile shoreline and has become a popular tourist destination offering plenty of fishing resorts and tour companies in the area.

Lake Vermilion

Lake Vermilion is 40,500 acres of beautiful scenery and has become a famous tourist destination known for its muskie, northern pike, crappie, perch, smallmouth bass, and bluegill. Visit lakevermilion.com for information on peak activity and the best ice fishing hours for each of the winter months.

Gull Lake

The host of North America’s largest ice fishing event - the Ice Fishing Extravaganza - Gull Lake is 9,418 acres and is the most popular fishing lake in the Brainerd Lake Region. Gull is host to the largest walleye, northern pike, and bluegill, as well as largemouth bass, rock bass and crappie population and offers access to ice fishing tour guides, ice house rentals, and ice fishing equipment.

Lake of the Woods

Named one of the most scenic lakes in the country by Minnesota Lakes website, Lake of the woods has over 14,000 islands and stretches over 950,000 acres through Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. Lake of the Woods has over 45 resorts that offer all-inclusive ice fishing tours and specialize in walleye, northern pike, sauger, muskie, rock bass, largemouth bass, lake trout and sturgeon.

The Truth About Winter Dehydration

When people think of dehydration, they think about working out or standing in the blistering heat. If you’re not sweaty, you’re probably not dehydrated, right? Actually, dehydration isn’t just a summer thing. Winter dehydration can often be more dangerous, mainly because not many people know about it or think about it.

It’s pretty simple when you think about it; winter activities also give you a workout and increase your heart rate, but people also tend to drink less water, making the risk of dehydration even higher.  Who wants to carry water when out in the cold? The following are five things you should look out for during the colder months to prevent dehydration:

1. Lowered thirst quench. Cold weather means that your blood vessels constrict, sending blood to the core of your body. This tricks your body into thinking that you are hydrated, when in reality, you may not be.

2. Cold water slows your body’s communication to the kidneys which then tell your body that it does not need to conserve water. This means that your urine production is increased which lowers the water retained in your body.

3. Sweat evaporates faster in cold weather. Because of this, many people don’t think about hydration lost through sweat in the winter.

4. Wearing too much clothing can be a negative. When you wear too much clothing, you are carrying more weight which will make your body work harder, in turn causing you to sweat.

5. The dry air in the winter time can cause dehydration. When you can “see your breath” in the winter you are also losing water vapor. Your skin usually feels over-dry in the winter; this is a telltale sign of dehydration.

Knowing that winter dehydration is a problem is the first step in counteracting its effects. Making sure that you are drinking an adequate amount of water is essential in maintaining a normal water level in your body. If you have other questions about winter dehydration and the benefits of drinking plenty of water, visit our website at mnawwa.org.

Fall Minnesota Microbrewery Tour

Football is well under way, the leaves have turned into splashes of colors, and the sun sets a bit earlier each night. It’s at this time of year some of the best seasonal beers make their appearances. This is particularly true in beers from Minnesota microbreweries. The combination of hops, malt, spices, and fresh Minnesota water creates a menu of fall brews that will make anyone’s autumn a little more festive. Because of this, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the best fall beers from microbreweries in Minnesota.

Summit Brewing’s Oktoberfest

It can’t be fall without an Oktoberfest brew, and Summit Brewing’s Oktoberfest is a fantastic option for those seeking a fall beer. This award winning Märzen style beer is a great way to celebrate fall with a bit of German flair.

Jack’d Up Autumn Ale from Third Street Brewhouse

A newer player in the fall brews is Jack’d Up Autumn Ale from Third Street Brewhouse. This beer is jacked up with pumpkin spices, as well as a combination of six different malts. With a taste of both malt and spice, this ale goes down like water in the fall.

Canal Park Brewing Company’s Joyride Antic

Another excellent Oktoberfest beer comes straight from the shores of Lake Superior. Canal Park Brewing Company’s Joyride Antic will make everyone feel a little German. The brewer even states this beer is for those who like, “Schnitzel, schätzl, barli and spätzl.” For a truly awesome experience, head to Duluth, grab a stein of Joyride Antic, and drink it with a view of some of the most beautiful water in Minnesota.

Oktoberfest from Lift Bridge Brewing Company

Another excellent option is Oktoberfest from Lift Bridge Brewing Company in Stillwater. Everything but the Minnesota water is European in this pleasantly malty brew. The company says this lager, “is perfect for times when the mornings turn crisp and the afternoon sun is still warm on your face.” That sounds like a good fall beer to us.

Surly WET

If you’re looking for a fall IPA, look no further than Surly WET. This IPA is made with the fresh picked hops and has both piney and fruity flavor. The ingredients that go into this beer are so good, you’d almost think all the brewer had to do was add water.

Roof Rack Lager from Bent Paddle Brewing Company

Another brew from Duluth is Roof Rack Lager made by Bent Paddle Brewing Company. This Vienna-style Lager is the perfect way to end the paddling season. So pull your canoe out of the water, put it on the roof rack, and enjoy fall with Roof Rack Lager.

These are only a few of the fine fall beers offered by microbrewers in Minnesota. Find one you love, or try them all. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. However, always remember that without water, none of these seasonal beers would be possible.

Water: The Essential Life Force

It's a common fact that water is an absolute necessity for regulating and maintaining our bodies and their countless functions. Despite the obvious statement that water is essential to our wellbeing, how many of us can actually explain why?

Our bodies, in all of their glorious mysteries, fascinating triumphs, and even shortcomings, provide us with essential clues and the feedback necessary to keep us functioning from day to day. It's our job to navigate our body's roadmap to wellness, and with a few helpful facts and important reminders, we will have you well on your way to a happy, healthy body.

Even as you are reading this, your body is hard at work performing the daily miracles that keep you alive and functioning. Your body is comprised of roughly 60% water, which is essential to many different functions. From maintaining cell life, transporting vital nutrients, enabling and sustaining chemical and metabolic reactions, regulating body temperature, and eliminating harmful toxins, you simply would not be able to function without the help of handy H20. Water is also responsible for protecting and cushioning your organs and spinal cord and powering your brain- basically, water is the driving force of health and vitality.

Water is responsible for powering the blood that circulates oxygen, minerals, vitamins, glucose and other nutrients to every part of your body. It also enables the biochemical breakdown of the food that you eat and clears away the cells rejected waste products through digestion and elimination. Powering every cell through the balance of fluid and electrolytes, there is no cell or bodily function that does not heavily rely on water.

Though the average adult loses more than 80 ounces of water each day through breathing, sweating, and waste elimination, the same person takes in less than 32 ounces of water a day. This is a startling fact, particularly when applied to brain function. The human brain is comprised of approximately 85% water, the life force that provides the brain with the electrical energy to carry out all functions (which explains why you can get a headache when you are dehydrated). From the production of neurotransmitters and hormones to thought and memory processes, brain cells require two times more energy than any other cells in the body, with nerve transmission accounting for half of all the brain's energy.

Maintaining your body's water levels is a necessity. From maintaining the tiniest of molecules and intricate brain functions to powering  the processes your  body completes each moment, drinking water is essential to your health. Factors such as climate, activity level, illness, and pregnancy can change necessary daily intake, but the average adult male should consume around 13 cups of water daily while the average woman's consumption should be about 9 cups to maintain an optimal fluid level.

Equipped with a few essential facts and armed with the awareness of your body's water needs, you're now well on your way to a happier, healthier body. Now go fill up that water bottle!

5 Reasons to Drink Tap Instead of Bottled Water

Agua, wasser, eau, water- It doesn’t matter where you come from or which language you speak, we all know that our bodies need water! We grow up being told the “8x8 rule”- drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day- to properly hydrate our bodies. The dilemma is, have you ever really thought much about the water you’re drinking?

It may sound silly at first and you're probably thinking “Water is WATER- no calories, no fat, no sodium…” but would you believe that there is a big difference economically, nutritionally, and environmentally between tap and bottled water? Here are 5 reasons why you should switch to tap water:

Grab the Microscope
With the FDA regularly testing, you can always be sure that you water is clean of E. coli and bacteria. Bottled water companies do not have to follow these protocols, so you better keep a microscope nearby if you choose to drink bottled.

Another Money Saver
Eating at home, using coupons, and turning lights off are all effective ways to save money, but did you know you could save over $250 a year by eliminating bottled water use? Check out the Bottled Water Cost Calculator and see how much money you could save by switching to tap.

No Bottle, No Problem
Drinking tap water is much more convenient than bottled. Instead of having to first purchase from a store, haul into your home, and then unpack your water into the fridge, all you have to do is grab a glass, turn on a faucet, and voila… water!

Local Support
Increasing your tap water intake will slightly bring up your water bill (still MUCH less than buying bottled), but paying your local water bill helps support the economic circulation in your area, not a giant bottling corporation.

Know What You Are Drinking
With tap, you understand exactly what you are getting in your glass. Bottled water companies do not have to disclose where the water comes from, how it is purified, or what chemicals exist on the bottle. Without these factors, how can customers be sure of what they are putting into their bodies?

In 2009, a large city in Australia became the first city in the World to completely ban the use of bottled water. Now, many other large cities like San Francisco and Chicago are implementing their own rules against bottled water as well. The trend of #DrinkTap is growing globally. The positives of drinking tap water continue to outweigh the negatives… Will you make the switch?

The 99th Annual MN American Water Works Association Conference

Join water professionals from across the Midwest at the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association’s (MN AWWA) 99th Annual Conference in historic Duluth, MN on September 16^th-18th. The conference will continue the Minnesota AWWA’s focus on educating attendees on water quality and treatment, and public health, safety, and welfare.

The conference will feature excellent technical sessions from university professors, engineers, and specialists on topics ranging from blending groundwater and surface water, to 3D modeling of water systems, to retrofitting water treatment systems to disinfection using ozone to achieve algal toxin and odor control.

The conference is a four-day event that will take place at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center overlooking the beautiful Lake Superior. With plenty of fantastic lodging options and a bustling scene of delicious restaurants in the immediate vicinity (Canal Park), it won’t be hard to consider attending the Minnesota AWWA as a small reprieve from this past August's heat wave.

A Preview of the Events:

Tuesday: Board Meetings and Water for People for Events (Sporting Clays shooting, Golf and Fishing Tournaments
 

Wednesday: Opening Events, Keynote address, Vendor Exhibitions, Committee Meetings, Best In Glass Water Taste Test, and MAC Social and Water for People Silent Auction
 

Thursday and Friday: Technical Sessions and Speakers, Federal and State Regulatory Updates, Business Lunch & Election, Appreciation Dinner and Awards Presentation

A portion of the conference will be devoted to several competitions and contests including Best in Glass, Pipe Tapping, Meter Madness, and new competition Hydrant Hysteria. Learn more about the competitions on the Minnesota Section website.

The four-day conference will focus on the importance of the various ways we treat and use water and the impact we have on the world’s most important natural resource. Don’t miss the chance to learn from and meet with the region’s top water professionals at the 99^th Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference.

Land of 10,000 Lakes, and a Few Amazing Waterparks

Minnesota’s weather is often highlighted in the national news or the latest Hollywood film as nothing but snow, wind and subzero temperatures (and overly illustrative strong accents). Fortunately, we do experience our share of hot and sunny weather. Although we are known as the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota also has some pretty amazing water parks! Take a look at some of our favorite locations & make a plan to check them out to beat the heat and enjoy the summer.

One of our top water park picks is the Rapid River Lodge & Waterpark in Brainerd.  This water park has a 240-foot body slide, a 240-foot aqua slide, a lazy river, basketball courts and much more!  The lodge also offers many different specials throughout the summer to make it a cheap weekend destination for you and your family.

If you are looking for an outdoor waterpark adventure, Maple Grove has a fantastic option with the Grove Cove!  This aquatic center offers both indoor and outdoor pools for you to cool off in, as well as log-walks, water sprays, and even a tot-walk for the little ones.  Along with the pools & water slides, there are family friendly concessions that everyone in the family will enjoy.  They offer many different specials throughout the summer so make sure to check them out before your next visit.

For those who want to enjoy a water park that is especially family friendly, the Richfield Outdoor Pool includes a wading area with aquatic toys for the younger generations in the family, and wheelchair accessible pools for the older generations.  There are also water volleyball courts for the more athletic members of the family.  Also, the Richfield Outdoor Pool has many different umbrella covered tables for families who may want to enjoy a picnic after a dip in the pool.  As you can see, this pool is family friendly and a must-see this summer!

Yet another great outdoor water park location is Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls. This park includes four different water slides, a lazy river, Wild Adventure Island, and more!  Wild Mountain is also one of the only places in Minnesota to offer an Alpine slide.  This park makes it easy to spend a whole day enjoying the water and the weather.  They also offer go-karting and many other fun outdoor activities that will make you return every summer.

As you can see, Minnesota may be the land of 10,000 lakes, but we also have tons of amazing water parks to enjoy throughout the warm summer months!  Make sure to take advantage of them on the next hot summer day with your friends & family!

99th Annual MN AWWA Conference: Vendor Toolkit

Join Us in a SOCIAL TOAST to the

99th Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference!

STEP ONE: CONNECT WITH US!

Follow/connect with the Minnesota AWWA.  Please Note:  To create true/real activity, you

 MUST do more than follow…..  Please create a pose, like, share, comment, tweet, retweet, etc.

Social Media	Page Name	Link
Facebook	Minnesota AWWA	http://on.fb.me/1WF5ZaQ
Facebook Event Page	Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference	http://on.fb.me/1NA7qDq
Twitter	Minnesota AWWA	http://bit.ly/1JfWO6p
LinkedIn Group	Minnesota AWWA Events	http://bit.ly/1TTx6jo

STEP TWO: GET ACTIVE!

Shout out to attendees and vendors! Create activity! The more the merrier!

FACEBOOK 

Join the Facebook Event page to advertise your activities, promote your booth/company/services, share updates, posts, special offers, promotions for dinner specials, tag vendors/conference attendees and please share your excitement. Use @ in your posts to tag the @Minnesota AWWA Facebook Page

                  Attached graphics for use, please add your logo:

S     @MinnesotaAWWA Members We Can’t Wait To See You In Duluth.

S     @MinnesotaAWWA Attendees Pick Up Your (VENDOR) Swag At Booth#

S     Don’t Be Uncouth; Visit Our Booth; While In Duluth! @MinnesotaAWWA               

TWITTER      

Use the official Minnesota AWWA conference hashtag #MNAWWA to share promotions and specials.

S     Welcome @MinnesotaAWWA Members! Visit Booth XXX #MNAWWA                 

S     @MinnesotaAWWA! We Are An Official Sponsor!

S     @MinnesotaAWWA Members What Are You Most Excited at #MNAWWA?           

LINKEDIN GROUP

Are you presenting, participating in a competition event and/or exhibiting? Join Minnesota AWWA Events and share your topic/story/title to create discussion.

STEP THREE: HELP US HELP YOU!

Want assistance?  We can help! Please share any materials you create nathan@daytamarketing.com; we will be glad to advertise and share your excitement!

2015 Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference Blog http://bit.ly/1NuRORD

99th Annual MN AWWA Conference: Local Establishment Toolkit

Join Us in a SOCIAL TOAST to the

99th Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference!

STEP ONE: CONNECT WITH US!

Follow/connect with the Minnesota AWWA.  Please Note:  To create true/real activity, you

 MUST do more than follow…..  Please create a pose, like, share, comment, tweet, retweet, etc.

Social Media	Page Name	Link
Facebook	Minnesota AWWA	http://on.fb.me/1WF5ZaQ
Facebook Event Page	Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference	http://on.fb.me/1NA7qDq
Twitter	Minnesota AWWA	http://bit.ly/1JfWO6p
LinkedIn Group	Minnesota AWWA Events	http://bit.ly/1TTx6jo

STEP TWO: GET ACTIVE!

Shout out to attendees and vendors! Create activity! The more the merrier!

FACEBOOK 

Join the Facebook Event page to share updates, posts, special offers, promotions for dinner specials, tag vendors/conference attendees and please share your excitement. Use @ in your posts to tag the @Minnesota AWWA Facebook Page

                  Attached graphics for use:

S     Welcome @MinnesotaAWWA Members!      (add member specials)

S     No water, No beer. @Minnesota AWWA                                                                  

S     @Minnesota AWWA FREE water for all attendees!                                                

TWITTER      

Use the official Minnesota AWWA conference hashtag #MNAWWA to share promotions and specials.

S     Welcome @MinnesotaAWWA Members!                                                                 

S     @MinnesotaAWWA! We’ll have a reason to hydrate.  #NoWaterNoBeer    

S     @MinnesotaAWWA! Stop in for…..               (add member specials)          

STEP THREE: HELP US HELP YOU!

Want assistance?  We can help! Please share any materials you create nathan@daytamarketing.com; we will be glad to advertise and share your excitement!

2015 Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference Blog

http://bit.ly/1NuRORD

99th Annual MN AWWA Conference: Attendee Toolkit

Join Us in a SOCIAL TOAST to the

99th Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference!

STEP ONE: CONNECT!

Go to social sites to follow/connect with the Minnesota AWWA for conference updates. 

Please Note:  Social media policies have changed. To create true/real activity, you MUST do more than follow…..  Please create a post, like, share, comment, tweet, retweet, etc.

Social Media	Page Name	Link
Facebook	Minnesota AWWA	http://on.fb.me/1WF5ZaQ
Facebook Event Page	Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference	http://on.fb.me/1NA7qDq
Twitter	Minnesota AWWA	http://bit.ly/1JfWO6p
LinkedIn Group	Minnesota AWWA Events	http://bit.ly/1TTx6jo

STEP TWO: GET ACTIVE!

Let’s create activity!

FACEBOOK

Join the Facebook Event page referenced above. Please share your updates, posts and your excitement. We will be sharing vendor updates and offers from local establishments.

REMEMBER: Use @ in your posts to tag the @Minnesota AWWA Facebook Page.

TWITTER

The official Minnesota AWWA conference hashtag is #MNAWWA.  Use it to share updates and stay current during the conference and WIN PRIZES. We plan to conduct a Social Toast LIVE Twitter Contest during the conference.  There will also be special offers from local establishment throughout the conference.

LINKEDIN GROUP

Are you presenting, participating in a competition event and/or exhibiting? Join Minnesota AWWA Events and share your story and create discussion.

STEP THREE: HELP US HELP YOU!

We’ve created materials for you to share. Any materials you create, please send them to us at nathan@daytamarketing.com. We will help advertise and share your excitement! 

2015 Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference Blog

http://bit.ly/1NuRORD