Father Hennepin State Park, Isle, MN

Father Hennepin State Park is located on the southeast shore of Mille
Lacs Lake. It is named after Father Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan Recollect
priest, who was the first recorded European explorer to visit the region now
called Minnesota. His visit to this region occured in 1679-1680 and was under
duress, since he and his two companions were captured by Indians in the
Mississippi River Valley. They were brought to this area and held prisoner
until Sieur De Luht from the French post at Grand Portage on Lake Superior
came to this region and negotiated their release.

Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota's second-largest lake, spans 132,000
surface acres or slightly more than 200 square miles. Maximum depths barely
exceed 40 feet, while much of the main lake falls into the 20 to 38 foot depth
ranges. While the north half of Mille Lacs contains most of the lake's mud flats,
the southern portion of the lake offers more gravel and rock bars. All sides of
the lake offer some shallow reef-top fishing. Deep-water angling takes place
on the southern deep gravel and rocks as well as on dozens of mud flats in the
north half of the lake.

Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskie, Jumbo Perch, Small Mouth Bass and Tullibee
share the limelight at Minnesota's most popular fishing lake - on open water
and on ice.Mille Lacs' fame as one of the world's most prolific "natural" walleye
lakes rests on its ability to produce billions of walleye eggs and fry. Complete
Ice-over - Mille Lacs freezes "all the way", with ice reaching thicknesses of
2 to 4 feet. In most years anglers can find safe walkout ice by early December.
All this info is for all you fishermen who might like to come and fish here someday.
It is a beautiful lake and in some areas you cannot see all the way across, it is a huge
lake.