Otter Tail Country Tourism

Otter Tail Country Photo Contest Winners

2011-10-28T20:20:00.000-06:00

Here is the 2nd place photo in the Animal/Bird/Fish category. It was submitted by Jen A. from Maple Grove, MN.

2011 Otter Tail Country Photo Contest Winners

2011-10-28T20:16:00.000-06:00

Here is the 1st place photo in the Animal/Bird/Fish category. It was submitted by Kevin K, from Fergus Falls, MN.

2011 Otter Tail Country Photo Contest Winners

2011-10-28T20:02:00.000-06:00

Here are the winning photos for the People category. 1st place Jen A. from Maple Grove, MN. 2nd place Casey M. from Westhope, ND.

2011 Otter Tail Country Photo Contest Winners

2011-10-28T19:50:00.001-06:00

Here are the winning photos for the Animal/Bird/Fish category. 1st place Kevin K. from Fergus Falls, MN. 2nd place Jen A. from Maple Grove, MN.

2011 Otter Tail Country Photo Contest Winners

2011-10-28T19:04:00.000-06:00

Here are the winning photos for the Landscape category. 1st place; Casey M. from Westhope, ND. 2nd place; Paul N. from Battle Lake, MN

Biking in Hot Weather - Tips to Stay Safe

2011-07-16T15:12:00.003-06:00

It's 90 degrees and extremely humid in Otter Tail Country as I write this. This weekend is going to be hot and it's only getting warmer next week, with highs between 95 and 100 and overnight lows as warm as 80. Pretty intense!

Well vacations don't stop because of high temperatures and some visitors have hopes of taking their bikes out and putting some miles on them thanks to Minnesota's beautiful roads and trails. It can be dangerous to bike in extreme temperatures, but it can also be a rewarding ride.

Bicycling magazine has some great tips on staying safe in the heat and getting the most out of your rides. Here's an excerpt from the article:

Morning vs. Evening
Avoiding the midday sun is an obvious way to duck the heat. But should you ride closer to when it rises or sets? You decide.

Air Temperature
Morning: Lowest after sunrise, but the day's not getting any cooler
Evening: Heat absorbed by road surfaces radiates and keeps air warm

Humidity
Morning: Cooler air has more relative moisture, so sweat evaporates slower and you take longer to cool
Evening: Drops as the temperature rises; sweat evaporates (and you cool off) faster

Body Temperature
Morning: Lower just after you wake up
Evening: Higher later in the day

Three More Ways To Chill

Deflect the sun. You learned in middle-school science that pale colors reflect light, while dark ones absorb it. But few of us can legitimately rock a blinding-white skinsuit. Instead, try Pearl Izumi's new dark-colored kit made with coldblack, a special fabric treatment designed to reflect sunlight. Jerseys, bibs, and shorts start at $100.

Ice your legs. Cyclists who soaked their lower bodies in cold water for 20 minutes before a 40-minute time trial on a hot day generated, on average, 20 more watts of power than when they skipped the soak, reports the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. No pool? The Transformer shorts ($110) made by clothing manufacturer 110% Play Harder come with ice packs that slip into built-in panels. Try wearing them for 20 minutes before riding on the hottest days.

Drink protein with carbs. The combo helped cyclists go faster inan eight-day race in 90-degree heat than those who fueled only with carbs. "Protein helps the body retain water, so there's more blood to divert to the skin to cool you," says study author Chris Easton, PhD. During a long ride, sip a drink with a 4:1 carb-to-protein ratio, aiming for 56 grams of carbs and 14 grams of protein per hour.

(Key Skill) Make A Preride Slushie
1 cup ice + 1 cup water + 1/4 cup sports drink
Icy-beverage devotees were stoked last year when research concluded that slurping a slushie before exercise helps you go 20 percent longer in the heat than sipping cold water. Toss the above ingredients into a blender. Start drinking 40 minutes pre-ride and try to finish it about five minutes before you roll.

Why It Works Your body shuttles warmth to your stomach and away from your extremities to melt the slushie, which prolongs the time it takes you to overheat, says study author Paul Laursen, PhD, a physiologist at the Sports Performance Research Institute of New Zealand. The electrolytes in the sports drink enhance hydration.

Have any tips you like to use when it's hot? Share with us in the comments section.

Stay cool and stay safe during this heat wave!

FIshing in Minnesota over the 4th of July? Buy Your License Now.

2011-06-29T23:15:00.004-06:00

With the threat of a Minnesota government strike, we're urging anglers to buy their licenses before the July 1st decision to go on strike or not.

From Sam Cook's Area Voices blog:

If you’re planning to do any fishing soon and you haven’t bought a license yet, you might want to buy one soon. If the state’s budget impasse results in a government shutdown July 1, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Electronic Licensing System will be shut down, DNR officials said. That means you won’t be able to buy a license from a retail outlet such as a bait shop, nor online from the DNR. The DNR’s computer system likely will shut down between 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday if a government shutdown occurs, said Chris Niskanen, the DNR’s director of communications.

Also, if a shutdown occurs, state parks will begin asking campers and visitor to leave at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

We hope you'll make it out to Otter Tail Country for some fishing action over the holiday weekend!

Hiking in Otter Tail Country? Don't Forget Your Camera!

2011-06-16T14:32:00.002-06:00

As an amateur photography enthusiast, I get a few magazines about photography. I saw an article in Popular Photography about taking pictures while hiking - and Otter Tail Country's parks are a great place to try your hand at some nature photography while hiking.

No, we might not have mountains to hike, but we have some great forests and trails with plenty of nature's beauty and exciting wildlife.

Here's an excerpt from some hiking photography tips I found on another site:

Camera Equipment:

I talked about all the other stuff first, on purpose. Being safe is more important than getting a good picture. However, now that we’ve established the basics to keep you safe, let’s talk about camera equipment. A point and shoot digital camera with as many megapixels as you can get is a good choice. It’s small, lightweight, and you can use the back screen to shoot your pictures instead of looking through the viewfinder. This makes it easier to get a horizontal picture of a flower low to the ground.

For SLR cameras, weight becomes a hindrance, so you’ll want to keep your equipment down to a minimum, if possible. Before you go, decide what your goal of the day is and only take the lenses that will help fulfill that goal. Landscape photography is dominated by wide angle lenses, wildlife photography requires a telephoto lens, and flower photography ideally calls for a macro lens. I’d consider bringing a dark neutral density filter if you want to shoot waterfalls, and make sure and bring a second battery and a second memory card. It’s a long walk back to the truck if your battery dies. Because of weight, I’d take a maximum of two lenses, and usually this would be a wide angle and telephoto. You’ll also want to bring along a monopod, which can double up as a walking stick. Tripods are much too cumbersome to try and deal with out in the field, but a monopod will give you enough stability to get a good shot.

And the end of the article was probably my favorite advice for nature photography:

Most of all, getting in the outdoors can be a fun and sometimes religious experience. There’s a reason people call the wild “God’s Country”. Don’t be in a hurry and simply enjoy yourself. The photo is only half the experience.

Remember - the best camera is the one you have with you, even if it's just on your cell phone. The more pictures you take the better you'll be. Get out there and snap some shots!

Funny Pictures: Taxidermy Gone Wrong

2011-05-30T14:45:00.001-06:00

Taxidermy is a great way to remember a great hunt or fishing trip and when done right, shows the true beauty of the trophy you brought home.

But when it's done wrong, it's pretty terrible.

There's a Facebook page dedicated to these poor taxidermy jobs named "Badly Stuffed Animals" - with about 10,000 fans.

Outdoor Life magazine took 30 of the most absurd and put together a slideshow. Click here to view the slideshow at Outdoor Life.

Let us know if you've seen any other poor stuffing jobs - and remember, we recommend taking your trophies to a reputable taxidermist, and there are plenty in Otter Tail Country who would love to help you remember your excursion.

Trap Shooting Tips: A Great Off-Season Sport

2011-05-26T13:34:00.000-06:00

I've spent many summer afternoons shooting trap - either at a club or just throwing clay pigeons by hand in a field. It's a great way to spend time with friends and get ready for the coming Fall hunting seasons. Many hunters enjoy the bird hunting in Otter Tail Country - we have ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse, turkeys - you name it. Staying sharp in the off season will ensure better experiences when the seasons open in the fall.

I found an article on Field and Stream about shooting trap - it's actually quite funny, more funny than informative, to be honest, but basically the article talks about focusing and concentration being huge. You'd think it would be easy to shoot a bright orange disk flying through the sky, but it gets tough.

Take a look at the article and have a laugh, then get out and shoot some clays - it's cheap, fun, and will help you bag more birds during hunting season in Otter Tail Country

Looking for Fishing Updates from Otter Tail Country

2011-05-23T13:25:00.001-06:00

We're looking for any fishing updates you guys are finding out there on any of the 1,000 lakes and waterways in Otter Tail Country, since the Summer 2011 fishing season opened earlier this month.

We don't need to know your hot spots, but we'd love to hear what time of day is working best, what lures and baits you're using, how deep you're finding fish, etc. We're just hoping to be able to send our loyal readers to some good places with good chances of catching a few of our wonderful Minnesota walleyes, northerns, panfish, bass, or anything else they're looking for!

Feel free to email alecwinmill@gmail.com or leave a comment on this blog post and we'll be sure to credit you for helping us out.

Good luck and happy fishing!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Video: How to Become a Bass Pro

2011-05-20T13:31:00.000-06:00

Field and Stream magazine, who also has an outstanding website we check out frequently, started running a Hook Shots special with fishing tips.

This video, How to Become a Bass Pro, has some great tips for any of you avid bass fishermen out there - and there are plenty of you in Otter Tail Country.

These anglers are fishing in New York, but the tips are transferrable to the waters of Minnesota.

Here's the video:

Original article on Field and Stream.

Five Pound, Potential World Record Sunfish Caught in AZ

2011-05-16T13:24:00.003-06:00

Robert Lawler, an angler on Lake Havasu in Arizona caught what could potentially be the new world record redear sunfish - weighing in at over 5 lbs.

The fish outweighed the current Arizona state record by more than a pound and bested the world record sunfish by about an ounce.

Field and Stream has a nice photo slideshow - check it out and let us know what you think in the comments. Do you think we have any mammoth panfish swimming around in one of Otter Tail Country's 1,000 lakes?

Original Post at Field and Stream

Minnesota Fishing Opener 2011 - Starts in Two Hours!

2011-05-13T21:06:00.002-06:00

I just talked to a buddy who's headed to the lake right now - in preparation for the midnight opening of Minnesota's 2011 walleye fishing season.

The season closed a few months ago, and now that the ice is off the lakes and walleyes are in ready (mostly post-spawn), it's time to start back up again.

It seems like we're always pushing for safety, but once again we hope you're being cautious of the weather. It's unseasonably chilly this weekend, it's hovering around 40 degrees right now with wind and intermittent rain fall. Dress warm and be sure to wear your life jacket, even if you're a strong swimmer. You never know what could happen!

That said, we hope you get out there and catch a limit of beautiful, feisty Minnesota walleyes at the lake of your choice this weekend. See you in Otter Tail Country!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Reminder: Find us on Your Favorite Social Media Channels!

2011-05-08T13:20:00.000-06:00

Hey All!

This is just a friendly reminder that we're out there in the world of social media and we'd love to connect with you.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OtterTailCountry and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OtterTailCounty - notice we couldn't fit OtterTailCountry on Twitter, so we're OtterTailCounty.

Let's get started on the social web!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Docks and Lifts "Going In" on Otter Tail Lake

2011-05-06T20:07:00.004-06:00

I'm not lucky enough to have a place on Otter Tail Lake, but my good friend Mark has family with property on the lake.

He's going to be putting the docks and boat lifts in at his grandparents' place this weekend, and that's exciting for everyone - we're one step closer to summer! He just put a new stereo in his boat and got it tuned up and ready for action once the weather warms up a bit more.

I know there are a lot of you getting ready to put your boating accessories in the water at your cabin, and we just ask you to be safe as you're doing this. Water is much colder this time of year than even a month from now. We're not suggesting you wait to get your dock and lifts in the water, but just take your time and be safe - put on a pair of insulated waders, even if it's a tougher move to go in just your swimsuit in May. Be careful of rocks you may have forgotten about or any sudden drop offs in the lake.

We're excited to see more boats out on the lakes - whether you're fishing, water skiing, wakeboarding, or just out there enjoying the day, we're hoping you're out there in Otter Tail Country.

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Save Money on Your Next Vacation

2011-05-04T19:40:00.001-06:00

They are two of most people's favorite things: vacations and money. We found a great article at Fox Business showing you have to save money so you can enjoy your vacation even more.

There are plenty of places to fly into near Otter Tail Country, and whether you fly into Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN's Hector International Airport or Minneapolis/St. Paul's International Airport, or anywhere in else in our area, we hope you get the best deal possible on your flight. The article suggests buying your tickets in advance - 60 days before your flight is a great time to do this. Another tip is to be flexible when buying your airfare. From the article:

Travelers can cut as much as 50% off airfare by flying on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday because they are considered off-peak days. When you buy the tickets also matters. “A lot of airfare sales are lunched on Tuesday and many end on Thursday,” according to Young.

The article also talks about traveling during off peak seasons - which is great for Otter Tail Country because Winter can be just as much fun as Summer here in the lakes country of Minnesota!

See the full article for more tips on saving money on your next vacation - we hope to see you in Otter Tail Country in the near future!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Outdoor Gear Deals from SteepAndCheap.com

2011-05-02T22:40:00.002-06:00

We're big fans of saving money at Otter Tail Country Tourism - and we're also big fans of outdoor activities. I think it's time we share a website with you guys that will help any outdoors-person enjoy their passions for less money.

SteepAndCheap.com offers a deal on a variety of outdoor goods, until it sells out. Once the deal sells out, they find a new deal and put it up for sale on the site. They sell anything from biking gear to camping equipment and everything in between. They have some great clothes and accessories, too.

Not every deal is for everyone, but that's the great thing about SteepAndCheap.com - the deals don't stick around for too long. Give the site a whirl and let us know what you think in the comments!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

When is Minnesota's 2011 Fishing Opener?

2011-04-29T20:50:00.002-06:00

We're getting antsy for the reopening of walleye fishing season in Minnesota - and the ice hasn't been off most lakes for very long!

We'd just like to put out a quick post letting you guys know when you can get back on the lake and start fishing again. A while back, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources decided to have the walleye opener two Saturdays before Memorial Day - which makes Minnesota's 2011 fishing opener Saturday, May 14.

We hope you get out there for opener, and we really hope the walleyes are hungry! Good luck, anglers!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Starting to Seem Like Spring in Otter Tail Country

2011-04-27T19:51:00.002-06:00

Well this Spring has been something else for those of us in Otter Tail Country. We've had tons of rain and unseasonably chilly weather, extending the wintry season a little longer than we'd have liked. There are always things to do in lake country, and luckily for us Spring isn't prime vacation time for most people.

The last couple days have been showing us that there is warmer weather in our future. Temperatures in the upper 40s to mid 60s are feeling like 75-80 lately, especially considering we're used to Winter jacket weather. It's amazing how much warmer 40 degrees feels in the Spring than it does in the Fall.

We're hoping that we'll be rewarded with a beautiful summer, ready for your lake resort vacation. It's the least mother nature could do for us considering we've been so patient with the chilly weather this Spring. Even if we aren't lucky enough to feel the warmth in the near future, we know the fish will still bite and relaxation will still be easy.

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

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Speed FIsh to Find Fish Fast

2011-04-25T20:00:00.000-06:00

Most of us were taught to be very deliberate when we're fishing - get to "the spot", work it over, and if you aren't catching fish, just try harder.

Some pro fishing tournament anglers think more of us "weekend warriors" should try fishing like they do - fast and furious - in an effort to catch more fish.

An article we found at Wired2Fish.com isn't saying to drive around aimlessly, throwing your line in the water briefly and moving if you don't get an instant bite - you still have to be thorough. But if your'e in an area that isn't likely to hold fish, it doesn't matter how thorough you are. If you're going to slow down your fishing, do it after you've pulled a few fish into the boat.

Some of the best advice I found in the article:

"There is a philosophy in fishing called fish everything," Iaconelli said. "That just means when you get to a section of the lake, you hit everything in that section quickly to see if you can get a bite. Most of the time your first bite is not a fluke. It's that key piece of the puzzle that helps you see where all the other pieces fit. Maybe 10 percent of the time a bite is misleading, but 9 times out of 10 that first bite helps you figure out the fishing that day."

The article tells you the other key ingredients to fishing fast - including planning ahead, knowing what to look for as far as water temperature, and reading maps to save time.

See the full article and pictures of excited anglers with big bass at Wired2Fish.

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Easter Desert Recipe: Carrot Cake

2011-04-21T21:57:00.000-06:00

As Easter nears everyone is wondering what to make for Sunday dinner. Well I don’t have the entire menu but I do have an awesome recipe for carrot cake. Dessert is all anyone ever cares about right? Well maybe that’s just me.

This carrot cake was found at allrecipes.com and is pretty much to die for.

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 ¼ cups of vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans

½ cups butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla.
Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots.
Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in
the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then
turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4. To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese,
confectioners’ sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth
and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Frost the cooled cake.

This is a recipe sure to please. But make sure the Easter Bunny doesn’t get his hands on it! He might eat it all before dessert comes around!

-Tiffany, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Make a Fishing Lure from a Wine Cork

2011-04-18T21:37:00.001-06:00

Let's say you enjoy a glass of wine now and then. Let's also say you like to catch largemouth bass in your spare time. What if you could use one of these hobbies to help the other?

Field and Stream has a nice tutorial on making a unique bass popper from a plastic wine cork. It seems fairly straightforward and low cost.

Here's the list of materials needed:
Plastic wine cork
6-inch wire spinner shaft
Small plastic beads
Large propeller blade
Rubber skirt
No. 8 treble hook
Lacquer paint
Stick-on eyes

All but the wine cork will be available at most tackle supply manufacturers' websites.

See full instructions at Field & Stream

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Twitter and Facebook - Let's Connect!

2011-04-16T22:10:00.000-06:00

You can find us on social media - and we'd love to connect with you!

You can find fishing tips, weather updates, and see blog posts on our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/OtterTailCountry.

We're also on Twitter, where we'd love to have a conversation with you in 140 characters or less - www.twitter.com/OtterTailCounty (notice it's County not Country - darn character limitations!)

Are you on a social network we should be checking out? Let us know if you have a YouTube channel or a fan page for your business - we'll check it out!

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team

Spring Crappie Fishing - Time for Fun!

2011-04-13T20:38:00.003-06:00

Mike Frisch, a Minnesota fishing guide, tournament fisherman, writer, and radio personality wrote a quick post about his best tips for early season crappie fishing with his daughter, and they sound solid.

Ease of access this time of year means short trips after work should prove easy, and setups are super simple with jigs, bobbers and crappie minnows making it easy to get fishing.

From the article:

Not only is spring crappie location often a pretty simple affair, but so is the presentation that catches these fish. A small jig fished below a slip-bobber tipped with a crappie minnow is a favorite. A pink/white or glow green 1/32-ounce Gypsi Jig tipped with a small, but very lively crappie minnow is my favorite crappie set-up. Gypsi Jigs have tinsel tails that give off a fish scale flash that really attracts spring crappies. A small split shot added about a foot above the jig completes the system. I like the pink/white color jig combination for daytime fishing, switching to the glow green color during low light conditions.

Gypsi Jigs have produced good spring crappie catches for years. Last year another jig, the Bug-A-Boo Jig produced crappies as well. These jigs feature marabou feathers that pulsate and quiver to attract and trigger crappies and have quickly become another option in my fish-catching arsenal.

Regardless which jig is chosen, an important factor in making this simple system the most effective is the use of the right bobber. The Super-Pro Lite-Bite Slip Bobbers are awesome tools for this fishing. They have hi-vis stems that can be seen easily in low light. Not only that, but the bobber stems have Slip-N-Slide grommets allowing line to slide through with minimal resistance helping anglers catch light biters. Their sleek pear shape also helps anglers in bite detection.

Mike really seems to have a handle on the Spring crappie bite. I hope you guys can get out there and take advantage of the tips he's offering here.

See the full article here.

-Al, Otter Tail Country Tourism Team