Boy, Fall is a tough season for me. It's my catch 22 time of year. Think about it. You have serious choices to make. Ducks, pheasants, grouse, woodcock, geese, doves, turkeys and deer. Oh, and don't forget the fishing. This is a great time of year to chase big muskies, bass, pike and fall walleyes. Many of my biggest walleyes of the year come right now. If you are too dialed in on hunting right now, #1: Shame on you. #2 Don't sweat it; I've got the perfect spot for you to still get in a little open-water fishing, even in December and Janurary. Just make sure you own a darn warm parka and comfy pair of insulated winter boots. Ever heard of Nelson Lake? No? Well, most folks haven't. If you know where Bismarck is, you're getting close. Draw a line 45 minutes straight north and west of Bismarck and your finger will stop on Nelson Lake. If you're driving, just look for the smoke stacks. See, Minnkota Power Plant sits along the banks of the lake and uses Nelson Lake water to cool its turbines. That means the lake never freezes over. That also means you can take a boat out all winter long and do a little open-water fishing, even at -10 below zero. Buddy Jason Durham and I love that lake. Dozens of bass and crappies each time we go. Oh, and did I mention North Dakota's state record Largemouth came out of Nelson? Yep, like I said, it's quite a lake. If you do go, plan to run on battery power. Sub zero temps can screw up your outboard. Also plan on using spinning gear. Baitcasters tend to freeze up in cold temps. Tube baits, cranks and spinner baits all work well on Nelson. I've even been known to cast a fly rod there. If you go, don't forget your camera. Cold air meets warm water and creates severe fogging conditions most days. That fog sticks to absolutely everything. We normally grab a hotel room in Bismarck and drive up from there. If you've got even an ounce of Huck Finn syndrome, you need to try Nelson Lake, at least once. If you are in need a fishing partner for the trip, drop me a note. We'll fish it together!