Mille Lacs/Aitkin/Mcgregor
The second largest inland lake in Minnesota is Mille Lacs Lake, and somewhat of a big bowl of fish straight north of the Twin Cities. Long renowned for its sandy shores, excellent walleye production and proximity to the metro area, it has been hot spot for anglers since the early days of cabins and resorts in the state. Historically more of a small cabin makeup, the lake is changing to more and more larger lake homes around its 68 mile circumference. A bit to the northeast is the town of McGregor and several popular lakes like Big Sandy, Minnewawa, and Round Lake. Big Sandy is the largest of the three with many bays and islands, and all three lakes have bars and restaurants on them. There are many other lakes just to the north of Mile Lacs and south of Aitkin that offer full recreational opportunities.