To get to Rice Lake, it's easiest to cross the border at Port Huron or Detroit. Have your paperwork in order, such as a birth certificate, visa or passport so you're not delayed at the border. Pay close attention to the laws governing taking fish across the border, and non-resident fishing regulations. Most Canadians are very friendly if you follow the rules.

If you get tired of catching fish, you can always explore the attractions in the area like Serpent Mounds Park, Lang Pioneer Village, the Peterborough Kartway and the Rainbow Restoration Tallgrass Prairie. For more information on resorts, amenities and attractions near Rice Lake, go to www.ricelakeinfo.com. Southview Cottages and RV Park offers excellent accommodations near some of the best fishing on Rice Lake. Contact them at www.southviewcottages. com, or at (705) 939-6761.

LAKE ERIE
While most Michiganders have that "up north" mentality, that doesn't mean your family fishing road trip has to point toward the Big Mac Bridge. Heading south has its advantages, too. Going to the big city can be fun. You can take in a ball game, visit some museums or hit some fancy restaurants. There's also some good fishing to be had near the big cities. Lake Erie is one place that would definitely be worth heading south for this summer.

Most anglers would tell you that the fishing on Lake Erie last season was tough, but not because there weren't any fish. There were plenty of fish. The problem was that most were just shy of being legal. Many charter captain friends said they had to catch and release 60 walleyes a day last year in order to find 10 keepers! Those sub-legal fish last year will be fat 16- to 18-inchers this season. This is the year to take the family to Lake Erie and fill the freezer!

The western basin of Lake Erie making up about a third of the lake is a hotspot for walleyes in the spring and early summer. Post-spawn walleyes disperse after spawning in the Detroit, Maumee, Sandusky and Raisin rivers, and fan out in the shallows of Lake Erie. They are ravenous after the spawn, and catching a limit is usually a given.

Families wanting to trailer their own rigs will find excellent facilities at Lake Erie Metro Park, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, Sterling State Park on Brest Bay, at Monroe and at Hieldenburg Park on the Raisin River. There are plenty of campgrounds, bait shops, motels and other amenities in the area. For more information, contact the Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-252-3011, or online at www.thebureau@monroe.com.