Maybe it’s because I’m a die-hard muskie angler and those happen to be the best places to chase the toothy fish. Or maybe it’s something that’s been passed on down the generations of my family, who have always vacationed there. Maybe it’s both, but I get more excited for a fishing trip there than anywhere. The air is crisp, with the light dusting of pine smell, and the steam rising off the water’s surface on a fall morning has an eerie yet inviting presence. Then there is the otherworldly fishing … (this is me trailing off into my thoughts and memories)

Best of all, I get to go there in 24 hours.

The 2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship is being held on Leech Lake in Central Minnesota, and myself and two others from the magazine staff are heading up for a week of hearty work … and fishing.

We’ll hop in the boat with pros during practice to gather tips, take photos and gain insights. We’ll give on-the-water-updates and take photos of them during the event, and capture one pro’s glorious moment as he’s named champion. We’ll film videos for our Web site.

And, yes, we will fish. Walleye, muskie, bass – we will probably chase all of them either during the days leading up to the event, or at least in the evenings. The conditions are lining up to be pretty tough, with rumors of turnover set to happen any day, but I don’t care. For I’ll be in Minnesota. There are few places I’d rather be.

Here’s hoping you get to visit your immaculate fishery this year.

Slam the hooks!