The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener was held in the Albert Lea area May 9-12.
Pre-activities began when a red Ford truck was observed traveling into Fountain Lake from the City Hall parking lot on Monday. With the police, fire, rescue and a Minnesota Conservation officer present, it was decided to check the driver for a fishing license. The driver did not have a fishing license. Due to no fishing gear or fish found in the truck, there was no fishing offense to be charged.
The activities began Thursday with registration at high noon until 9 p.m. at the Country Inn and Suites. The Waterville Hatchery held an open house. You could see the fish hatching. A little yellow glob with a black spot became a fish!
Friday was a continuation of registration until 7 p.m. The kids’ fishing event was from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The evening activities for the public were titled “Hooked on Broadway,” with a free community picnic and dance by a 10-piece orchestra. It was neat.
Local artists put together a book of their own short stories titled “The Biggest Fish Story.” The book is available for purchase. Some of the stories were read to the public Friday night at the arts gallery.
The DNR even released walleye fingerlings with elementary students helping. The DNR had a live fish display on Broadway.
Saturday was the big day with the fishing challenge between Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan. Fountain Lake was named with boats and people around the lake. Parking was a challenge. The Governor and Lt. Governor were most gracious in their partaking to see grandkids grab grandma and dance.
Genie and I did the Broadway tour. We strongly urge you to take the walking tour of our own from Fountain Lake on the one side of Broadway and back to the other side of Fountain Lake. Downtown Albert Lea is certainly alive and well. We were most impressed with the changes inside the old bank building; seeing is believing. In doing the tour a must-enter is the Freeborn County Arts Initiative Gallery. They had a “Something Fishy” exhibition for the fishing opener. Many of the fishing-related works were projects of local elementary students – just beautiful.
The event was most certainly a prime example of, “It takes a lot of locals to pull off a successful Governor’s Fishing Opener.” Whether you served food at the picnic, counted people at the art center, took out trash, wore a host badge, if you were involved in some way, look at the person in the mirror as you give a big thumbs up.
A vote was taken for “Queen of the Event.” I bet you voted like everybody, for Susie Peterson of the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In case you’re wondering, the fishing score was Flanagan 3, Walz 1.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.