From staff and news services
Three anglers who caught state-record fish in 2007 will be honored at 5 p.m. Saturday at the 76th annual Northwest Sportshow — and all three fish were caught in southeastern Minnesota.
But don’t get too excited — they are fish you might not have ever seen or even heard of:
• Nelia Engen of Little Canada, Minn., caught a 5-pound, 9-ounce shovelnose sturgeon May 31 in the Mississippi River near Red Wing.
• Lee Newman of Winona caught a 0.39 warmouth Feb. 23 in Airport Lake near Winona. That’s a rare fish that is a member of the bass/panfish family. It’s so rare that this year is first time one has been recorded in the Department of Natural Resources fishing synopsis’ list of state records.
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• Andrew Geving of Blaine, Minn., caught a 3-pound, 15-ounce golden redhorse April 29 in the Root River near Whalan. The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wis., recognizes Geving's fish as a world record.
SAY GOOD-BYE TO ICE: Late-season ice fishing is just about shot and with temperatures predicted for the 50s this weekend, could end.
Department of Natural Resources conservation officers said most of the fishing action is shifting to open water in the Mississippi River, where fishing’s been pretty good.
Office Tom Hemker of Winona said walleye angling is hot, with some 30-inchers reported caught. He did find anglers keeping walleye below the 15-inch minimum.
Officer Mitch Boyum said sauger were much more numerous than walleyes.
On a related note, those fishing the Mississippi River should be aware that Wisconsin has new laws to slow the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, and Minnesota anglers are being asked to help out. All livewells and minnow buckets must be drained of all river water before leaving the river, said Officer Scott Fritz of LaCrescent. Don’t dump minnows at accesses, but bag them or find some other way to collect them.
MUSKIE TALK: Dr. Bruce Samson, a professional angler, will talk on how to use GPS and fishfinders at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Eagles Club in Owatonna,
His talk is part of the monthly meeting of the Southern Crossroads Chapter of Muskies Inc.
