Printable Version

Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, May 10, 2008

Molnau lands walleye before Pawlenty

By The Associated Press

BREEZY POINT, Minn. — Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau is apparently quite the angler. While Gov. Tim Pawlenty had a slow morning on Pelican Lake, Molnau landed a 19-inch walleye at about 8:30 a.m. on today's walleye fishing opener.

In the past six years, Molnau and Pawlenty have had a friendly competition for first fish caught, longest fish and most fish caught on opening day. Molnau has been the unofficial winner each year — and it seemed this year would be no different.

She held her first fish high — as Pawlenty and his wife Mary were fishing only about 100 yards away. Both Pawlentys were still empty-handed.

Of the anglers near the governor, only a few caught fish Saturday morning. But a slow day was expected because of a late ice-out on Pelican Lake. While parts of northern Minnesota saw snow, the Brainerd area saw little or no wind, overcast skies, and temperatures that were a bit chilly — in the high 40s.

``This is the start of summer,'' Pawlenty said before he went fishing. ``So why am I sitting here in a snowmobile suit?''

On the eve of the opener, ice still clung to Lake Winnibigoshish and Leech Lake as well as Lake Bemidji, Lake of the Woods, Lake Vermilion and Rainy Lake, although all had some open water.

Some lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, such as Gunflint, were still covered in ice.

``Ice is causing some major problems in the north,'' said Tim Browning, DNR trails and waterways regional manager. ``Hundreds of concrete boat ramps have been buckled from ice movement over the winter and repairs are being hampered by the late ice-out.''

Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau holds up a walleye on Pelican lake near Breezy Point, Minn., Saturday, May 10, 2008. Molnau caught the first fish in the competition with Gov. Tim Pawlenty for the fishing opener. (AP Photo/Brainerd Dispatch, Steve Kohls)