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Community Corner

Fishermen (and Women) Brave Chill at Lake Harriet as Season Opens

It was cold, and wet, but that didn't stop a dedicated group from fishing at Lake Harriet.

 Eight-year-old Morgan Ajwang was beaming after a day of fishing at Lake Harriet with her half-sister, 3-year-old Ella Wucherpfenning and stepfather, Hans Wucherpfenning. While the family hadn’t actually caught any fish, and though it was rainy and cold, she seemed happy and satisfied at a day’s work.

This isn’t her fish time fishing, either. She went with her stepfather last summer too, and is therefore an experienced fisherwoman. The secret to fishing, she said, is “to make sure they’re still there” when you pull the fish out of the water.

Indeed, the rainy weather seemed to be no deterrent for a number of fishing enthusiasts who came out for Saturday’s fishing opener, despite the cold. They also weren’t deterred by the fact that it’s not advisable to eat too many of the fish—many fisherman said they don’t even like fish. There’s just something about standing over the water, hoping for that lucky bite and thrill of excitement when a fish catches onto the bait, they said, that enticed the local fishermen to come out and celebrate the start of fishing season.

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Lake Harriet is particularly known as a great place to fish for muskies, although technically the season for those doesn’t start until June 4. However, Lake Harriet has some Northern Pike, which is in season, as well as sunfish, perch and walleye. The bass season starts May 28.

Christian Clarity fished at Lake Harriet last year, but this was his first time fishing with a license. He’s fishing for pike, which takes a smaller bait than muskies, but he said, “If I catch a muskie, it’s not my fault.” The biggest fish he’s ever caught is a 15-pound carp, but he’s never kept any of the fish that he’s caught. “I don’t want to clean them,” he said. Besides, he doesn’t really like to eat them. 

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 James Mabry and his friend Becky Severtson spent several hours at the dock by the Grand Stand, without an umbrella, though they had a blanket to keep themselves warm. Mabry has been fishing since he was a kid.  He likes the peacefulness of fishing, but also the excitement. “After you get that fish in the hoook, it turns very chaotic,” he said. In Mabry’s view, the trick to fishing is  “a lotta luck and some good weather.” Though he lives over by Lake Nokomis, he prefers to come to Lake Harriet because he thinks it’s a bit cleaner. 

One young man was less than enthusiastic about his first day fishing in his life. Thi Dinh just got his license last week, and was out to see what it was like. “It’s cold!” he said, shivering, searching the water for any sign of a fish. He’d only been out for an hour, and didn’t know how much longer he would be staying outside. He just bought his fishing pole that day, and said he wanted to try fishing as he thinks it will be his last summer in Minnesota. “I’m going South,” he said, “to someplace warmer.” 

Another pair of fishermen were a bit more at ease, as each of them have been fishing their whole life. Ed Bonnie and his son, Peter, came out despite the weather because it was the opener. They like to fish at Lake Harriet because it’s great for Muskie fishing, but they plan to throw any muskies back in the water if they catch any. 

If you want to try your hand at fishing, you can get a license at the Holiday gas station on 54th Street and Nicollet Avenue and buy your gear across the street at Diamond Lake Ace Hardware.  You might also want to check out the Take Me Fishing website and/or the DNR website for more information and tips. 

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