Mankato's governor fishing opener to be governor-less
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Apr. 21—By Tim Krohn
The Governor's Fishing Opener to be held next month in the Mankato-Madison Lake area will have all the normal events — except for a governor.
"As the governor has announced, he is incredibly disappointed to miss the lineup of events, tours, live music, and fishing scheduled for Fishing Opener weekend.
"While he will be attending his daughter's college graduation in Montana, he looks forward to spending time before and after the fishing opener in the Mankato area highlighting the community," stated a release from Walz's office. Walz, a former West High School teacher, lived in Mankato before moving to St. Paul to be governor.
"It's a bummer," said Ashlee White, Visit Mankato director, who is coordinating many of the local events that will happen May 11-13.
"We certainly would have liked to have him in town, but it doesn't really change what we're doing," she said. "It's a chance to show the media and others about the area's fishing opportunities and other things in the area."
There are a number of events lined up, some for elected officials, media and invited guests, and some for the public.
"We have live entertainment, raffles, fun festivities, events for kids, a bison drive event (at Minneopa State Park)."
The Mankato and Madison Lake area will host the Governor's 2023 Fishing Opener, marking just the fourth time the event has been in southern Minnesota during its 75-year history.
The fishing opener is set for May 12-13 and will feature multiple lakes and the Minnesota River in the region.
The Mankato area hasn't previously hosted the state's official fishing opener. Albert Lea hosted it in 2019, while 2021's took place in northern Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest region and Leech Lake Reservation.
There are more than 150 lakes in a 30-mile radius of Mankato.
In addition to the lakes, the Minnesota River has 80 species of fish, and the area has the state's largest cold water hatchery at Waterville.
