New Year Goals

A New Year and new bites. Some have already scratched their fishing itch; others are waiting to cast without wearing long underwear.

In the meantime, your MN-FISH team continues to push to make Minnesota the State of Fishing.

First up, really good news. For three years, MN-FISH has alerted legislators and anglers about the dilapidated St. Paul fish hatchery, important because it’s the facility that rears walleye and muskies for stocking in metro-area waters.

And now, finally, the governor’s office and DNR have asked for $3 million in bonding to begin to replace or rebuild the hatchery. Why? It’s only 125 years old!! Its water pipes are held up with duct tape and wire! Dangerous working conditions, too.

Indeed, the hatchery on Warner Road, in a state where sport fishing is huge economic engine, is embarrassing!

Our vision? Minnesota builds a state-of-the-art facility, open to the public, where school kids can learn about fish, while also offering DNR a world-class fish research laboratory.

At the moment, none of those things are happening. For shame.