As it's done every spring since 1959, the Nisswa Chamber's Welcome Wannigan traveled Gull Lake on Saturday, May 14, delivering hot coffee from StoneHouse Coffee and fresh doughnuts from Schaefer's Foods to anglers on the walleye and northern pike fishing opener.
The pontoon boat piloted by Jay Chaney of Boats and Beyond carefully sidled up next to angling boats, where Miss Nisswa Hannah Gatton, Princess Taylor Leas and Little Miss Nisswa Tiana Herron cheerfully handed out complimentary coffee and doughnuts.
Anglers welcomed the hot coffee on a cold and windy morning.
Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith caught fish on Big Sandy Lake near McGregor during the annual Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener. The Explore Minnesota tourism group said the 70th annual event will take place May 11-14 on the Mississippi River near St. Cloud. This will be the first time in the history of the Governor's Fishing Opener that the event will be held in the St. Cloud area.
Explore Minnesota, the state's tourism promotion office, organizes this event each year in coordination with a host community. Next year's opener will be hosted collaboratively by the communities of St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and Sartell.
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