This coming weekend the Albert Lea area will host the 72nd Annual Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener. A tradition that "supposedly" began in 1948 with Governor Luther Youndahl, although no evidence exists that Youndahl make an apearance at Mille Lacs that May, let alone wet a line. So, where did this tradition begin, and how did it grow into such a large event that draws thousands to different areas of the state each year?
Let's go back to 1948 and start there.
Acording to the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minneapolis Tribune was the first newsppaper to "offer in-depth statewide coverage of Minnesota's Fishing Opener with fishing reports, on-site journalists, and photographs." Coversavation Commissioner Chester Wilson approved $300,000 for prrojects to improve both fishing and hunting in Minnesota- that's around $2 million in 2019 dollars. However, Governour Youngdahl didn't make it to that opener, or the next two. In 1951, the Tribune's coverage had grown into a full-fledged group fishing trip for journalists, and Youngdahl was a part of that trip, again at Mille Lacs (the first 10 fishing openers were all held at that lake).
For most of the first half of the 1950's, the sitting Governor didn't attend the fishing opener. C. Elmer Anderson fished privately in his hometown of Brainerd. Overille Freeman skipped it his first year in office in 1955, but did attend the next two.
It was 1958 where the event as we know it started to fully take shape. Lt. Governor Karl Rolvaag let a group of state officiials to Upper Red Lake to open the walleye season. It was the first time a lieutenant governor publicly participated in the opener with guests at the Tribune's event. He did so again in 1959 and Governor Freeman joined them in 1960.
In 1961, new Governor Elmer Andersen adopted the idea of the "First Annual Fisherarma" for state officials and journalists, held at Leech Lake. They moved to Detroit Lake in 1962 beginning the tradition of rotating locations which still contiues today. In 1963 when Rolvaag became Governor, the media dubbed the event the "Governor's Fishing Party", which was a reference to the rowdy party atmosphere widely known to take place. That name stuck until Rudy Perpich became concerned about the reputation. Since then, it has been known as the "Governor's Fishing Opener."