Anglers at the annual Lake Minnetonka crappie contest have braved snow, sleet and ice — but they won't this year.
The forecast is for summerlike temperatures of near 80 degrees Saturday for the 47th annual event, now dubbed the Minnesota Bound Crappie Contest.
The contest routinely kicks off the fishing season.
"It's a fish of spring, and it's also a fish for kids of any age," said "Minnesota Bound" host Ron Schara. "Our contest is really not so much a contest as a celebration of fishing."
And of spring.
Nearly 1,500 anglers turned out last year, and officials are hoping for a bigger turnout this year. Proceeds go to Fishing for Life, a nonprofit Christian group that uses fishing and outdoor programs to connect with kids, families and communities. The contest runs from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Preregistration (mnbound.com) is $5, or $10 the day of the contest at Lord Fletchers.
Prizes are awarded for the biggest crappies caught in the adult and youth divisions. Anyone who catches one is eligible for the grand prize, a Tracker 16-foot boat, Mercury 25 hp four-stroke motor and Tracker trailer. The winning fish will be the one that comes closest to a randomly selected crappie weight.
DOUG SMITH
