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Trophy Tales: A birthday fish

July 2, 2014 at 12:12PM

Bob Nelson, 75, of Blaine, caught this 27-inch walleye on Lake of the Woods. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

(As told by stepson Mychal Greseth of Prior Lake.)

Less than 20 minutes into his first Lake of the Woods experience, my stepfather Bob Nelson (legally blind with macular degeneration) felt the bend on his fishing rod.

"He's there, Bob — boom! Set it, eh?" exclaimed Captain Troy, still getting our other anglers set up. Soon we were scrambling for the net.

"What is it? How we doing?" Bob asked, struggling to keep his tip up.

"It's a big walleye, Bob, keep reeling!" we shouted.

Soon Captain Troy had the fish in the net and into Bob's hands for this photo!

"This was the best fishing experience of my life, and the biggest walleye I've ever caught," Bob said. "What a great way to spend my birthday and Father's Day weekend with my son and stepsons."

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

PERFECT PIKE: Luke Tucci, 20, of Lakeville, caught and released this 40-inch northern on Rainy Lake using a Deep Tail Dancer lure.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

BIGGEST CATCH EVER: Taylor McCall, 21, of Mantorville caught this 26-inch walleye while fishing with her family on Lake of the Woods. She caught it on a jig and shiner minnow. Not only was it the biggest fish she's ever caught, it was also the first fish she's held on her own.

Trophy tales

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