(As told by brother Bob Murtaugh) "We were trolling Lindy rigs with fathead minnows in 6 to 8 feet of water, fighting 30-mph winds. Minutes earlier friend Tony Pyka boated a 25-inch walleye. Then Cullen got a big bite and delivered a rock-solid hook set. Fish on! After battling it for several minutes, and assuming he had hooked a northern, Cullen got the fish close and we realized it was a big walleye. I delivered a clutch net-job, and celebratory shouts and high-fives were given. We released it. It was another great fishing-opener memory.''
BIG RIVER CAT
Mike Otteson of New Prague caught and released this monster 42-inch catfish on the Mississippi River near Red Wing on the fishing opener. He fought it for 25 minutes before getting it into the boat.
HOT FISHING, COLD DAY
Brian Silver of Elk River showed off the 27½-inch walleye he caught and released while fishing with his cousin on Rush Lake near Cambridge on Minnesota's 2013 fishing opener. They braved a cold 30-mph wind, but each caught nice fish. "It was a good way to open the season,'' Silver said.
