Once again, Lt. Gov. Molnau bested Gov. Pawlenty at the Governor’s Walleye Opener. This year’s opener was held at Breezy Point, possibly Minnesota’s most famous resort. Here’s the official report:

BREEZY POINT — Governor Tim Pawlenty caught a 17-inch walleye Saturday morning on Pelican Lake at the Governor’s 60th Annual Fishing Opener.

Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau landed a 19-inch walleye earlier that morning.

In the past six years, Molnau and Pawlenty have had a friendly competition for first fish caught, longest fish, and most fish caught on opening day. Molnau had been the unofficial winner each year, and this year looks no different. Molnau held her first catch high to show Pawlenty and First Lady Mary Pawlenty, who were fishing only about 100 yards away.

Molnau says she caught the fish in 18 feet of water using a Northland Fire-Ball jig with a spottail minnow. Of the anglers near the governor, only a few caught fish Saturday morning.

Pelican Lake is often an excellent early season walleye lake because it’s got a variety of structures with lots of presentation options available to anglers. This year, though, I’m guessing that fishing on opening weekend will be spotty because of the cold spring we’re experiencing.

Walleyes are often finicky eaters except on the best of days. Given the number of fronts that’ve moved through this week and the cold weather we’ve had all spring, I’d say that the Governor’s party did pretty well. Those guides did a fantastic job.

I had the privilege of being a guide for the walleye opener back in 1993 when Arne Carlson was governor. That year, it was held at Cragun’s on Gull Lake. They treated us all like royalty. All our meals were furnished. All the bait we needed was provided. They held several events where outdoorsmen hobnobbed with politicians.

I still have the numbered print each of the guides was given as part of their gift package for guiding. The biggest thrill that year was that Al Lindner personally invited me to be a guide. I won’t forget that anytime soon.

That’s pretty good stuff for an amateur.

Technorati: Breezy Point, Pelican Lake, Brainerd, Tim Pawlenty, Carol Molnau, Arne Carlson, Al Lindner, Governor’s Walleye Opener, Tourism