The population decreased throughout most of the 20th century due to overfishing, habitat loss, and poor water quality. In the 1970s, as a result of the Clean Water Act and increased fishing regulations, the Sturgeon population began to rebound. However, the rehabilitation process for Lake Sturgeon takes decades, as they don’t have the ability to spawn until they are between 20-25 years old, and once they reach that age, they only spawn once every four-seven years.

Lake Sturgeon are extremely fun to catch, but there are extremely limited opportunities in which it is legal to target them in Minnesota. The first and most well known Sturgeon bite across the land of 10,000 lakes takes place at the Minnesota/Canada border on the Rainy River. This season runs from Apr 24th – May 7th and July 1st – Sept 30th with a limit of one per season (must be registered), as well as a catch and release only season from October 1st to the beginning of the next season on April 23rd. The best time to of the year to catch a Sturgeon on the Rainy River is in early spring, usually around the last two weeks of March and first two weeks of April (note: catch and release only). At this time, the Sturgeon migrate from Lake of the Woods and head east upstream into the river. They do this to spawn as well as to eat the eggs of the walleyes that are spawning in the river at the same time.

The second opportunity anglers have to target Lake Sturgeon in MN falls just outside the Metro Area, on the St. Croix River. This season is a much shorter time frame than the season on the Rainy, as it only runs from Sept 4th – Sept 30th with a limit of one per season and at a minimum limit of 60 inches. There is an additional catch and release season from Oct 1st – Oct 15th. The added benefit of special regulations on Minnesota/Wisconsin border waters allows anglers to use two lines on the St. Croix river with a MN or WI license. This is a huge benefit to sturgeon anglers, as having twice as many lines in the water doubles your chances of putting fish in the boat.

When it comes to rigging a sturgeon rod, it is quite simple. First, you will need a strong rod, ideally between 7 and 8 feet in length. You can also use a catfish or muskie rod if you have that in your arsenal. The best place to buy these rods is at Fleet Farm, as they have a wide variety of name brand rods at an affordable price. You can use both spinning reels as well as baitcaster style reels for sturgeon rods, so it comes down to personal preference or whatever is available to you. As for line, your going to want some kind of superline, whether it be Berkley Fireline (personal preference) or braid, it is going to have to be tough enough to pull these behemoths up from the muddy bottom.

The most important part of this rig is what you put on the bottom of the river for the Sturgeon to see. You want to use large circle hooks and fill them up with crawlers and minnows accompanied by a large weight to make sure your bait does not move. The best hooks to use are 5/0 or 6/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hooks (the bigger the hook, the more bait you can put on). The ideal leader length is 12-16 inches and can be the same as the main line or could be something like 20 lb fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon is stiffer and doesn’t tangle as much (dropping a 2-3 oz weight down 30 feet can cause some serious tangles). It is also much more abrasion resistant so when the sturgeon role, their scutes don’t cut your line. The leader length is crucial for sturgeon fishing, as the bait needs to stay in one spot and let a scent trail form so the sturgeon can find it. Too long of a leader and the bait is freely moving around and too short of a leader and your bait gets covered in sediment that gets washed over from the current on the bottom.

With all these components rigged up, your finally ready to get a line in the water. Your going to want to buy a lot of crawlers and a couple dozen minnows, preferably fatheads. You can use the baiting method that involves first putting two crawlers on the hook, followed by 3-5 fatheads, followed by one last crawler (note: when putting crawlers on, gob them up to form a “ball”).

Once the boat is in the water, the ideal depth range for the St. Croix is between 30-40 feet of water. Great places to start are any inflows of rivers, streams or flowages coming into the river, which produce an area of warmer water temps where shad and other forage gather. The shad are the primary forage base for the St. Croix, and can be found thick on the sonar in these warmer water areas once the river cools down in the fall. These are spots where the river bottom has a lot of sand dunes formed by the current, which can be seen in some spots on your sonar. These sand dunes catch a lot of food that is floating and settling out of the current as the river flows downstream and hold Sturgeon almost all year. They will cruise in the trough between the dunes eating whatever has settled out of the current (worms, dead fish, frogs, etc). If you can find areas like these, you are bound to cross paths with a Sturgeon at some point, and all of your hard work will pay off. The best time to catch Sturgeon on the St. Croix and the only time you will ever see me out there is after dark, with the best time period falling from 10pm-2am.

Boat position is a key factor in sustaining the best possible presentation, thus using two anchors is highly recommended. Using one anchor on the front and one on the back will minimize any swaying of the boat due to wind, current and wakes from other boats. It is extremely important to keep your bait as still as possible once it is on the bottom, thus any minor boat movements cause your bait to move and that is BAD! It is also important to let your baits sit on the bottom/soak and get a scent trail going before deciding to pull anchor and move to another spot. The minimum amount of time is 30 minutes before moving to a new spot.

Using these previously mentioned presentations and techniques, you should be able to boat your first Minnesota Lake Sturgeon with a little invested time and effort. Every body of water is different and unique in it’s own ways, and it takes everybody an outing or two to get familiar with new waters. Don’t get frustrated if you get skunked your first couple times, as it happened to me, and you just have to use what you learn each time your on the water to make yourself adaptable and a better fisherman.

Training – If you were born after December 31, 1976, Minnesota law requires you to get snowmobile certification to ride a snowmobile. However, even if you have been riding snowmobiles for years, you can still benefit from a safety course. It will reinforce what you already know, and you might learn something new. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers affordable certification courses for youth and adults. Youth can take a traditional course or a CD-based course. Adults (age 16 and older) can either complete the DNR Adult Independent Study CD or take a youth course.

Planning – Before you leave, you should consult road and trail maps to plan your trip. This can help you estimate how much fuel you will need. It will also enable you to tell someone where you are going and how long you plan to be gone. It is also a good idea to know the skill level of the people who are riding with you so that you do not take a path that is beyond their ability to ride.

Dressing – All of the following items are essential to protect your body from wind chill, frost bite, and snowmobile crashes: appropriate under layers, socks and boots, snowmobile suite, helmet, face mask, eye protection and gloves.

Avoiding Alcohol or Other Intoxicants – Operating any sort of motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is always dangerous and often fatal. In the last five years in Minnesota, snowmobile accidents caused 71 fatalities. Over half of those fatalities involved the use of alcohol. Never operate any sort of vehicle, including snowmobiles, under the influence of alcohol.

Avoiding Ice – Going on any icy surface on a snowmobile is always a bad idea. Ice provides much less traction than snow, increasing your risk of losing control of your vehicle. Furthermore, if you venture on a frozen body of water, you run the risk of drowning if you break through the ice because it can’t support the combined weight of you and your machine. If you must go on a frozen body of water, proceed with extreme caution and only if you are absolutely certain that the ice is thick enough for a snowmobile.

In case of Injury – If you take the right precautions, snowmobiling can be a safe, fun way to enjoy the Minnesota winter. Unfortunately, not everyone takes the care to operate a snowmobile safely. If you are injured in a snowmobile crash because someone else was negligent, you need to know your rights. It is never fun to sue someone, especially if you are injured by someone you know. However, a snowmobile crash can result in medical bills, lost wages, and even loss of life. If you cannot work because of a snowmobile accident, do not hesitate to contact a Minnesota personal injury attorney.

Minnesota Investment Fund: Features
The loan funds the projects leading to create quality job opportunities in the state.

1) The loan funds manufacturing and technology-driven industrial businesses.

Eligibility:

The loan is granted to local government units financing business expansion projects.
Loan Use: Loan can be used to:

1) Purchase property, equipment and machinery.

2) Infrastructure development.

3) Fund the training of the businesses based in Minnesota or planning to base.
Prohibited loan use: The loan cannot be used to fund:

1) Working capital.

2) Retail businesses.

3) Industrial park development.

Small Business Development Loan Program: Features

1) The loan is granted for the expansion needs of the businesses resulting in increased job opportunities.

2) Minnesota Agricultural and Economic Development Board (MAEDB) extend the loan.

The loan is extended using industrial development bonds coupled with twenty-five percent state funds reserve.

Eligibility:

1) Those planning to locate in Minnesota or Minnesota based manufacturing units and industrial businesses.

2) The size of these businesses should comply with that mentioned by Small Business Administration.

3) The loan investment must lead to an increase in the number of employment opportunities in the business house availing the loan.

Loan use: The loan can be used to:

1) Acquire property that is, land or building.

2) Purchase machinery and equipment.

3) Construct or modify a building.

4) Pay development fees.

Prohibition of loan use: You cannot use the loan to:

1) Leverage working capital.

2) Refinance.

Urban Initiative Loan Program: Features

1) The loan funds working capital and fixed assets of the minority owned businesses based in Minnesota or planning to base.

2) Businesses aiming to extend jobs to the weaker sections of the Twin Cities can also apply.

Loan Use: Loan can be used to finance a start-up or expanding business.

Prohibited loan use: The loan cannot be used to refinance.

Indian Business Loan Program: Features

1) This loan aims to fund the businesses owned by the Indians or if the businesses are of Indian origin.

2) The loan also aims to support economic development of Native Americans in Minnesota.
3) The relevant tribal council approves the loan.

4) The Department of Employment and Economic Development of Minnesota administers the loan processing.

5) The sanctioned loan amount may be up to a maximum seventy-five percent of the project’s cost outlay.

Eligibility

1) The applicant must be a member of a federally recognized; Minnesota based band or tribe.

2) The business must be located in Minnesota.

If you love landscapes as a subject to your photography, here are some places that you may want to pay a visit on your next trip to Minnesota.

1. The Jay Cooke State Park or Lake Superior State Parks This nature park is situated approximately 10 miles in the southwestern part of Duluth. You can try your luck by trying to capture photos of the following animal species: 46 mammal species (including black bears, Timberwolves and coyotes) 173 bird species 16 reptile species that are non – poisonous.

2. Super Hiking Trail (SHT) Do you enjoy mountain climbing as much as you love photography. If you do, then the SHT is for you. If you are up to it, you can enjoy the 244 – mile trail alongside the Lake Superior. While enjoying the hike, you can take snapshots of the lake and some breath taking sights of the trail itself.

3. Voyageurs National Park The name came from the initial French – Canadian tourists who frequent this place via canoes. This national park boasts of 30 or so lakes that are adorned with approximately 1000 islands. Boating, canoeing and fishing are among the activities you can enjoy. Of course, on the way, you can take snapshots of the islands as a souvenir of your trip.

4. Minnehaha (Laughing) Falls This unassuming waterfall can be found in the southeastern part of Minneapolis. However, the Minnehaha Falls is not the only attraction that is “photo” worthy. Tourists and locals alike, have found themselves posing beside the statues of Hiawatha and Minnehaha. Both of which are famous because of Longfellow’s “Song of Hiawatha”.

5. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory If you are looking for a haven in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory can be your best bet. The park is not only a sanctuary to big cats, other mammals and birds but in its midst, you can also find a Japanese garden where you can take photographs of manicured Zen garden and bonsais. If you are looking for color in your photographs and the flowers and orchids are not enough, you can visit the Enchanted Garden filled with all sorts of butterflies.

Bear Head Lake Park, though little known outside of Minnesota, was voted as America’s Favorite Park in 2010. In a contest designed by a major soft drink company in which 5.7 million votes were cast, Bear Head Lake State Park beat out the likes of Yellowstone and Yosemite to take the title. The park is located just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota and is home to black bears, wolves, deer and moose. Things to see and do in Bear Head Lake State Park include tent and RV camping, fishing, 17 miles of hiking trails and lakes with sand beaches and boat and canoe access.

2. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Split Rock Lighthouse is located on the shores of Lake Superior near the town of Two Harbors, MN, and is said to be “the most photographed lighthouse in America”. In 1905, the Mataafa Storm damaged 29 ships, leading to the eventual construction of the lighthouse in 1910. The lighthouse was built before Highway 61 ran through the area, so a steam-powered hoisting derrick was built and the supplies were shipped in and hoisted to the top of the 130-foot cliff. In 1924 the North Shore Highway that ran from Duluth, MN to the Canadian border was completed, and Split Rock began to attract visitors from Duluth and other nearby areas. The lighthouse attendants were expected to be gracious hosts to the tourists until it became too much to handle. The Split Rock Lighthouse visitor log recorded 30,000 names and an estimated 90,000 total visitors in a single year, at which time the lighthouse staff was relieved of its tour guide duties.

3. Itasca State Park

Itasca Park is Minnesota’s oldest state park and home to Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River. In 1832 explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft correctly claimed Lake Itasca as the source of the Mississippi. He named the lake by combining the Latin words for “truth” (verITAS) and “head” (CAput), linking them together and forming a new word, Itasca. Itasca State Park, MN is located west of Highway 371 near Leech Lake, and offers many things to do such as camping, fishing, canoeing and kayaking and hiking.

4. Scenic State Park

Scenic Park is located amidst the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. The park is home to a forest of virgin white and red pines that were never touched by logging interests, as well as the untouched beauty of Coon Lake, Sandwick Lake and Lake of the Isles. Some things to see and do in Scenic State Park include hiking the Chase Point Trail, view the interpretive displays at the historic CCC-built lodge houses, RV camping, tent camping (drive-in, backpack, and boat-in sites available), fishing, canoeing, birding and taking in the scenic views.

5. Frontenac State Park

Frontenac Park, MN is located at Lake Pepin, a natural widening of the Mississippi River, and is known as one of the best bird watching areas in the country. The park is home to numerous scenic overlooks and is home to the bluff called “point-no-point”. A trick in visual perspective makes the bluff appear prominent from a distance to travelers moving downstream on the river, but vanishes from view as it is approached. One of the Gerard brothers, the first settlers of the nearby town of Old Frontenac, used to jump from point-no-point with his flying machines in an attempt to soar above the river. The machines didn’t work, but he was never badly hurt in his attempts. Some things to see and do in Frontenac Park are birding, hiking, camping, canoeing and boating. This park lies along the Great River Road Minnesota, which follows the Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to the Iowa Border. This is a beautiful drive that you must take sometime.

6. Jay Cooke State Park

Jay Cooke Park on Minnesota’s North Shore is home to three different zones of Rustic Style constructed buildings, all of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Jay Cooke, the park’s namesake, was a very successful banker who operated around the time of the Civil War. Jay Cooke Park offers much to visitors in the way of camping, hiking, and biking along the beautiful St. Louis River, and is well known for the swinging suspension bridge that rises high above the river.

7. Grand Portage State Park

Grand Portage Park is home to Minnesota’s highest waterfall, over 120 feet. Grand Portage is located along the Pigeon River in MN near the Canadian border on the shores of Lake Superior. The park is home to the Grand Portage National Monument and Heritage Center, where visitors can have the history of early Native Americans and the fur trading era interpreted for them. The High Falls of Grand Portage required travelers to get out of their boats and carry them around the falls. This act is known as a “portage” and the inland Lake Superior bypass of the falls became known as the “Grand Portage”.

8. Tettegouche State Park

Tettegouche Park is one of Minnesota’s hidden natural treasures. The park is home to the High Falls of the Baptism River, beautiful overlooks at Shovel Point and a hiker’s paradise with miles of trails overlooking the Sawtooth Mountains. You can rent a rustic cabin at the historic Tettegouche Camp, or stick with standard tent camping. Tettegouche State Park is one of few places that have camping year round.

You must have the petition and any other required documents officially delivered to (“served on”) your spouse. This lets your spouse know that a divorce action has been started and what you are asking for.

You must file some documents, including the petition for dissolution of marriage, with the district court office at the local county courthouse. The petition tells the court and your spouse what you are asking for in the divorce.
You must pay or be excused from paying the fees that are charged for filing a divorce petition. There might also be costs for having your spouse served.”

The NSC originally was built because of soccer. We are the world’s largest soccer complex, according to the Guinness Book of World Records and the depth of tournaments and leagues reflects that.
Hockey

The Schwan Super Rink started with four sheets of ice under one roof and now offers eight sheets and the Herb Brooks Training Center. Simply put, we will have the largest ice complex in the world.
Golf

Victory Links Golf Course is one of the most unique golf courses in the country. It was specifically built for youth golfers but services a wide range of ages and abilities. We have a large range of programs designed to improve the game for kids and adults.
Track & Field

We provide a comprehensive off-season track club for athletes in our indoor sports hall for those who want to get a leg up on the competition prior to the outdoor season.
Cycling

The NSC Velodrome provides the most unique cycling experience in the Twin Cities. There are cycling events and programs for seasoned riders or people just learning about the exciting world of bike racing.
Lacrosse

It’s the fastest growing youth sport and the NSC is along for the ride, offering clinics and camps for both coaches and players.
Skating

Our skating school offers Learn to Skate programs for all types of skaters as well as advanced lessons for those who want to explore the world of figure skating.
Broomball

A fun way to hit the ice with friends, this popular sport has a home at the Schwan Super Rink.

Minnesota RV parks are everywhere throughout the state creating a wide variety of choices for visiting different areas. RV parks in Minnesota offer a large assortment of amenities and are often in locations with many excellent attractions and things to do nearby. Two Rivers Campground & Tubing, north of St Cloud, is one of the top choices for RV parks Minnesota has in the northern region. One hundred and sixty sites each offer stunning views surrounded by mature trees along 100 miles of shoreline. This Minnesota RV parks fully equipped with a campground store, clean restrooms and showers, a game room and exciting inner tube lake trips. The river scenery can be explored in more depth by canoeing and kayaking around the area via boat rentals. Other activities include swimming, mini golf, volleyball, horseshoes and more.