De La Hunt Media - KK Radio Network

McGregor residents and accomplished anglers Bob Staska and Glenn Lane will host Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, respectively, at the 2016 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener on Big Sandy Lake in McGregor on Saturday, May 14.

Staska, who will host Gov. Dayton, is principal and head football coach at McGregor High School, where he has worked since 2002, and spends much of the rest of his time fishing and hunting.  "When I am not spending time at school, Il ove outdoors activities," he said. "One of the reasons that I moved to the McGregor area was my love of outdoors.  I spend a lot of time fishing in both the summer and winter."

Lt. Gov. Tina Smith's host, Glenn Lane, has been fishing Big Sandy Lake with his wife Barbara since 1974, and they have spent almost every weekend and vacation day there since buying a vacation home on the lake in 1992.  In 2010, they moved permanently into the retirement home they built there.

The Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener has been a treasured tradition in Minnesota since 1948, while fishing is a key part of one of the largest sectors of our economy-tourism.  The opener is also a kick-off celebration for the statewide summer tourism season.  Travel and tourism generate $13.6 billion in leisure and hospitality gross sales in Minnesota annually.  The annual Governor's Fishing Opener is an opportunity to spotlight Minnesota fishing and the McGregor area.

This year's Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener is coordinated by Explore Minnesota, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, McGregor Chamber of Commerce and Big Sandy Lake & Lodge.