John Wetrosky, of Pine River, and Brainerd area fishing guide Royal Karels recently reminisced about a time and place in the history of Minnesota fishing openers when a mom-and-pop bait shop could draw celebrities, ring upward of $10,000 a day, showcase leading-edge technology, corral the state's finest fishing guides, and hire a clown to untangle parking lot snarls.
Pick a year. Any year. When John Wetrosky worked the counter at Koep's Nisswa Bait and Tackle from 1971 to 1978, every Minnesota fishing opener knocked him out. The joyful stampede of walleye anglers veered off Hwy. 371 toward the can't-miss shop starting at midweek. Then, at 6 a.m. Friday, the trickle would turn into a torrent as the doors opened for two days of round-the-clock sales. Hour .
Through the 1970s and on, Nisswa bait shop was epicenter of fishing opener
As this year s May 15 fishing opener approaches, thoughts turn to fishing openers past and the joyful stampede of walleye anglers that jammed bait shops Up North for two days of round-the-clock sales. April 30, 2021 12:28pm
Pick a year. Any year.
When John Wetrosky worked the counter at Koep s Nisswa Bait and Tackle from 1971 to 1978, every Minnesota fishing opener knocked him out.
The joyful stampede of walleye anglers veered off Hwy. 371 toward the can t-miss shop starting at midweek. Then, at 6 a.m. Friday, the trickle would turn into a torrent as the doors opened for two days of round-the-clock sales. Hour after hour, customers jammed the aisles to pick out supplies. They waited in line at the minnow tanks and again at the checkout lane. So rabid were people to go fishing and get away, some buyers would hand over their cash and exit without their change, Wetrosky said.