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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Monster of the deep

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 5/10/17

RAINY RIVER— The Broten family of Tower has enjoyed tremendous success sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River this past week. On Monday, Katrina Broten (pictured on right with her friend Jeni Sherman) …

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Monster of the deep

Posted

RAINY RIVER— The Broten family of Tower has enjoyed tremendous success sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River this past week. On Monday, Katrina Broten (pictured on right with her friend Jeni Sherman) caught what was likely a state record sturgeon, measuring 68 inches. Katrina said it took about a half hour of fighting to get the monstrous fish to the boat and she got relief at times from her friend Jeni, who helped reel it in. Katrina released the fish moments after the photo at left was taken.

Later, the two, who were fishing with a guide, visited a rapids where large numbers of giant sturgeon were actively spawning. Individual sturgeon spawn infrequently so witnessing a large spawning congregation is unusual. And not only did they witness it, they walked into the rapids, according to Katrina, and were able to move among and even touch the spawning fish.

Katrina wasn’t the only member of her family to find success catching sturgeon in recent days. Last Thursday, her brother Anthony landed a 64-incher while her dad, Dan, landed a 58-incher, while on a separate fishing trip on the Rainy River.

Once decimated by overharvesting and pollution, sturgeon populations in Minnesota have rebounded and now provide an extraordinary fishing opportunity.