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They were going to be out at Chub Lake south of Carlton Saturday no matter the weather. That's where the LeDoux family of Proctor starts the new fishing season each year, Aaron said as he sat in his boat at the public landing just before noon, waiting for wife Tracy, daughter Kaylee and dog Nova to climb aboard. As they were putting in, others were coming out. The common phrase Saturday during Minnesota's fishing opener was "that wind is brutal." And it wasn't creating the good old west wind chop on area lakes that tends to stir up the coveted walleyes. Fishing was slow.

Mike Creger

It was a brisk wind from the east that didn't let up all day. Just ask Rod Soukkala, who was strolling toward the boat landing at Chub that is near his home. He used an umbrella pointed straight in front of him to buffer the wind as dogs Selah and Nalla trailed behind him.

For the LeDoux clan, the opener is a time to go somewhere close by and make sure the boat is ready to go for the season. Aaron said he fishes Chub at least three or four times a year. He said that often when the weather is bad, the fishing can be good.

The fishing was good for a trio on the dock at the public access on Big Lake west of Cloquet. Grandfather Jesse Higbe, who lives near the lake, was busy unhooking fish caught by grandchildren Cloey and Eli Nordby. It was a strict catch-and-release detail. The children squealed with each catch, which often came just seconds after they would cast their bobber rigs into the water.