PRESS RELEASES

Press Releases

Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point Announced as Site of 60th Annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener

Contact: Carol Altepeter, Event Coordinator
218-828-2334
Carol.altepeter@state.mn.us

Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point will be the sight of the 60th anniversary of the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener, May 10 and 11, 2008. Governor Pawlenty made the announcement at the end of this year’s event at Leech Lake.

The 2008 Governor’s Fishing Opener will be held in the neighboring communities of Pequot Lake and Breezy Point. The two communities have a great history of working together to promote their area.

Breezy Point Resort will serve as the headquarters for the 2008 event. The resort has a grand tradition of hosting past Governor’s Fishing Openers including Governor Harold LeVander in 1970, Governor Rudy Perpich in 1989 and Governor Jesse Ventura in 2001.

"It’s a great time to have the Opener in the Pequot Lakes - Breezy Point area. This event is about fishing, but, it is also a celebration of our hosting communities and the kick-off to the summer tourism season," said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism, the state agency that coordinates the event. "What better place to host this 60th anniversary, than in the great Brainerd Lakes area so well-known for its hospitality and variety of fun activities for any visitor to the area."

Co-chairs Dr. Ryan and Patty Buell will lead the hundreds of volunteers that will organize and work on the event. Dr. Ryan and Ms. Buell report that, "The communities of Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point are very excited to host Governor Tim Pawlenty and all the guests for the 60th anniversary Governors Fishing Opener in 2008. The Brainerd Lakes Chamber and the Brainerd Lakes Area are truly honored to have been chosen to plan this celebration."

The Governor's Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota's recreation industry. In recent years, the Opener has served as a celebration kickoff for the summer tourism season. It provides the community with an opportunity to highlight local fishing and other recreational activities, attractions and other points of interest.

More information can be found at: www.mngovernorsopener.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
11:06 AM on Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sponsorships available for 2008 Governor's Fishing
Opener on Pelican Lake
By Nancy Vogt
nancy.vogt@pequotlakesecho.com

Sponsorships are still available for the 2008 Governor's
Fishing Opener in the Breezy Point-Pequot Lakes area.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau will
spend the Saturday, May 10, opener on Pelican Lake.
Brainerd Lakes Chamber members and previous sponsors received sponsorship information
recently.
Anyone who was not contacted or who would like to be a sponsor should call Dr. Ryan or Patty
Buell, event co-chairs, at Pequot Lakes Chiropractic at 568-7767.
There are seven levels of sponsorships, which include cash or in-kind donations. Sponsorships
start at anything up to $500, and progress to $20,000-plus

Ryan Buell said Crestliner and Cabela's are two major event sponsors in that upper bracket.
The various sponsorship levels include different perks and benefits.
Money from sponsors and raffle ticket sales goes to fund the community picnic scheduled for 4 to 7
p.m. Friday, May 9, in Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes, and to provide lodging and food for the
entire event for invited guests, which include media and major sponsors.
Sponsors must contribute $2,000 or more to be an invited guest.
"Fundraising is a huge part of this," Ryan Buell said. "The purpose of this event is to bring local,
regional, state and national attention to our area."
Fishing opener organizers continue to need volunteers, both large scale and small.
To volunteer, call the Buells or Todd Brown at American National Bank in Pequot Lakes at 568-
4999.
Raffle ticket sales for a pontoon donated from Crestliner also continue. Ryan Buell said raffle
tickets would be a great gift for employers to give staff, or to give to friends, for the holidays.
Raffle tickets are $5 each.
Any person or retailer sponsoring an event or sale who wants the pontoon displayed can call the
Buells.
The pontoon will be on display at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber's Business Expo Dec. 6 at
Madden's Resort.

For Immediate Release

Volunteer as a Fishing Host during the

60th Annual Governor’s Fishing Opener

Ready to show off your fishing skills? The Governor’s Fishing Opener will be held in Pequot Lakes/Breezy Point in 2008.  This media event draws in as many as 175 state and regional media representatives, looking for a good fishing story and overall stories of the area.

Media and other invited attendees are ready to hit the lake the morning of opener with a knowledge, friendly local that can show them the real reason visitors come to the Brainerd Lakes Area…It’s Gotta Be The Water! 

To provide enough fishing hosts for the attendees, a volunteer base of approximately 110 people is needed.  Over 25% of the volunteer base has already been filled.  If you wish to have a media or invited attendee in your boat, and are able to provide PFD’s, rods, tackle, and bait, please download the host application at www.explorebrainerdlakes.com/chambers, or contact any of the following:

Fishing host committee co-chair John Janousek at jjanousek@crestliner.com

Fishing host committee co-chair Tom Ryan at t.ryan@edwardjones.com

Event co-chair Ryan Buell at drryan@tds.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Curt Johnson
Explore Minnesota Tourism
651-297-3488
Curt.johnson@state.mn.us


"Walleye Dan" Selected as Governor Pawlenty's Fishing Host
for 2008 Governor's Fishing Opener


ST. PAUL (April 24, 2008) - "Walleye Dan" Eigen has been selected as Governor Tim Pawlenty's fishing host for the 2008 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener in Breezy Point, Minnesota.

"It gave me the chills and I am completely honored," Eigen said when notified that he had been selected as the fishing host for the Governor.

Dan has a few ideas that he believes will put fish on the hooks of the Governor and First Lady on Opening day, but doesn't want to give away his secrets. Dan predicts the Governor and the First Lady will catch fish on openeing day.

Dan started fishing with his Dad when he was about five-years old and because of his fascination with the sport, he spent much of his free time fishing. He has always been interested in the outdoors and also trapped and hunted his entire life.

Dan is now a full time, professional fishing guide and the owner/operator of Walleyedan's Guide Service of Nisswa, Minnesota. He became a professional fishing guide because of an experience he had when he was about ten-years old when his father hired a guide at a resort in the Brainerd Lakes area. Dan was impressed with the amount of fishing knowledge the man had. Dan later began working at the Quarterdeck Resort on Gull Lake and would quiz the resort guides about fishing techniques and locations and then head out on the lake to try out his new found knowledge. From there, Dan began his fishing guide career.

About the Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener
The Governor's Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota's recreation industry. In recent years, the Opener has served as a celebration kickoff for the summer tourism season. It provides the community with an opprotunity to highlight local fishing and other reacreational activities, attractions and other points of interest. For more information, go to www.mngovernorsopener.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Curt Johnson
Explore Minnesota Tourism
651-297-3488
Curt.johnson@state.mn.us

Tom Whitehead Tapped as Minnesota Lieutenant Governor's Fishing Host

ST. PAUL (April 24, 2008) -- Brainerd resident and tournament fisherman Tom Whitehead has been selected as the fishing host of Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau at this year's Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener at Breezy Point, Minnesota.

Tom said he was really excited when he got the call to be her host for fishing on Pelican Lake. Tom has guided for many people over the years and is confident he will put the Lieutenant Governor "on fish" on Openeing morning.

Tom has been part of a Governor's Opener in the past, but he says hosting the Lieutenant Governor is something very special to him. "I know the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor have a great fishing competition going," Tom added. "I intend to use all the tricks and knowledge of fishing I have to help Lieutenant Governor Molnau out fish him."

Tom was born in southern Minnesota and started fishing when he was three-years old. Tom's two grandfathers and several uncles let him tag along when they went fishing. By the time Tom was 11, he was tying his own lures and could be found somewhere on the two lakes in the Delevan area whenever he had some free time.

Tom said his appreciation for the outdoors and nature has been part of his "being" for as long as he can remember. Tom is a self-employed manufacturers' representative in the outdoor industry and operates TK Marketing.

About the Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener
The Governor's Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota's recreation industry. In recent years, the Opener has served as a celebration kickoff for the summer tourism season. It provides the community with an opportunity to highlight local fishing and other recreational activities, attractions and other points of interest. For more information, go to www.mngovernorsopener.com