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MANHATTAN BEACH, Minn. — Crosslake and the Whitefish Chain of Lakes were in the spotlight Friday, May 9, when Gov. Tim Walz kicked off Minnesota’s walleye fishing season at the .

After staying overnight at Manhattan Beach Lodge, Walz had a full day of media events ahead of the Saturday , when he planned to head out at 8:15 a.m. with area fishing guide Nate Blasing.

Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

Walz’s day started early Friday with media row interviews at Manhattan Beach Lodge that began at 6 a.m. Media outlets included newspapers, radio and TV stations from one end of the state to the other.

Others available for 10-minute interviews Friday morning included Sarah Strommen, Department of Natural Resources commissioner; Lauren Bennett McGinty, executive director of Explore Minnesota, which organized the event; Nicole Lalum, industrial relations manager for Explore Minnesota; Brad Parsons, DNR Fisheries manager; Rodman Smith, DNR Enforcement; Jackson Purfeerst, Crosslake mayor; Mike Schwieters, owner of Boyd Lodge on the Whitefish Chain; Corinne Hodapp, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supervisory park ranger; and Mike O'Connell, Crosslake Chamber Advisory Board member.

Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

Walz and Strommen hopped in a boat with John Kempe, assistant area supervisor with the Brainerd-area DNR, to stock walleye fry in Trout Lake, just off the Manhattan Beach Lodge docks.

They released 300,000 fry.

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

Walz joined Crosslake Community ÍáÍáÂþ»­ students at a youth fishing event at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cross Lake Recreation Area, where he presented a Fishing Education Day proclamation.

The governor also stopped at local businesses, including Lake Country Crafts and Cones, Whistling Wolf Mini Golf, National Loon Center and Bay View Lodge. He met with area mayors in a private meeting and attended the community celebration at Zorbaz.

Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

On Saturday, May 10, Walz said he’d participate in the opening day launch ceremony at 8 a.m. at the Army Corps launch area before heading out to fish.

Other media events that took place on Friday included resort open house visits, a Loon Pontoon tour hosted by the National Loon Center, a resort history tour on the Whitefish Chain with Schwieters and hosted by the Whitefish Area Lodging Association, and information about an improvement project at the Lower Hay Lake public water access.