Minnesota Curiosities : Quirky... | Buy

From the pen of a "Prairie Home Companion" writer comes this inspired collection of well-known and not-so-well-known Minnesota oddities. Read about places such as Basshenge in Birchdale and the Home of Swollen Big Toe; events such as the Eelpout Festival; and phenomenon such as the world's largest prairie chicken. Even longtime residents of the Twin Cities may be surprised to discover the No Wake Cafeacute;, situated on a Mississippi barge, and to learn how Princess Kay of the Milky Way gets sculpted in butter. Don't miss the insightful commentary on the state's most illustrious curiosity--Governor Jesse Ventura.

St. Paul, Minnesota, resident Russ Ringsak has been with PRI's "A Prairie Home Companion" since 1974. When he's not backstage writing up Garrison Keillor's rundown, he can be found behind the wheel of the 48-foot semi-trailer hauling the radio show's equipment between venues. Denise Remick is a freelance researcher and production artist.

Acknowledgments

viii

Introduction

ix

South

1

(88)

Northwest

89

(54)

Northeast

143

(52)

Twin Cities

195

(49)

Index

244

(8)

About the Authors

252

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Eelpout Festival
Walker, Minnesota

The dictionary says this about the eelpout: "1. any fish of the family Zoarcidae, esp. Zoarces viviparus, of Europe." It could also have said: "2. one of the world's unique and truly ugly creatures, bringing shock, disgust, and revulsion into any boat unlucky enough to catch one." The eelpout and his family may or may not be named after Zoar, the city in the old testament where Lot is said to have sought refuge during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but at any rate it ranks low on most people's social ladder of fishes. It has a blunt face, bulging eyes, no scales, and smooth slimy skin like a catfish, except in a splotchy brown-and-black instead of a sleek all-black. But as the name suggests, it's worst aspect is a double-flex backbone which gives it the same menacing moves as a snake; all this plus a creepy little barbel on it's chin. It gives some fisher-folk the nightmares.

In Walker they are buying none of this silly fearmongering; up there, they claim the eelpout to be "the only true game fish" and celebrate it every February with a three-day festival, the high point of which is an Eelpout Fishing Contest, where elite teams of crack fishermen compete for prizes. Ken Bresly, the organizer, said there were strict mental and physical examinations for the entrants before they were allowed to actually enter the contest; for instance, one of the questions on the mental exam is "What is your name?" A person doesn't necessarily have to know their last name, but they at least have to remember their first name, or one of their names. For the physical exam, a person has to be able to stand erect for more than 30 seconds ("we eliminate a big pile of them right there"); another requirement, for example, is that they have to be able to find their car keys. Or at least, somebody's keys ("and that's another toughie").

Bresly says contestants aren't encouraged to bring an ordinary fish to the judges: "...if they catch a walleye, or somethin' like that, and they bring those into the headquarters, we won't even allow that to be hung on the same rack that the eelpout are on. Because we don't want to contaminate the eelpout. We're real concerned about that." When asked about a situation in which someone were by chance to catch a record walleye while fishing for eelpout, would he not have to say anything about it and toss it back, Bresly answered, "Either that or hide it. Sneak it home and have it ground into pet food... in fact, you're not allowed to bring anything like that in. We have a number of people arrested each year for that very thing. Because again, they might contaminate the eelpout. We just can't take a chance on that."

We allowed as how the festival sounded like a good time, and he said that it's possible, if you force yourself, to have a good time, but of course that's not the point of it. The point is the sport of it, the art of the eelpout, and to get out and become one with nature. And all that sort of thing. A person is permitted one glass of sherry before dinner, which often features Eelpout Nuggets; any more than that might blur one's palette so as to obscure the amazing flavors of the deep-fried eelpout.

Asked if the Governor had been to the festival, he said, "No, but we think this is the year. You see, he's kind of a rookie. And he really doesn't want to be embarrassed. And we try not to, but... y'know, it's uh... Well, he's good. But he's just not that good, y'know, to fish for eelpout."

You fish for eelpout exactly as you fish for walleye, but certain people have their little secret baits and so forth. World-class eelpout fishermen are on hand at the tournament, going from fish-house to fish-house, apparently to offer tips and encouragement. The world record, as far as he knows, is 17 pounds. A 17-pound eelpout, we thought, would be well over two feet long, and he said, "Yes indeed; I think it's closer to three feet, or maybe four." We couldn't help but wonder if whoever caught that thing was able to sleep that night. Or even now.

Excerpted from Minnesota Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff by Russell Ringsak, Denise Remick
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.