A lure and fish hook that together stretch 22 feet hangs from a stairwell ceiling at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The tackle turned heads when it passed under the Aerial Lift Bridge in 2013.

It’s no secret that Rice Lake near Paynesville is one of the most productive and popular fishing lakes in Stearns County.

This year’s assessments indicate poor water clarity, which the DNR said could lead to a lengthy spearing season on Lake Winnebago.