By Tim Krohn
Free Press Staff Writer
NEW ULM
May 16, 2008 01:35 pm
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NEW ULM — He was big, ugly and the center of attention.
The 35-pound flathead catfish was one of the honorees Thursday as New Ulm celebrated its designation as Capital of the Day in conjunction with Minnesota’s 150th anniversary.
In the past days, Department of Natural Resources fisheries officers have been using trot lines and electro-fishing to search for big catfish and other species. Many of the fish were on display in Riverside Park in huge aquariums.
The big flathead was tagged and released back into the Minnesota River with a bounty on his head. Any angler who catches the flathead in the future can remove the tag and claim a prize of $1,000 in New Ulm dollars.
Scott Sparlin, president of the New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen Club, said the event was a way to connect people to the river.
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Photos
Kyrie Sellnow of New Ulm comes nose-to-whisker Thursday with a 35-pound flathead catfish held by Minnesota DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten and Minnesota Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau. Sellner got to assist in releasing the tagged catfish worth $1000 to an angler lucky enough to catch it back into the Minnesota River after winning an essay contest about fish. The fish release was part of New Ulm's Capital for a Day event and part of Minnesota's Sesquicentennial. John Cross