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Dayton and Lt. Gov. Smith will open the fishing season Saturday on Lake Vermilion

The Governor’s Fishing Opener is on Lake Vermilion this year; headquarters for events is Fortune Bay Resort Casino.

Gov. Mark Dayton will take a break from legislative matters this weekend and go fishing on Lake Vermilion for Saturday’s annual Governor’s Fishing Opener.

Lt. Gov. Tina Smith is also heading north for the event, which will be based out of the Fortune Bay Resort Casino.

Each year, the host community provides fishing guides for the top state officials: this year, Tim “Buck” Lescarbeau will fish with Dayton, and Casey Sunsdahl will fish with Smith.

The Governor’s Fishing Opener was first held in 1948 and is moved to different lakes around the state each year to help kick off the tourism season and boost the fishing/resort industry.