For the past 30 years and for three days every February, crowds that are more than 10 times the population of tiny Walker, Minn. (pop. 1,069) gather on Minnesota’s third largest lake (112,000-acres), Leech Lake, for a festival named for one of the ugliest bottom-dwelling fish, the eelpout. In a state where it is common to embrace the quirky and find great fun in the most unlikely circumstances and weather conditions, this festival is pure Minnesota fun.
Eelpout, an olive-green weird looking relative of the cod and also known as the burbot or ling, are particularly present in Leech Lake during the winter months when the fish moves to deeper waters for spawning. Eelpout tend to be easier to capture in the evening and an average catch can be between three to eight pounds. But don’t expect the abundance of the fish or the cold winter temperatures to make the pout an easy catch. Eelpout are known to be strong and aggressive, requiring different equipment than typical game fish. We hear meat tends to be the best bait! However, once captured what this ugly fish may lack in appearance, it makes up for in taste. Culinary palettes claim it to have a flavorful lobster-like bite that is rich in vitamins A and D.
While some participant’s angle for the seven-foot tall trophy for the biggest pout caught under the ice, others compete for tongue-in-cheek prizes above the ice. New this year is the Chase the Pout™ Games that will blend Olympic fever with pout antics having teams vie for the gold medal. The games will take place at one of Minnesota’s premier resorts, Chase on the Lake and are scheduled to take place Friday, Feb. 19 and culminate on Saturday, Feb. 20.
This year the festival begins at Noon on Friday, Feb. 19 and concludes at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21.
