GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Pioneer PBS’s Prairie Sportsman will feature fishing Red Lake Nation’s open waters and plants that could absorb road salts on its upcoming episode. “Fishing Red Lake and Absorbing Road Salts” will air on Sunday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. on Pioneer PBS.
When anglers think of Red Lake, walleye fishing on Upper and Lower Red Lake first comes to mind. However, the Red Lake Nation is home to 40 secluded lakes full of other species such as bass, crappies and bluegills. Guide Darwin Sumner frequently fishes for bass and panfish on small lakes within the reservation. In “Red Lake Fishing,” Darwin shows off the good fishing and explains how the tribal DNR manages its lakes and what practices natural resource managers put in place to ease some of the fishing pressure on lakes.
Salt that makes roads safer when they’re icy in the winter is also toxic to our waterways. When sodium chloride seeps into groundwater and makes its way into lakes and streams, it harms fish and other aquatic life. “Sopping Up Road Salt” features University of Minnesota researchers evaluating plants that could absorb salt from soil and wetlands. They have lab and field tested halophytes, which are plants that can tolerate high salt levels. The goal is to plant halophytes along roadsides, harvest the plants for animal feed or burn the biomass and use the ash to salt roads.
Finally, the “Fast Forage” segment examines acorns, which can be foraged all year long. Nicole Zempel highlights that acorns were a staple food for indigenous peoples, are edible but must be correctly identified, and are a good source of protein and carbs. To reduce bitterness, the acorns must be roasted, shelled, and stored in the refrigerator. They can be roasted, made into grits or flour, and used in a variety of recipes.
People in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can livestream this episode at www.pioneer.org/live on Sunday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. “Fishing Red Lake and Absorbing Road Salts” will be repeated on Monday, February 20 at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. The program will also be available to stream at www.pioneer.org/prairiesportsman and on Prairie Sportsman’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@PrairieSportsman.
About Prairie Sportsman
Produced by Pioneer PBS, Prairie Sportsman is an Emmy-awarded series that celebrates love of the outdoors by featuring stories on hunting, fishing and recreation, while promoting environmental stewardship. Prairie Sportsman’s team is Dylan Curfman, producer, videographer and editor; Bret Amundson, host and editor; Cindy Dorn, writer and producer; and Dan Amundson, videographer and editor. The 2023 season is made possible by funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Shalom Hill Farm, Live Wide Open, Western Minnesota Prairie Waters and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station, dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit: www.pioneer.org.