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“Monsters of the North” coming up on Prairie Sportsman

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Bret Amundson and Jamie Dietman with a huge lake sturgeon.
Bret Amundson (left) with Jamie Dietman (right)
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Download a photo of Bret Amundson with Jamie Dietman.
Download a photo of Bret Amundson.
Download a photo of Jamie Dietman.

GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Bret Amundson is fishing lake sturgeon on the Rainy River, then sees how fishery managers are returning sturgeon to the Red River Basin by removing dams, stocking fingerlings and tracking sturgeon’s growth and movement. “Monsters of the North” on Prairie Sportsman airs on Pioneer Public Television Sunday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.; on Lakeland Public TV Saturday, May 25 at 2:30 p.m.; on KSMQ Thursday, June 6 at 7:30 pm; and on TPT Life Saturday, June 29 at 12:30 p.m.

Bret Amundson and angler Jamie Dietman tackle giant lake sturgeon and explore why sturgeon fishing has grown in popularity. DNR area fisheries supervisor Phil Talmage, Outdoors Again owner Greg Mortenson and Rainy River Resort owner Guy Dittel explain how successful management strategies have contributed to higher numbers of big sturgeon in the fishery.

Lake sturgeon disappeared from the Red River Basin after dams were built that served as native fish barriers. Because sturgeon and other species need long distances to migrate, state and federal agencies and tribes have partnered to remove barriers along 450 miles of the Red River up to Canada. Otter Tail Lake near Fergus Falls has been stocked with sturgeon fingerlings since 2002 and now some are reaching 60-inch lengths. Fishery biologists are tagging and tracking the movement of these monster fish.

About Prairie Sportsman

Prairie Sportsman celebrates our love of the outdoors – to hunt, fish and enjoy recreation provided by our vast resources of lakes, rivers, trails and grasslands – while promoting environmental stewardship.

Prairie Sportsman’s team includes Cindy Dorn, producer/writer; Bret Amundson, host/assistant producer; Dylan Curfman, editor/videographer and Max Grabow, assistant videographer/editor. The 2019 season is made possible by funding from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, SafeBasements of Minnesota, Diamond Willow, Live Wide Open and Western Minnesota Prairie Waters.

About Pioneer Public Television

Established in 1966, Pioneer Public TV 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.