GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Pioneer PBS’s Prairie Sportsman will feature fishing for a special musky and efforts to control zebra mussels on its upcoming episode. “Muskies and Uninvited Guest” will air on Sunday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. on Pioneer PBS.
One of the most difficult fish to catch in Minnesota is the muskie. Often dubbed the “fish of 10,000 casts,” muskies have become an obsession for a hardcore group of anglers in the state. Searching for this apex predator has spawned a variety of presentations used to coax them into biting. Host Bret Amundson heads out with Lock Jaw Guide Service owner Randin Olson to try and put a few toothy critters in the boat. Dan Amundson comes along and some personal bests are beaten. Olson will explain all the gear used and show how he achieves success before catching a special muskie.
The next segment, “Little Critter Copper Control,” looks at applying copper in lakes to eradicate zebra mussels. While copper controls are commercially available, permits are required to apply the pesticides as they can be harmful to other aquatic life. Researchers at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center are testing the impact of very low concentrations of copper on veligers, which are young zebra mussels. Tests at Lake Minnetonka and Pelican Lake have had good results and researchers are continuing tests at other lakes and a mobile laboratory.
The "Fast Forage" segment highlights the versatile Wild Meadow Garlic, which offers a rich garlic flavor that can be used with a variety of wild ingredients. This plant species can be found in Minnesota's prairie lands and is one of the earliest plants to sprout up in the spring, making early to mid-June an optimal time for harvesting. Additionally, the entire plant is edible, allowing for a variety of culinary uses.
People in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can livestream this episode at www.pioneer.org/live on Sunday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. “Muskies and Uninvited Guest” will be repeated on Monday, April 24 at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 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.
