GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Season 14 of Prairie Sportsman premieres Sunday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. on Pioneer PBS. The intrepid Bret Amundson returns to host Pioneer PBS’s program dedicated to hunting, fishing, recreation and environmental stewardship. “Lac qui Parle Remembrance and Restoration” will feature the Pauly Larson Memorial Fishing Tournament, an update on the Marsh Lake Ecosystem Restoration Project and the return of mussels in the Pomme de Terre River.
The first segment, “Fishing for Pauly’s Kids,” features the 2022 Pauly Larson Memorial Fishing Tournament that drew almost 70 teams. When the tournament ends, teams pull their boats onto Milan, Minnesota’s main street for a weigh-in, celebration and prizes that range up to $5,000. The tournament’s namesake was on the planning committee of a Lac qui Parle Lake fishing tournament when he died suddenly at age 39. In 2018, the tournament was launched in Larson’s honor to raise money for local high school scholarships.
Then, “Restoration Research,” highlights the Marsh Lake Ecosystem Restoration Project, which has a goal of improving fish populations and the overall ecosystem using methods like monitoring water clarity. The project is now complete and the research shows an "outrageous" reproduction of fish and diverse populations, including young-of-the-year perch and crappie.
In the final segment, “Building Mussels.” viewers will learn about Minnesota's threatened mussel population and their vital role in cleaning the state's water. When the Pomme de Terre river was diverted from its entrance into Marsh Lake and returned to its original channel into the Minnesota River, mussels were removed and relocated. Last summer River Ecologist Mike Davis and crew returned to see that mussels are repopulating that section of the Pomme de Terre. Of Minnesota’s 51 mussel species, 28 are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern. This segment will help viewers understand their ecological significance and the challenges mussels face from changing landscapes and water quality degradation.
People in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area are able to livestream this episode at www.pioneer.org/live on January 22 at 7:30 p.m. “Lac qui Parle Remembrance and Restoration” will be available for online viewing 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 topics 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.
