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Minnesota’s oldest form of fishing might be the hottest new trend.
“Darkhouse angling” — the act of spearing a fish through a large hole in the ice — spiked in popularity this winter, surprising even its most ardent boosters.
The activity, which traces its roots back to primitive times in Minnesota and throughout the globe, had been gradually gaining in popularity since 2004, when fewer than 16,000 people bought a spearing license, according to state data. This winter, 27,107 licenses were purchased, a 42 percent jump over last winter and a 72 percent increase in 10 years. |
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“That’s incredible,” said Tim Spreck, lobbyist for the Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Association. “We expected a shot up from Mille Lacs, but not that much.”
This winter, spearing, which almost exclusively targets northern pike, was allowed on Lake Mille Lacs for the first time since 1983, and many resort owners offered spearing houses with pre-cut holes and equipment for rent. This made the sport suddenly accessible to the metro masses curious about trying it but knowing no one with the gear. |
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