As the Brainerd lakes area passes the torch for the 2015 Governor's Fishing Opener, it will be sending more than good wishes.
Tracker Boat Center is donating the fishing boat for the opener at Lake Vermilion. The 2015 Targa 18 Walk Through will be raffled off to help offset expenses of hosting the opener.
Tyler Hinman, Tracker Boat Center general manager, handed the black boat with red and white accents to Jay Schelde, president of the Lake Vermilion Resort Association.
"The boat is going to make it easy for us to raffle. This is a sweet boat. It's really a big deal. We're really appreciative of Tracker for all the work they did," Schelde said. "It's really going to make it big difference."
There are a lot of Tracker's on Vermilion, Schelde said, adding the boat will not only bring in the raffle money but will draw attention to the resorts on Lake Vermilion and the lake itself.
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"We hope to be able to see Tracker stay involved with this program," Schelde said. "They have a really good product."
Tracker was recently involved in the opener for the first time.
"That's the goal," Hinman said. "Last year was our first year with it and we realized the importance of the fishing opener up here and we want to be fully involved with it and we've just taken another step to promote the opener along with the brand. It's a good opportunity for us."
Tracker reported upgrades to the boat for the opener include a 150 horsepower Mercury 4 stroke, Terrova Bow Mount Trolling Motor, a Lowrance Elite 5 Locator/GPS at the helm and a Mark 5 at the bow. The Tracker boat also has a stand-up fishing top and custom cover in case of inclement weather next May 9.
Plans call for the boat to be showcased around the Lake Vermilion area, at county fairs and upcoming trade shows, including the Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis and the St. Paul Sportmans Show. Fortune Bay is the hosting property and the Tracker will be included as a guide's league on Lake Vermilion takes out military veterans. The boat will be at Fortune Bay next weekend. There are 27 resorts in the association and more than 30 on Lake Vermilion, which owes its name to the Vermilion colored sunsets on the lake.
Lake Vermilion previously hosted the opener in 2005.
The boat raffle tickets are $5. The boat retails for $33,000. The goal is to sell 10,000 tickets and bring in $50,000. The public relations is worth a lot more than that, Schelde said, adding the boat sponsorship is the biggest part of the opener by far.
"We're a tourist area so the governor's fishing opener is a really big deal for us, fishing is a very big deal for us. It generates a lot of income for the area," Schelde said. "The governor's opener is a very big promotion for our area."
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Hinman said the Brainerd location on Highway 371 has been excellent. Tracker re-opened the boat center in Brainerd in 2010. "Ever since then it's grown," Hinman said. "It's in a great spot. You are up in the north woods, how can you go wrong?"
Hinman said the industry is starting to bounce back after the recession and Tracker is in a strong position.
"We just appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the governor's fishing opener," Hinman said, noting plans are for a long-term relationship.
In attendance to mark the ceremony of passing the fishing opener and the boat to the next event were Matt Kilian, Brainerd Lakes Chamber CEO; Frank Soukup, Grand View Lodge marketing director; Steve Mau, Brainerd General Rental owner; and Jenna Crawford, the chamber's Pequot Lakes area director; and Carol Altepeter, Explore Minnesota Tourism, were on hand last week handing off the 2015 Governor's Fishing Opener. Mau and Soukup served as co-chairs of the 2014 fishing opener on Gull Lake.
The chamber presented the Lake Vermilion association with the traditional $1,000 check for the next event venue.
The chamber reported the opener brought $2.7 million in tourism media exposure to the Brainerd lakes area.
"You guys did a wonderful job," Schelde said.
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber and the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp. expect to move into their new quarters in the Tyrol Hills Shopping Center in early September.
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Dollar Tree in Baxter is opening at 9 a.m. on Aug. 29.
The store, in the Westport Mall, is the second Dollar Tree in the community.
The other Dollar Tree, where everything is a $1, is in the East Brainerd Mall.
Renovation efforts are visible in multiple locations from the demolition permits were taken out in Brainerd for the former Freedom Station and Westside Cafe on Washington Street. The site has long been dormant.
Totally Kidz is celebrating 10 years Downtown Brainerd through Aug. 23 with prize drawings for a girl's and boy's bike and cake.
Two area companies formed a business partnership. Johnson Personality Plus Interiors, Nisswa, owned by Ann and Doug Johnson, and Hudrlik Cabinets and Flooring, Brainerd, reported they are joining forces to offer services to customers. Hudrlik has locations in Aitkin and Crosby.
