If autumn in Minnesota means Vikings football, then spring means fishing.
Over the weekend, a pair of Vikings who have found their way around many of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes took part in one of the states fondest traditions - the fishing opener.
Jim Kleinsasser and Steve Hutchinson took part in a weekend of activities on Friday and Saturday as part of the 2008 Governor's Fishing Opener at Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point Resort.
Along with lifelong passions for fishing, the Vikings duo also understands the importance of introducing young people to the outdoors.
"We are lucky to live in a state that has so many opportunities to get active in the outdoors," Hutchinson said. "When you are so close to so many lakes, rives and streams and great wildlife areas, it just takes opening a kid’s eyes to what is right around the corner from them. I think if you hook a kid on fishing, they'll be hooked for good."
As part of the Governor's Opener, Hutchinson and Kleinsasser spread the word about youth fishing and took matters into their own boats - bringing Pequot Lakes youths with them on the opening morning fishing.
"It's an honor to be part of such a great event," Kleinsasser said. "The hosts have been awesome and the number of volunteers willing to work so hard to make you comfortable is unbelievable. Hopefully, along the way, some of the kids we were able to meet had a good time. If they caught a fish today, maybe they will tell their parents they want to go again next weekend. It's a great way to spend a day;I hope more kids take the time and more parents help them out."
Both players grew up with outdoor activities as a big part of their lives and have transitioned that into their adulthood.
"My grandfather and father were the biggest part in me getting interested in hunting and fishing," Hutchinson said. "Some of the best memories I have of them involve being in a boat or on a hunt."
While fairly new to Minnesota, Hutchinson and his father have started a new tradition of going to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area each summer.
Growing up on a family farm in North Dakota, Kleinsasser has a special affinity to the land and its resources.
"I was a kid who took every chance I had to fish and hunt," Kleinsasser said. "I'm lucky to have played so many years in Minnesota and have found my way around to some of the great fishing water in the state."
For Hutchinson's young guest on Saturday morning, the chance to fish with his dad and an NFL player was made even better by being on a boat that hauled in 7 Walleye keepers. Mathias Carlson, a 4th-grader from Pequot Lakes, parlayed his excellence in the classroom as a top reader into a chance to fish with his father, Hutchinson and guide Bart Taylor. The "Team 76" boat had an impressive haul. But, most importantly, as Carlson told reporters after an intro by Governor Tim Pawlenty after the morning fish, he had "probably the best day of my life."