Next Savage - 2023

SAVAGE NEXT!

NEXT IN BIKING TRAILS ABOUND FOR SUMMER RIDING

NEXT IN GARDENING TEST YOUR SOIL FOR SUCCESS

THE TR ADITION THE TRADITION CONTINUES

Dan Patch Days to host three days of events

BY ALEX MALM amalm@swpub.com

The Dan Patch Days Committee has been busy over the last few months as they prepare for the annual summer festival.

On Thursday, June 22, the community celebration will be kicked off with the Savage Rotary craft beer and wine tasting fundraiser from 7-9 p.m. at the Environmental Learning Center. The event is for those 21 and older only and tickets can be purchased at Marketplace Liquor, Savage Wine & Spirits, or from Savage Rotary Club members.

As is tradition, the gates will open up on Friday, June 23, at 5 p.m. for adult

night at Community Park, which will include Whiskey Inferno, food vendors and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

Music will begin at 6 p.m. with the opening act of GenX Jukebox. Headliner Hairball will follow from 8:45-10:45 p.m.

Event organizers said no outside coolers or food is allowed.

Tickets for the event are on sale, now with presale tickets being sold for $25 a piece and VIP tickets being sold for $100. After June 1, tickets will be $35. Online ticket sales will end on June 22 at 11:59 p.m. and can be purchased at danpatchdays. org.

Saturday is the free family day with events including inflatables, food and beverage vendors, kids activities, a fireworks show, a business expo featuring local businesses and more.

“Saturday is an awesome day to come out with family, friends and neighbors, have a great time and support the community of Savage,”

said Peter Hohn, secretary of the Dan Patch Days Committee. At 10 a.m., the grand parade will take place in downtown Savage, and the gates at Community Park will be open from noon-11 p.m.

From 7-11 p.m., there will be live music by The SHAG, and fireworks will take place at dusk.

Marion Savage and his horse Dan Patch are depicted in the Dan Patch Days parade.

FILE PHOTOS

The annual grand parade will take place in downtown Savage at 10 a.m.

New Savage New brewery offers va offers variety of beers beers

BY ALEX MALM amalm@swpub.com

Awbout a decade ago, Scott Johnson got a home brew kit from his aunt as a gift. It took his wife, Amy, and him a while to make, but once it was completed, the couple knew it was worth the wait.

“It was amazing it was so good,” Amy Johnson said.

Johnson said she also quickly realized that she isn’t much of a domestic beer drinker.

“Craft beer is where it’s at,” Johnson said.

The couple then brewed beer for a second time and it was once again good, so they continued.

For a while, the couple had brewing beer as a hobby saying

it took a long time to perfect the craft. As they continued, the couple continued to upgrade their equipment and became more advanced.

Now, the couple, along with their business partner, Paul Ough, own Loons Brewery in Savage after opening the business in July.

Johnson said throughout the years, the couple have had a number of business ideas. In addition to the brewery, the three business partners own a martial arts business in Burnsville.

Knowing they wanted to have the business located south of the river they looked at many different locations, eventually landing at 12925 Eagle Creek Parkway.

“This one legitimately fell in

our laps,” Johnson said.

One of the highlights of the business Johnson pointed to is the variety of beers they offer.

You won’t find one style taking up the majority of the tap lines,” she said.

Johnson said they try to “push the limits” pointing to their Russian Imperial Stout, which is 10.6% ABV. She said the brewery also makes their own seltzers, which have devel-

oped a following.

“People are digging those for sure,” she said.

In December, the brewery’s “Kung Fu Kicker” will be available coming in at 26% ABV.

The biggest asset of the business, Johnson said, is the taproom. The 10,000-squarefoot space can host anything from graduation parties to receptions and everything in between.

PHOTOS BY ROBB JEFFRIES

In addition to craft beers and seltzers on tap, the Loons Landing Brewery taproom features shuf fl eboard, darts, a theater area and kids play area. Loons Landing Brewery is located at 12925 Eagle Creek Parkway in Savage.

Finding a a new outlet new outlet

WreckIt Rage Room offers unique entertainment for the community

BY ALEX MALM amalm@swpub.com

On the border of Burnsville and Savage is a business where people can go to feel better, and to get their feelings off their chests.

A banner inside the business reads “cheaper and way more fun than therapy.”

It’s not a therapist office; instead, WreckIt Rage Room, located at 3930 County Road 42.

“You have a great time, you get rid of some stress, some anger, or you truly go just to have fun doing something that is taboo,” said Gee Decker, a Savage resident and owner of the business.

Patrons are able to throw or break anything that is in stock. It includes small appliances, TVs, computers, monitors, fine china and more.

“You get to be destructive and not have anyone yell at you, and not have to replace the things you break and not have to clean up. It’s a very unique experience,” Decker said.

Decker said she got the idea for the business last March while on vacation with her daughter in Colorado. The two of them visited a rage room for the first time but the experience for her daughter and herself was a positive one.

“It was so much fun. More fun than I ever expected it to be,” Decker said.

Having opened WreckIt Rage Room last December, Decker said she has been relying on different connections to see what has worked and hasn’t for small businesses and is learning as she goes along.

“It’s all just a huge learning curve for me,” Decker said. Knowing the business would need to be a place where neighbors could handle the noise, Decker said she looked all over, eventually finding her location.

“There wasn’t going to be a location close to where I live for this type of business,” she said.

After meeting with the owner of the building, she made the decision to move forward.

“I decided I was going to go all in and I was going to bring

this to Minnesota,” Decker said.

Although she has the one location for now, Decker said she hopes to expand.

“I hope we are able to have multiple locations at some point,” Decker said.

A group poses for a photo after breaking stuff at WreckIt Rage Room, a new business in Savage.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WRECKIT RAGE ROOM

A patron gets ready to break an item at WreckIt Rage AdbkiWkIRRRoom.

SAVAG E O FFE R S SAVAGE OFFERS

plenty of summer events

BY ALEX MALM amalm@swpub.com

As the snow on the ground melts, the Savage Parks and Recreation Department is preparing for its summer programs, including

expanded options for the fast growing sport, pickleball.

PICKLEBALL

One of the major changes happening this year which Recreation Services Manager Chris Dill pointed to for this summer is more pickleball of-

ferings, including some lessons.

On June 12 and Aug. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m., families will be able to get lessons on the sport. The price is $35 for an individual and $60 for two immediate family members. The lessons will be taking place at Savage Community Park. Reg-

istration deadlines are June 4 and Aug. 6, respectively.

For those 14 and older, lessons will take place on May 22, June 19, and Aug. 21 from 6-7:45 p.m., and the fee is $40 per person. Registration deadlines for each are May 17, June 11 and Aug. 13.

The MN Trout Unlimited Youth Fish event will be taking place on Aug. 15.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF SAVAGE

The city will also be offering lessons for beginners on June 5 and Aug.27 from 6-8 p.m., with lessons costing $50 each. The registration deadline is May 28 and July 30, respectively.

DAN PATCH DOGGIE DASH 5K

Instead of just a standard 5K race during Dan Patch Days, the city will be hosting a “doggie 5K” race.

On June 24, the doggie dash for all ages will be taking place at the Savage Sports Center. Preregistration cost will be $20 for those 18 and older and $17 for children. Event day walk-ins will cost $25 for adults and $20 for those 17 and under. Check-in will take place from 8-8:30 a.m. and the run begins at 8:45 a.m. The preregistration deadline is June 21.

There will be a number of different age categories including 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and those over 70.

The Savage Parks and Recreation department will be offering plenty of pickleball opportunities this summer.

The one-mile “Ruff Run” will be taking place at 10:10 a.m., with check-in taking place from 9:3010 a.m. Those registering by June 21 will pay $10 and $15 day of.

The free 5-and-under, 40-yard Wiggle Run starts at 10 a.m. and no registration is needed.

At 9:45 a.m. the dog/dog runner look-alike contest for those who are registered in one of the two races.

FISHING

Another highlight Dill pointed to is the MN Trout Unlimited

Youth Fish event on Aug. 15. The event will help youth learn how to set up a rod, put bait on the hook and cast for fish. All equipment and bait would be provided and children would have to be escorted to the fishing dock. There is no requirement to have a fishing license for those under 16.

The registration deadline is Aug. 6 and the event is open to all those 8-12 years old. The event is free and will take place from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the McColl Pond.

NEXT AT THE PARK

More Information

To register online or for more information, visit cityofsavage.com/parksrecreation/programs.

There are some need-based scholarships available for those who qualify. Requirements include being a Savage resident who is 17 or younger. For more information or to request an application, call 952-224-3420.

To register online or for more information visit cityofsavage.com/parks-recreation/ programs.

There are some financial need-based scholarships available for those who qualify. Requirements include being a Savage resident who is 17 or younger. For More information or to request an application call 952-224-3420.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF SAVAGE

NEW PROGRAMS COMING FOR ISD 191 STUDENTS

District to offer head start on college next year

BY ALEX MALM amalm@swpub.com

With summer right around the corner, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District is gearing up for new opportunities for students this summer and next school year.

This year, the school district will be offering a two-week extended summer school program which will be “especially” focused on multilingual students, but is open to anyone.

Any students in grades 1-5 will be able to join the district in August “for language-rich opportunities to learn through STEM challenges, project-based learning and physical education,” said Aaron Tinklenberg, a spokesperson for the school district.

Registration details will be available on the district’s website at www.isd191.org/summer

ASSOCIATE DEGREE BY GRADUATION

A new program coming to the school district for the 2023-2024 school year will be a program for high school students to walk away with a college degree by the time they graduate high school.

The program at Burnsville High School will allow students to participate in the Associate of Arts Pathway. Junior and seniors through the program will have the opportunity to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree.

Tinklenberg said the program is an alternative to the

post-secondary enrollment option, which brings students onto college campuses. Instead, Tinklenberg said the new pathway will instead “formalize and build upon the hundreds of college credits currently offered in the school so students can earn the degree without the barrier of traveling or missing their high school experience.”

He said there are options to combine the work with the other pathways offered at Burnsville High School to help work towards college credits or careers in fields like health care, education or criminal justice.

VIRTUAL ACADEMY

While some school districts are cutting back or eliminating virtual academy programs, the school district is moving forward with offering the 100% online instruction for K-12 students known as One91 Virtual Academy. Like in-person schooling, the curriculum is designed and taught by District 191 staff.

“As part of Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, One91 Virtual Academy follows the district’s unique Pathways model, which supports students in finding their passions and purpose so they are prepared for success throughout school and after graduation,” the district website stated. “The online school is for students in grades K-12 and open to any Minnesota resident.”

To enroll in One91 Virtual Academy for the 2023-2024 school year or to learn more visit isd191.org/virtualacademy.

BY TOM SCHARDIN tschardin@swpub.com

There are many advantages to raised garden beds — space, healthier harvests, water control, pest protection and even extending your growing season.

But perhaps the most overlooked advantage is the ability to control the soil. Your tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other tasty garden treats need the proper soil to flourish. So when is the best time to test your soil?

That answer many not be so obvious, either.

Keith Piotrowski, a laboratory manager for soil testing at the University of Minnesota, said the fall is the best time to test your soil — yes, after the growing season. It will help you get a head start on next season’s crops.

“The nutrient status isn’t going to change,” Piotrowski said in a news release from the University of Minnesota Extension. “You can go out in the middle of October or whenever fall actually hits, collect a sample and send it to us. We will get your

report back to you in approximately two weeks.”

Most of your area gardening and landscape shops have all the needed items, along with master gardeners’ advice for all types of home garden enthusiasts. Some good places to start in Scott and Carver counties include:

 The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Center, 10000 Great Plains Blvd., Chanhassen

 Cal’s Market & Garden Center, 6403 Egan Drive, Savage

 Hartman Companies, 8099 Bavaria Rd., Victoria

 Minnesota Gardens, 200 Pioneer Trail, Chaska

 The Garden By the Woods, 78 West 78th St., Chanhassen

 Plant Place, 800 West 78th St., Chanhassen

 Sailer’s Greenhouse, 1610 170th St E., Shakopee

 Queen Bee’z Lawn & Garden, 17860 Panama Ave., Prior Lake

Of course, you can’t forgot about the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, which serves as a research center for the University of Minnesota Extension. It’s a 1,200-acre public garden that attracts more than 500,000 visitors per year.

The Arboretum offers gardening and horticulture classes and workshops, including short

courses from managing pests to an edible plants.

Yet still, no matter how much you learn, your garden success still may come back to your soil. Finding the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is not always easy for the average gardener.

“If you’re growing tomatoes, you want the most tomatoes per plant; the healthiest, the best tasting. If you’re growing flowers, you want the prettiest flowers,” explains Piotrowski. “By having a soil test done, you can get a snapshot of the nutrient status of your garden. ... It’s a good way to check and make sure that there are sufficient nutrients there for optimal growth.”

Once you get your soil test results, it’s a matter of finding the right fertilizer for your garden. The N-P-K levels are printed on every bag sold, so then it’s your job to find the ratio closest to your test results.

“If you can’t find a product with the exact N-P-K ratio from your soil test, don’t worry, this is very common,” Piotrowski said. “We always say ... get as close as you can with the nitrogen level. That’s what’s necessary for growth and energy within the plant. From there, you can compromise a little bit for P and K.”

For more information on soil, as well as other types of gardening, go to extension.umn.edu/ yard-and-garden.

FILE PHOTOS

(Above) Raised beds can help home gardeners control the soil better and get started with the growing season earlier since the soil tends to warm up faster. (Top) The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen includes more than 1,200 acres of gardens and tree collections prairie and woods and miles of trails.

Right amount of nutrients can be the difference in your garden success

Loo ki n g f or a be a c h?

Plenty to choose from in Scott, Carver counties

BY MATTHEW VOIGT

Looking for a beach to sun, build a sandcastle or simply cool off during the hot and muggy Minnesota summer? Here’s a roundup of local public beaches.

PRIOR LAKE BEACHES

There are two public beaches on Lower Prior Lake — Sand Point Beach and Watzl’s Beach at Lakefront Park.

Sand Point Beach, 14341 Crest Avenue, Prior Lake, is next to the most popular boat launch for Prior Lake on the north side of the lake. The beach is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and its hours are 5 a.m.-10 p.m. In addition to the typical park offerings, there are rentals for paddle boards, canoes and kayaks, and picnic shelters. Because of limited parking, there is a $6 parking fee or a seasonal parking pass. Parking is first come, first serve.

Watzl’s Point Beach, 5000 Kop Parkway, Prior Lake, is located in Lakefront Park on the south side of Lower Prior Lake. The beach is a quarter-mile walk from the parking lot. The beach is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

CLEARY LAKE REGIONAL PARK

Cleary Lake Regional Park, 18106 Texas Avenue, Prior Lake, has an unguarded beach on Cleary Lake. The beach is open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Parking is free and is very close to the beach. There are restrooms and the beach is shaded by old oaks. There is also a trail around the lake, golf course and playground.

CEDAR LAKE REGIONAL PARK

Cedar Lake Regional Park, 25875 Juniper Avenue, New Prague, has an unguarded beach on Cedar Lake. The beach is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend 9 a.m. to sunset. Parking is free and the beach is shaded with trees. There are also dog trails and fishing spots at the park.

LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK

The beach at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen, 6900 Hazeltine Boulevard, is open Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday after Labor Day. The beach is open during park hours and from June 11 to Aug. 21 the beach has lifeguards from noon-6 p.m. Amenities include changing rooms with showers and restrooms,

shade umbrellas and picnic shelters for reserve.

LAKE ANN PARK

The beach at Lake Ann Park in Chanhassen, 1456 West 78th Street, is open starting Memorial Day weekend. The beach is guarded typically from mid-June to mid-August from 11 a.m.6 p.m., weather permitting. In addition to the park, there are watercraft rentals, canoe and kayak rentals and various picnic sites.

Watzl’s Beach is located at 15620 Red Oaks Road in Prior Lake.

FILE PHOTOS

Lake Ann Beach in Chanhassen is non-motorized, so watercraft rentals are popular at this location. These includes kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and paddleboards.

Plent y of public Plenty of public golf cour ses for all courses for all skills levels

Minnesota ranked 11th best state for golf by LINKS Magazine

BY TOM SCHARDIN tschardin@swpub.com

What do The Wilds, the Chaska Town Course and the Meadows at Mystic Lake have in common?

Last summer, GolfWeek ranked the top 10 public golf courses in each state and those three made the cut in Minnesota. Chaska Town Course was ranked No. 4, followed the Meadows at Mystic Lake and The Wilds, both in Prior Lake, at No. 7 and 10, respectively.

Scott and Carver counties are filled with quality links to challenge the lowest handicappers, along with the average weekend duffers.

Southwest News Media’s annual “Best of the Best” readers’ choice contest selected Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee as the best local golf course two years in a row in 2018 and 2019.

Stonebrooke is best known for its signature hole, the par-4 eighth hole, which requires a tee shot

over O’Dowd Lake and a ferry across the lake to the fairway.

“It was voted one of the top 10 holes in Minnesota and voted favorite par 4 by Tee Times Readers Choice Awards,” Stonebrooke general manager Einer Odland said after the course won “Best of the Best” for a second time.

Dahlgreen Golf Club in Chaska, the Ridges of Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan and Legends Club in Prior Lake are also recommended public links to play.

The Ridges of Sand Creek is also the home for the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AA boys and girls state tournaments each year in June.

Last March, LINKS Magazine ranked the best states for golf. Minnesota, where winter feels like it’s around for at least five months, ranked No. 11, one spot ahead of New York and one spot behind Illinois.

Not surprisingly, Florida was No. 1 and Alaska ended up No. 50.

The approach shot on the par- 4, 18th hole at Dahlgreen Golf Club in Chaska is not an easy one.

PHOTO BY TOM SCHARDIN

Back in January, Minnesota Golf Association’s annual facility rounds study showed a 5.4% decrease in rounds in the state in 2022. But unfavorable weather, and not an absolute decline in golfer participation, was considered the most influential factor.

It’s the first time in four seasons that rounds were down in the state.

“As we discovered during the pandemic, golf was one of the few sports or activities that all Minnesotans could safely participate in throughout the summer,” said Tom Ryan, MGA executive director and COO, adding that “even though rounds played were down (in 2022) compared to last (four summer), they were very close to 2020 numbers.

“This is an indicator that interest and enthusiasm in the game remains very high.”

The Meadows at Mystic Lake has also been the home for the LPGA Land O’Lakes Legends Classic the last two summers. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster won the inaugural event and 2021 and defended her title in 2022.

The golf course is not only challenging for some of the top women professionals, but for any skill level.

The course is surrounded by 11 acres of wildflowers and prairie plants and has 80 bunkers. The fairways, tees and greens are bent grass, and there’s a 2,500foot stream that flows through the course with five total waterfalls.

“Unique at The Meadows are the par 5’s, which can typically be holes to score, but are some of the more difficult holes and are

all guarded by water,” said Mike Luckraft, the director of golf at The Meadows.

The Chaska Town Course is also a great place to play for all skill levels. The course can play long, 6,817 total yards, or shorter for beginners at 4,900 yards.

The Wilds, designed by Tom Weiskopf, a 16-time winner on the PGA Tour, is known for its mature trees and natural wetlands. With 70 bunkers and multiple water hazards, the course from the tips (7,025 yards) can be challenging for many low handicappers.

The Ridges of Sand Creek Golf Course is the home for the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AA boys and girls golf tournaments each June.

FILE PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEADOWS AT MYSTIC LAKE

The Meadows at Mystic Lake in Prior Lake was the venue for the first two LPGA Land O’Lakes Legends Classic events in 2021 and 2022.

Plent y of campsites to pick f rom this summer Plenty of campsites to pick from this summer

and activities to enjoy.

BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN bobrien@swpub.com

For people who suffered from cabin fever the last few months, camping is one of the ways to get away and recharge your batteries.

“It makes a big impact on everyone, whether they realize it or not,” said Shaun Mertes, park facility supervisor for Scott County. “It’s just a good way to kind of recharge and disconnect from all the craziness that goes on with screens and technology and staying indoors.”

Eager campers have several opportunities to experience what both Scott and Carver counties have to offer during the warmer months. With many open from late April until the end of October every year, the campgrounds offer visitors different programs

While several parks are included in Carver County, Baylor Regional Park is the main attraction through the Carver County Parks and Recreation department with campgrounds available to people. The park includes 50 campsites with a mixture of utility sites with water and electric hookups and primitive sites for tents. Campers can hike or bike different trails in the park as well as other outdoor activities like playgrounds, horseshoe pits and a disc golf course.

Along with the available camping activities, the park offers additional programs on Saturday mornings for families or groups to enjoy.

Running from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, Saturday Morning Mischief is a free two-hour program that involves different crafts, walks or scavenger hunts throughout the park. Drop-in archery lessons are also available on Saturday mornings for $5.

Camping with the Stars — a

program taking place at Eagle Lake Observatory in Baylor Regional Park — is another camping opportunity the park provides. From July 21-23, the 16th annual program will have presentations, prizes, guided tours of the night sky and star gazing.

Lake Auburn campground in the Carver Park Reserve in Victoria also provides 55 drive-in sites, two hike-in sites and one bicycle-in-only site. Campers are also able to rent water equipment like canoes, kayaks, rowboats and boats.

Further east, campers can find even more campgrounds within Scott County. One of the main campsites in the area, Cleary Lake Regional Park, sits near Prior Lake and has 22 sites and several amenities.

Water rentals for boats, canoes, paddle boards and paddle boats, along with trails for biking and hiking, are common activities for campers to enjoy in the park. However, Mertes said many campers do not know how close the camp-

sites are to a nine-hole, executive golf course and practice facilities, not to mention how quiet the campsites can be.

“I would say it’s like an unmediated environment… so you don’t have a lot of traffic nearby, not a lot of noise or roads,” Mertes said. “You kind of feel like you’re getting away from the noise and congestion of people and all that stuff even though you’re not very far from shops or Prior Lake.”

Like Baylor Regional Park, Mertes said Cleary Lake occasionally holds health and wellness programs at the campgrounds on Saturdays throughout the season. It is not the only park in Scott County for camping enthusiasts, as Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park in New Prague is another group campsite available through the Three Rivers Park District.

Other campgrounds in Scott County include Fish Lake in Prior Lake, the Minneapolis Southwest KOA in Jordan and Town and Country RV Park and Campground in Savage.

You don’t need to travel far to find a wilderness escape

Campers paddle through the water at Cleary Lake when camping in the park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT

Groups and trails provide area riders with several bicycling options

BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN bobrien@swpub.com

Winter has been long and grueling for several Minnesotans, but bicycling enthusiasts and beginners see the turn in the season as an opportunity to get outside once again.

There are plenty of ways people in the area can get involved in the sport, whether it is finding some area paths to pursue alone or joining weekly group-led rides. Here is some information on what to know before hitting the trails this spring and summer.

CYCLING GROUP RIDES

Biking by oneself is always an option, but one of the fun as-

pects of the sport, according to Jennifer Sobota of Great Scott Cycling Club, is socialization. Sobota, the group’s treasurer, said she has met several people from different backgrounds due to the rides and enjoys seeing how people grow after joining the group.

“We get new people that show up and might struggle on their first ride, and it’s just really nice to see some of these people that have come a long way since their first ride,” Sobota said. “It’s just really great to see those relationships develop and it’s just a fun time.”

Great Scott Cycling Club holds rides every Monday and Thursday throughout the summer, with the first ride taking place on the first Monday in May and the final one taking

place on the last Thursday in September. The road cycling group has about 120 members and divides them into six different groups based on experience and ability.

Michael’s Cycles in Prior Lake also holds its own rides three times a week, going through different trails in the area. Manager Stuart Thomas said the group has done fat tire bike rides in the winter but will begin road, mountain and gravel biking as the weather allows.

TRAILS

Both Scott and Carver counties offer different options for people to break out the bike on the trails instead of only road biking. Thomas said there are a variety of reasons why people

might choose mountain or paved trail biking over road biking.

“A lot of people like the fact that they’re not having to deal with any cars and that kind of thing. So they feel safer riding single track, and it’s a really, really good exercise,” Thomas said. “A little bit more full body with climbing and such and obstacles that sometimes you have to ride over.”

Thomas mentioned Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake as a good option for paved trails, as the park has about three miles of paved trails that connect to Big Woods Regional Trail. He added that the 10 miles of singletrack trails in the Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage has also become one of the most popular for mountain biking in the area.

plenty of fish Reel in in

That sort-of-famous quote was slightly altered, but Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes and fishing is quite popular. And yes, it can consume your entire weekend.

BY TOM SCHARDIN tschardin@swpub.com

It’s been said that if you “give a man a fish, you will feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish, you’ll get rid of him for the whole weekend.”

According to Explore Minnesota, only Alaska is ahead of Minnesota in terms of resident fishing participation. In 2020, there were 1.5 million licenses anglers in Minnesota.

The state is also the third most popular inland fishing destination in the country.

So where do hopeful anglers go to catch sunfish, bluegill, crappie, bass, northern pike and Minnesota’s State Fish, the walleye? And don’t forget trout; the state has about 3,800 miles of designated streams available for fly or bait casting.

According the Minnesota DNR, the state’s 10 largest lakes — Cass, Kabetogama, Lake of the Woods, Leech, Mille Lacs, Pepin, Rainy, Upper Red,

Vermilion and Winnibigoshish — account for 40% of the state’s walleye harvest each year.

But all of those lakes are up north. Where are the popular spots to fish in Scott and Carver counties? It depends on what you are trying to catch.

Upper and Lower Prior Lake have plenty of different varieties of fish — bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill — but it’s primarily managed for walleye

Area lakes and streams offer opportunities for all kinds of anglers

FILE PHOTO

Jordan Mill Pond is stocked with bluegill, black Crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike and is a great place to take a kid fishing for the first time.

PHOTO BY PRIOR LAKE SPRING LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT Spring Lake, Upper Prior Lake and Lower Prior Lake all received fingerlings to help build the walleye population.

between 12 and 28 inches, according to the DNR.

Spring Lake is another popular walleye spot in Prior Lake. In December of 2021, a total of 3,099 walleye, equating to 309 pounds, were stocked into Spring, Upper and Lower Prior lakes.

Jefferson Pond, Lakefront, Crystal Lake and Cleary Lake are also spots to fish in Prior Lake, especially if you are looking for bluegill and largemouth bass.

McColl Pond in Savage is known for its bluegill and black crappie. It’s great for families or kids trying to reel in their first-ever fish. The same could be said for Lion’s Park Pond in Shakopee.

Jordan Mill Pond has that same feel, but there are also largemouth bass and northern pike to be had there. The pond is also a great spot to launch a canoe and fish for bass, or anglers can fish from the pier.

Beason Lake in Belle Paine, which is the Quarry Campground in the Minnesota Valley Recreational Area, is best for its crappie and bluegill.

In Carver County, there’s Lotus and Minnewashta lakes in Chanhassen and Steiger and Auburn lakes in Victoria. They all provide a wide-range of fish, including the familiar favorites, bluegill, crappie, sunfish, bass, northern pike and walleye.

Fireman’s Pond in Chaska has two fishing piers and, like Jordan Mill and McColl ponds, bluegill are abundant, along with sunfish and yellow bullhead.

TROUT FISHING

Eagle Creek in Savage is a hidden gem for trout. It’s also the only trout stream in Scott County, which is at the crossroads of Highway 13 and 101. It’s a self-sustaining stream and is

catch-and-release only.

Eagle Creek is known for its big brown trout that can be difficult to catch. It has native trees, prairie grass, invasive vegetation like buckthorn and beaver dams, while parts of it run behind industrial buildings and suburban backyards.

It’s not always about the fishing at Eagle Creek, but instead the nature that surrounds it.

Courthouse Lake in Chaska and Quarry Lake in Shakopee also have trout. Courthouse Lake, which was a former clay mine, is 10 acres where rainbow trout can be caught. Quarry Lake is a former sand and gravel pit. The 70acre lake was designated for trout in 2018, and each year roughly 2,000 yearling rainbow trout get stocked in midOctober.

PHOTO BY TONY NELSON, TWIN CITIES TROUT UNLIMITED Eagle Creek is at the crossroads of Highways 13 and 101 in Savage and has a self-sustaining small population of brown trout that is catch-andrelease only.

FILE PHOTO

An early morning mist sometimes comes off the water at Courthouse Lake in Chaska. The lake was a former clay mine and now is stocked with rainbow trout.