Eelpout Festival
international eelpout festival annual gathering held town walker minnesota celebrates eelpout burbot scientific name lota lota indigenous bottom dwelling fish inhabits region lake case found deep fish described cross catfish eel giving slender disposition retaining tapered midsection full complement pectoral caudal fin lota lota known locally eelpout eelpout also may refer family marine fish leech lake known exceptional walleye fishing making festival banner often forgotten eelpout first eelpout festival held january ran annually onwards festival held february pollution cost safety concern saw festival get scrapped celebration held one coldest period year temperature often reach well zero however ice thin permit motor vehicle onto lake event designed cater wide range audience family activity plentiful leech lake well known among local abundance walleye bass northern pike sunfish muskellunge eelpout frequently caught winter month leech lake third largest lake minnesota covering acre mile shoreline maximum depth foot temperature february average high degree fahrenheit low degree f reported september variety reason festival board explored possibility relocating event lake bemidji hour northwest walker according bemidji pioneer application filed beltrami county board proceed moving event north beltrami county official voiced concern potential impact event lake bemidji festival ultimately move leech lake