Our fish are a missed opportunity

We are only days away from the 12th annual Rainy River Walleye Tournament.
For more than a decade the largest crowds of any event in Rainy River have gathered for these fun and exciting three days that celebrate one of our greatest assets... fishing!
180 participants each year show us that the fishing is not only great it is fun and can be profitable for those who are winners of the RRWT!
But even though we have one of, if not the biggest walleye tournaments in the region, we are for the most part missing the boat here in Rainy River.
Almost every day in the summer, tourists drive THROUGH Rainy River on their way to other places to do what? To fish!
On the U.S. side there are many resorts situated on the Rainy River and near its mouth on Lake of the Woods.
In the early part of the 20th century pioneers like Ernie Calvert saw the potential this fishery has to drive the economy. He brought people in by train and picked them up in Rainy River to go and fish on the lake and I am sure the river as well.
It surprises me to this day that we have no businesses right here in the town of Rainy River geared towards fishing. But yet the entire community comes out every RRWT to celebrate an asset we have so much of; walleye!
There are so many other fish species that are also bountiful including trophy sized pikes on the Rainy River. So why has no one seen this opportunity and made something happen here?

–Until then,
Ken