Bonnie Pfeffer moved to Battle Lake in 1970 with her family for a teaching job. The move placed them in a region known for lakes and fishing. She tells of her fishing memories and how the fishing-pole bicycle rack represents some of Battle Lake’s recreations.

Otter Tail County is known for its lakes—1,048 of them-–which is more than any other county in the United States. The county’s many lakes make fishing one of its primary attractions, drawing anglers from all over Minnesota and neighboring states.

Battle Lake, centrally located with 100 lakes nearby, is known as a fishing haven. Native Americans fished here in the summers; visitors came to the Prospect Inn by railroad to fish what was known as the “Park Region,” and Minnesota newspaper tycoons brought dignitaries, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, here on fishing weekends.

Fishing in and around Battle Lake is no less popular today than it’s been throughout history, making fishing poles a perfect symbol of recreation in the area. Local metal artist Paul Boyum created this bicycle rack and three others as part of a public art project. Whether you’re a local or visitor, angler or not, fishing for walleye, panfish, or muskie, you can appreciate the artistry of Paul’s fishing poles. They are a work of art plus a reminder of two of Battle Lake’s popular recreations: fishing and biking.

One thing that makes fishing so popular is that it’s a year-round sport – as enjoyable in summer as fishing through the ice is in winter. Fishing can be competitive or leisurely, lines cast from docks, fishing boats, pontoons, or jigs through the ice. It’s fun for all ages, male AND female!

My early adventures include my dad and me walking through a cow pasture to catch minnows in a creek and fishing from a river bank near where I grew up. Northerns preferred, bullheads welcome. I remember wooden boats, small motors, friends and relatives, and a tiny, rented cabin and dock where my home is now. A place my memories continued: night fishing with two kids asleep in our nearby car, pontoon and kayak fishing shenanigans, grandkids fishing off a dock, ice-fishing in a two-hole portable fish house catching preferred perch, northern, walleye, lots of unwanteds, and one-very large sturgeon, that snapped two lines and got away!