GRANITE FALLS, Minnesota, February 13, 2025—Prairie Sportsman returns with “Warrior Walleyes and Invasive Rusties” as the team explores the Warrior Walleye Shootout in Lake of the Woods, and researchers trap rusty crayfish on Tofte Lake to study their movement and methods for removing the invasive species from northern waters. The episode airs Sunday, February 16, at 7:30 p.m. on Pioneer PBS, and repeat broadcasts air Mondays at 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Check local listings and our showtimes landing page for air dates and times on other PBS stations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Wyoming. 

“A Warrior Family” explores the David A. Andersen Memorial Walleye Shootout at Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota. The event is named after the Warrior Boats co-owner, who passed away. His son Kent Andersen has grown the tournament to over 150 boats, all of the same brand. It’s a friendly family competition in a beautiful setting.

The next segment, “Ridding the North of Rusties,” shows researchers trapping rusty crayfish at Tofte Lake near Ely to develop methods for removing the invasive species. Rusties are bigger and more aggressive than native crayfish and can take over a lake, threatening wild rice production and shoreline vegetation. The Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth is testing traps, baited with hot dogs, that are easy for tribes and lake associations to access. 

Individuals in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can livestream this episode at pioneer.org/live. All episodes and segments can also be viewed online at pioneer.org/prairiesportsman, video.pioneer.org/show/prairie-sportsman/, and youtube.com/@PrairieSportsman. 

About Prairie Sportsman
Produced by Pioneer PBS, Prairie Sportsman is an Emmy-awarded series that celebrates the love of the outdoors by featuring topics on hunting, fishing, and recreation while promoting environmental stewardship. The team of Prairie Sportsman consists of Host, Producer, Videographer, and Editor Bret Amundson, Writer and Producer Cindy Dorn, Videographer and Editor Dan Amundson, along with Series Editor Bradley Keely. The 2025 season is made possible by funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Shalom Hill Farm, Live Wide Open, Western Minnesota Prairie Waters, and members of Pioneer PBS. If you enjoy Prairie Sportsman, become a friend of Prairie Sportsman by filling out a Google Form.

About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota with the world. Pioneer PBS is headquartered in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with towers in Appleton, Worthington and Fergus Falls. Pioneer PBS reaches more than a million people in rural areas and small towns in western Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas and northern Iowa. Pioneer PBS is honored to be your television station—the only station in western Minnesota telling your stories and raising your voices into the media landscape. For more information visit pioneer.org or call 800-726-3178.