Photo by Deb Gau Lynd Public School students Dulanki Alahakoon and Karissa Pesch passed along a net full of brown trout on their way to the Redwood River in Camden State Park

CAMDEN STATE PARK — Minnesota fisheries crews had a delivery to make at Camden State Park: about 2,500 brown trout. When they arrived on Tuesday morning, they found plenty of volunteers waiting to help release the fish in the Redwood River.

Students from Lynd Public School and Southwest Minnesota Christian High School grabbed nets full of fish from fisheries staff, and helped carry the fish down to the water. The Lynd students formed a line, passing the nets from person to person along the river bank.

Minnesota’s trout fishing opener is Saturday. The Minnesota DNR prepared for the weekend by stocking about 500 trout in Brawner Lake, and 2,000 trout in the Redwood River, said Windom area fisheries supervisor Ryan Doorenbos. The Windom area fisheries also stocked brown trout in Scheldorf Creek, in Cottonwood County.

Camden State Park offers a unique opportunity for “put and take” trout fishing, Doorenbos said. The DNR stocks Brawner Lake and the trout stream in the park, but doesn’t necessarily expect many fish to survive until the next year. Brown trout are cold-water fish, and with the hot summers in southwest Minnesota, the Redwood River warms up quickly, Doorenbos said.

The DNR has released greater numbers of trout in Camden State Park as the trout opener has grown in popularity, he said.

“Over time, we’ve kind of kept on bumping it up, because there kept being interest,” Doorenbos said.

For Lynd students, the trout fishing season offers a learning opportunity, said teacher Martin Boucek. After helping stock the river, students will be back next week to try fishing and take part in an Environmental Day.

About 60 students in grades 5-8 will spend the school day at Camden State Park, Boucek said. One of the activities will be fishing in the Redwood River.

“We plan on some outdoor music instruction and P.E. instruction, with both of those teachers coming with us this year, along with the fishing and Lyon County Environmental presentations,” he said. “Now, we’re just hoping the weather cooperates, and hopefully there are a few trout left by Monday morning.”