The fish in Ely Lake near Eveleth, Minn. might not like the Bobber Stop but those around the Iron Range in need of some assistance sure do.

As do area anglers of all ages who have made the annual February ice fishing contest such a success since it was started in 2009 by officials at Range Transitional Housing (RTH) as a fundraiser for the organization's Furniture Donation Program.

This year's version, which will feature thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, takes place from noon to 3 p.m. S...
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After years of writing about the downward trend in hunting and fishing participation, it's kind of neat to be able to offer some positive news: More people are taking to the woods and water.

This according to the recently released U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. In 2011, the number of anglers rose 11 percent compared to the 2006 survey and the number of hunters rose 9 percent.

The 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunt...
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By JESSE WHITE
   In June of 1995, just a few weeks after graduating from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a double major in history and political science - and after receiving my seventh job rejection letter after doing so - it became painfully obvious to me that any hopes I had of returning to my roots on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota were fading quickly.
    My double major, it seemed, wasn't going to get me far in an area that lives and breathes mining and I was slowly wrappi...
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