DULUTH – As spring fishing ramps up on Lake Superior, anglers are hitting the water in pursuit of steelhead, lake trout, coho and chinook salmon. To help protect wild steelhead, Minnesota Sea Grant is distributing free identification decals to help anglers distinguish between steelhead and other salmon species while they’re out on the water.

Minnesota fishing regulations require that all wild steelhead be released. These are naturally reproducing fish and are protected by a catch-and-release rule.

The decals are free, but recipients are asked to complete a five-minute survey at the end of the angling season. The survey provides information on the effectiveness of the decal and helps the Sea Grant determine if there’s interest in similar identification tools for other Lake Superior fish.

Wild steelhead can be identified by their intact adipose fin – the small, fleshy fin located on the fish’s back. Hatchery-raised steelhead have a clipped (missing) adipose fin and may be harvested, with a daily limit of three fish over 16 inches.

In 2024, Minnesota Sea Grant surveyed 75 of the 150 or so anglers who requested a steelhead identification decal. Half of the respondents said they used the decal to identify the fish they caught. Most importantly, 19% of those who said they caught a wild steelhead also said they would have mistakenly kept the fish if they had not used the identification decal.

“We’re pleased to see anglers using the steelhead identification decals,” Don Schreiner, Minnesota Sea Grant fisheries specialist, said in a statement. “Protecting wild steelhead from harvest allows these fish to spawn, which helps increase the steelhead population.”

When asked where they fished, 67% of the decal users reported fishing on Lake Superior by boat, 37% in tributary streams and 27% from shore, with a few anglers fishing at multiple locations. When asked about decal placement, 40% of anglers affixed it to their boat, another 40% to their tackle box and 12% to a cooler. The remaining 8% of respondents indicated that they had not attached the decal. Additionally, 76% of respondents said that others were interested in the decal and learned from it. More than 80% of respondents also expressed interest in receiving identification decals for fish of other species.

“We thank everyone who participated in our survey and shared their experiences,” Schreiner said. “We anticipate conducting another survey of decal recipients in late 2025.”

For more information on Minnesota Sea Grant’s “Steelhead or Salmon? Which Did You Catch?” project, go to z.umn.edu/MNSG-Steelhead-Salmon.

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Today is Monday, May 19, the 139th day of 2025. There are 226 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On May 19, 1920, ten people were killed in a gun battle between coal miners, who were led by a local police chief, and a group of private security guards hired to evict them for joining a union in Matewan, West Virginia.

Also on this date:

In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England’s King Henry VIII, was beheaded at the Tower of London after being convicted of adultery.

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Today in History: May 16, China’s Cultural Revolution begins

In 1883, William Cody held the first of his “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” shows in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed the Emergency Quota Act, which established national quotas for immigrants.

In 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House, where the two leaders agreed on May 1, 1944, as the date for the D-Day invasion of France (expansion plans for the invasion caused the date of the landing to be delayed by a month).

In 1962, film star Marilyn Monroe sang “Happy Birthday to You” to President John F. Kennedy during a Democratic fundraiser at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

In 2018, Britain’s Prince Harry wed American actor Meghan Markle in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Today’s Birthdays:

TV personality David Hartman is 90.
Musician-composer Pete Townshend (The Who) is 80.
Singer-actor Grace Jones is 77.
Former racing driver Dario Franchitti is 52.
Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett is 49.
Country musician-producer Shooter Jennings is 46.
Comedian-actor Michael Che is 42.
Singer Sam Smith is 33.
Media personality-singer JoJo Siwa is 22.

LOS ANGELES — Napheesa Collier scored 23 points, Alanna Smith added 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 89-75 in their WNBA game on Sunday.

Courtney Williams finished with 13 points and 10 assists, and Jessica Shepard scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lynx (2-0).

Azura Stevens led the Sparks (1-1) with 21 points. Dearica Hamby added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Kelsey Plum finished with 18 points and five assists.

Williams hit a 3-pointer a little over a minute into the second half that gave Minnesota the lead for good at 49-47 and sparked a 9-0 run.

Plum’s basket with 7:45 to play cut the deficit to 75-70, but Karlie Samuelsson and Smith each hit a 3-pointer during an 11-0 run as the Sparks went scoreless for more than 5 1/2 minutes.

The Lynx shot 48% (34 of 71) from the field and hit 10 3-pointers.

The Lynx next play their home opener Wednesday against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings — who Minnesota beat 99-84 to open the season.

Minnesota can now reclaim its preferred role of underdog.

After a series against Golden State which it entered as a favorite and grew to a near guaranteed victor after an injury, the Timberwolves are heavy betting underdogs in the Western Conference Finals against top-seeded Oklahoma City.

The Thunder toppled Denver in Game 7 of their conference semifinal on Sunday, and will host Minnesota for Game 1 of the West Finals at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Here’s a look at the series:

Schedule

Game 1: Tuesday, May 20 in Oklahoma City, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 2: Thursday, May 22 in Oklahoma City, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 3: Saturday, May 24 in Minnesota, 7:30 pm, ABC

Game 4: Monday, May 26 in Minnesota, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 in Oklahoma City, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 6: Friday, May 30 in Minnesota, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 7: Sunday, June 1 in Oklahoma City, 7 pm, ESPN

Regular season series

The two teams tied a pair of matchups, 2-2. Rudy Gobert played in just one of the games for Minnesota – a loss on New Year’s Eve. Minnesota was down Gobert, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for the final three matchups, which were all played around the all-star break.

Timberwolves keys to victory

Ball control: The one time Minnesota was fairly thoroughly beaten by Oklahoma City this season – on New Year’s Eve in Oklahoma City – Minnesota turned the ball over 24 times, which led to 31 Thunder points.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has repeatedly harped the importance of not turning the ball over against the Thunder, something Minnesota managed well in the other three matchups during the season. Minnesota won two of those contests.

Oklahoma City led the NBA with the lowest turnover percentage (11.9%) and the highest opponent turnover percentage (16.9%).

During the regular season, the Thunder scored 18.1% of their points off turnovers, an NBA high. That number has spiked to north of 20% in the postseason.

Eight Denver turnovers in the second quarter Sunday sparked the start of the Thunder run that clinched that series.

Minnesota’s defense could cause havoc for Oklahoma City in the half court, but the Wolves will have to limit their giveaways to keep the Thunder from capitalizing in easy transition.

Win the 3-point battle: Minnesota was fifth this season in 3-point makes (15.0). The Thunder were sixth. With the gravity each team’s star player – Anthony Edwards for Minnesota and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Oklahoma City – possesses, the role players for both teams figure to have numerous decent looks from the perimeter.

Those are likely the best scoring chances either side will generate in the halfcourt. Both teams have lineups flush with guys who can knock down the triple, but both teams have shown in the postseason that those “others” can run hot and cold from distance.

Whether it’s a night where Lu Dort makes four 3-pointers or Donte DiVincenzo could determine a contest.

Gobert games: Rudy Gobert’s impact has fluctuated for Minnesota throughout the postseason. Minnesota’s defense and rebounding is unquestionably better when the center is on the floor.

But there have been times where the opponent’s ability to disregard Gobert without Minnesota making the defense pay with easy looks for the center inside has stalled out Minnesota’s offense.

One way to beat Oklahoma City is on the glass. The easiest way for the Wolves to do that is with Gobert on the floor. But only if Minnesota can maintain some semblance of offense in the process.

Limit Shai: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the likely MVP this season. But teams this postseason have found the best way to beat the Thunder is to force the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands.

That’s what Minnesota did in its wild, 25-point fourth quarter rally to beat the Thunder in February.

Minnesota trapped the star guard out of a zone, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates failed to make outside shots. If you can limit Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive output, Oklahoma City struggles to put up enough points to put you away.

Prediction

Minnesota in 7. The Timberwolves have been to this point, while this edition of the Thunder are making their first appearance on this stage.

It’s easier to trust Minnesota’s experience and ability to perform at a consistent level around its superstar at this juncture.