The countdown is on to Saturday’s 2024 big game fishing opener in Minnesota.
This week, KRWC Radio News is presenting a 6-part series leading up to the opener, covering many aspects of one of the biggest outdoor activities in the state.
Most of Minnesota experienced one of the mildest winters in many years from late 2023 to early 2024. Weather in fact was so mild that many people wonder whether or not it will have an effect on this year’s open water fishing season.
Today in part one of our series, DNR Fisheries Section Manager Brad Parsons comments on the early ice-out and what can be expected on area lakes on the opener…”We had a lot of lakes where ice out went 40 or 50 days earlier than last year, but it’s not just that that determines where fish are and what they’re doing. There’s really three major things…it has to do with the time of year, the water temperatures, and then the weather on that particular day, so, a lot of things that people normally do will still apply this year as well.”
For many anglers, the walleye will be the main species of focus on the opener. Parsons says there’s good reason for anglers to be optimistic…”So, overall around the state, our surveys over the last couple of years have shown really good year classes, so we’re really in a good spot. And in places where we don’t have the walleyes habitat for spawning, we’re able to stock fish and provide an opportunity where it wouldn’t occur otherwise…so, broad picture in the state of Minnesota, walleye fishing is really good right now and we really hope people can get out and enjoy it early in the season.”
For complete information on Saturday’s fishing opener along with rules and regulations, visit the Minnesota DNR website at; www.dnr.state.mn.us.
