State fishing opener starts at midnight tonight
The season opens at midnight tonight for walleye and northern pike, Minnesota's most popular game fish. DNR fish and wildlife director Dave Schad said Minnesotans can look forward to a good start to the season.
"Well, you know, it's actually lining up to be a pretty good opener," Schad said. "I think with the spring weather kind of [in] a normal progression here, spawning activity has pretty much run its course. I think it's going to be a pretty decent opener."
The state is marking the start of the season with the traditional Governor's fishing opener, which will be held in the Twin Cities for the first time in more than 60 years.
Schad said the Governor's opener on White Bear Lake will highlight the state's urban and suburban fishing.
"We've got remarkable fishing here in the Twin Cities metro area, about 250 lakes that have fishable populations in them," Schad said. "Actually 13 state record fish taken from metro waters so we're really fortunate to live in a state with that kind of fishing resources, so close to where people live."
The DNR expects the fishing season to be a 4.7 billion dollar business this year.
The state's salmon and stream trout season opened April 18. The statewide bass season opens May 23, and the musky season opens June 6.
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