Minnesota Fishing Opener

There’s still some ice on Saganaga but a little sun or wind and we’ll have open water once again. Just in time for the Minnesota Fishing Opener this weekend.  Looking for a place to stay? Give us a call, we’d love to see you. 218-388-2224

Here’s some fishing information from the Duluth News Tribune…

The Minnesota opener

• Minnesota’s inland fishing season opens at 12:01 a.m. Saturday for walleyes, northern pike, bass (with restrictions; consult regulations) and lake trout.

• You can safely bet Minneosta will have about 1.1 million licensed anglers this year. License sales have been amazingly consistent over the past 10 years — between 1.19 and 1.11 million. About half of those anglers are estimated to be out on opening weekend, if the weather is nice.

• Fishing licenses are available at ELS (Electronic Licensing System) agents statewide, such as bait shops and sporting goods stores, as well as online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense or by phone at 888-665-4236.

• Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will spend the 72nd annual Governor’s Fishing Opener on Fountain Lake near Albert Lea, just miles from the Iowa border.

• May 11 and 12 are “Take A Mom Fishing Weekend” when Minnesota resident moms fish free, no license needed. Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is May 12.

• Some areas will be closed to fishing to protect concentrations of spawning walleyes. No fishing will be allowed on the St. Louis River from the Minnesota Highway 23 bridge up to the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary cable through May 19. (And remember even the Wisconsin side of the St. Louis River and Twin Ports harbor remains closed until May 11.)

• Cook County closures include the Sea Gull River from Sea Gull Lake through Gull Lake to Saganaga Lake approximately 1/3 mile north of the narrows; closed through May 24; Saganaga Falls on the Minnesota‑Ontario border where the Granite River enters Saganaga Lake; closed through May 31; Maligne River (also known as Northern Light Rapids) on the Ontario side of Saganaga Lake; closed through May 31 by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; Unnamed channel between Little Gunflint and Little North Lakes on the Minnesota‑Ontario border; closed through May 31; Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) from the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake; closed through May 24; Tait River from White Pine Lake to the Forest Road 340 crossing, including a portion of White Pine Lake, from May 11 to May 24; Junco Creek from the first log dam above County Road 57 downstream to Devil Track Lake, and including a portion of Devil Track Lake near the river mouth, from May 11 to May 24.