The Spawn Won’t Be Long

With the warm temperatures and melting snow we might see an earlier than normal fish spawn. Then again, we might not!

MN  DNR Question of the week
Q: Which fish species are the first to spawn in Minnesota lakes during the spring?

A: Northern pike usually spawn first when water temperatures are in the low 40s. There is often still ice on the main lakes when pike run into tributary streams, rivers or wetlands to spawn. Walleye spawn a bit later, followed by yellow perch, muskellunge, bass and crappie/bluegill.

Henry Drewes, DNR regional fisheries manager