Nearly a half a million people are dropping a line this weekend, as it is the official start to the walleye fishing season in Minnesota.
A little good news-bad news when it comes to this year's fishing opener. The weather will be phenomenal on the lake. But will it be good for catching that trophy walleye? Might be tough.
"Having a nice warm stretch and calm stretch before the opener, generally helps fishing, but you know, bright sunshine can make the fish move a little bit deeper," says DNR fishery section manager Brad Parsons.
WCCO Chief Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says getting up early to fish might be your best bet, with temps expected to be very summer-like Saturday and Sunday. The wind picks up on Sunday so you may get a little of that welcome walleye chop.
"54 is the wake up temperature (Saturday), so people who fish right at sunrise, it'll be in the low 50s, upper 40s in parts of northern Minnesota," Shaffer told the WCCO Morning News. "Clear sky, beautiful sunrise and then mostly sunny and 80 for the rest of the day. Then we get to Sunday, and that's when we warm up. The wind is going to be pretty strong from the south, 10 to 20 MPH. We could hit 90, definitely hit 90 west of the Twin Cities, western Minnesota, southwestern Minnesota."
Northern Minnesota is not being spared the heat either. Expect 88 in the Brainerd Lakes area, 88 around Bemidji and the Iron Range, and even up to 90 in Thief River Falls. The only real relief is for those fishing in the Arrowhead region and Boundary Waters region where temps will stick in the low-80s.
However, Parson adds there are always options if you can't track down the walleye.
"As I always tell people, if walleyes aren't cooperating, move to a shallow bay and chase some bluegills, bass or crappies," Parsons explains.
He says more women are getting into the sport as well, and mom can fish without a license this weekend, which of course is Mother's Day.
"Women are our fastest growing demographic in fishing, and there are a lot of groups like Becoming an Outdoors Woman and Women Anglers in Minnesota who really promote that," he explains. "And some of the work that we've been doing, encouraging shore fishing and and educational things, has really helped along those lines. So, that's certainly something we we like seeing out there."
Parsons says they have sold about a half a million licenses in the state.
That includes Minnesota's Governor, Tim Walz. The Governor's Fishing Opener is happening in Crosslake this year. He'll be wetting a line with other legislative leaders Saturday morning as they continue work on a budget bill ahead of the end of the session.