The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says more than 221,000 fishing licenses have been sold already ahead of next week's fishing opener - with that number growing by one more Thursday thanks to Governor Tim Walz.
With a swipe of a card, Governor Walz officially purchased his fishing license ahead of the Governor's fishing opener in Cross Lake.
"They know they've got an incredible chain of lakes up there, incredible opportunities," said Walz. "I think the rest of Minnesota, we're all going to join them here in about eight or nine days and have a great experience."
The Cross Lake area is hosting the fishing opener for the first time ever. The region includes several lakes in north-central Minnesota, about a half hour north of Brainerd.
"Fishing license sales are up about 10% over where we were this time last year, so I do think, probably, early ice out had something to do with that," says Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stroman.
As the weather gets warmer anglers all over the state are preparing to get back out on the water, Walz says it's important to be aware of the influx of boats out on Minnesota lakes next weekend.
"Folks, get out there. Openers coming, get your license and and I would be remiss if I didn't say on behalf of all of those incredible conservation officers and those folks who are out there, safety on the water, safety on the water," says the governor. "Making sure you're wearing a flotation device, safety around the boats, just all the things necessary. There's gonna be a lot of excitement coming up here, a lot of folks on the water."
Strommen says there's been concern about declining hunting and fishing sales, but Minnesota still sells the fourth most licenses in the country.
"And I think that really speaks to the commitment from Minnesotans, the value that they place on angling opportunities and our outdoors," she adds. "But also the fact that we reinvest those dollars in really important ways to make sure that those angling opportunities are the top in the nation."
