Fishing season begins Saturday across state

The Minnesota season is open for walleye, northern pike and trout in lakes Saturday, May 11. Out of the 1.4 million licensed anglers in Minnesota, about half a million anglers take part in the tradition of the fishing opener.

Make sure to buy your fishing license, available at any DNR license agent, online using a mobile or desktop device, or by phone at 888-665-4236. Mobile buyers receive a text or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers.

There are about 3,000 public water access sites statewide. “Boaters will find good launch conditions at most public accesses for the fishing opener,” said Nancy Stewart, the DNR’s water recreation program consultant.

Stewart offers these suggestions for a safe and successful fishing opener:

Call ahead to get the latest report on the lake and access you intend to use.

From shore or dock, inspect the ramp above and below the water to ensure it is in good condition.

Wear a life jacket when inspecting an access while in the water.

Have a plan B – if a particular fishing opener lake access is unusable, try another public water access.

Boaters and anglers can also get questions answered by calling the DNR Information Center: 888-646-6367 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday).

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12, and the fishing opener weekend doubles as Take a Mom Fishing Weekend. Mothers who are residents of Minnesota can fish without a license from Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12. Fishing is allowed only for species that have open fishing seasons.

That’s not the only freebie: In most cases, Minnesotans don’t need a license when fishing in a state park.