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Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Chad Koenen - Starbuck Times New Editor   
Tuesday, 13 April 2010 14:14

No Longer a conflict with Mother's Day

Minnesota's 2010 walleye opener will be Saturday, May 15 - one week later than usual.

The late start means that the walleye opener will not coincide with Mother's Day which is Sunday, May 9.

That means moms will rejoice and anglers will have to muster up some patience.

State law sets the walleye opener two Saturdays prior to Memorial Day weekend, which does not occur until the last weekend of May this year.

Larry Jensen, owner of Minnewaska Bait, said it's way too early to tell how the later fishing opener will affect his business and local fishing.

"It all depends on the weather and water temperature. In past years when we get the opener the first weekend in May, Minnewaska has not been a good walleye lake. But this year, with the opener being a little later, we may hit it right on the nose. That's a long range prediction, though."

Moms still can fish free on Mother's Day weekend, DNR fisheries officials said, but they're going to have to focus on panfish.

Nancy Koubsky has managed Koep's at Highways 29 and 55 north of Glenwood for 11 years and said she thinks a late walleye opener is going to be better for business.

"When the opener has been the same weekend as Mother's Day, it seems like most guys tend go home early Sunday morning," she said. "But now I think they'll fish all day Sunday until 3 or 4 p.m., so it will be busier and better for business."

She also added that warmer water temps should make for a good walleye bite.

Kyle Thompson, owner of Fish On Bait and Sport in downtown Glenwood said it's always nice to have the fishing opener start earlier for his business "... but I think with the weather we're having - with an early spring - having walleye opener a little later might work well.

"The springs that we've had over the last couple years have been so cold on opener. The first few weeks into May it was 34-36 degrees when I came in to the store, but if this warmer weather keeps on, the opener will be real nice. But, it's a tough one to try to predict," Thompson added.

Crappie, trout fishing options

In the meantime, while anglers patiently wait for walleye season, there's always crappie fishing to get your fix.

Thompson said crappie action on Lake Minnewaska has been slow, but other lakes in the state are doing well. "People are giving it their best shot out by Torgy's and the Starbuck Marina."

Although there have been very few fish caught, Thompson said it's just a matter of time before the bite is in full swing. "Right now, if people are willing to hop in the boat and go out to 7-9 feet of water, they'll probably find a few males out there - they always come in early to fan the beds and get things ready for the females. If you go deeper, you might find what looking for."

According to the DNR, stream trout season opens statewide on Saturday, April 17. The early catch-and-release trout season in Southeastern Minnesota opened April 1 and runs through Friday, April 16.