Conditions look promising for an outstanding 2021 fishing opener

The weather forecast looks promising and an early-ice out has anglers excited for the upcoming fishing opener across the Boundary Waters and Cook County.

Temperatures are forecast for the low to mid 60s for most of Cook County on Saturday, May 15. It’s not unheard of for some of the local lakes to still be frozen on the annual fishing opener. That won’t be the case this year due to an early start to spring and the fact the opener is later this year than usual due to Memorial Day weekend falling on the final days of the month. The fishing opener is always two weeks before Memorial Day weekend in Minnesota.

Fishing season opens for walleye, bass, northern pike and lake trout this weekend.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with local Conservation Officer Kylan Hill from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about what anglers should expect on opening weekend, including a variety of safety reminders and license requirements. The audio to their conversation is shared below.

In related news, the Minnesota DNR, in partnership with Share the Mic Minnesota, is kicking off a unique social media campaign to encourage diversity, equity and inclusion on Minnesota’s public lands and waters. 

#MyMNOutdoorAdventure will launch May 15, in conjunction with the Governor’s Fishing Opener. Minnesotans of diverse backgrounds will be encouraged to share their stories and pictures about fishing, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities by uploading them to the DNR’s website. The DNR will then feature these stories, and accompanying photos, on its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter channels and also on its website.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are priorities for the DNR. Amplifying diverse perspectives is an important part of our efforts,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “These shared stories will increase the visibility of diverse voices and experiences in the outdoors.”

Increasing the visibility of diverse people in the outdoors is important, because people of color have deep personal connections to the outdoors that should be acknowledged and shared, said Jasmine Brett Stringer, founder of Share the Mic Minnesota.

“We know that representation is important and impactful because it affects how people of color view themselves and how others view them,” Stringer said. “Positive representation of minority groups helps diminish prejudices and biases and it plants seeds of what’s possible to people of color. Minnesota’s outdoor recreational spaces make Minnesota more livable for all people.”