Lakes expected to be ice-free for fishing opener

Most, or possibly all, of Cook County’s lakes will be ice free on Saturday, May 12, a welcome sign for this year’s fishing opener.

Some 500,000 anglers traditionally fish on the opening weekend across the state, the kick-off to Minnesota’s summer tourism season. And while the warmer seasons make their way to the Gunflint Trail and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness a little later than they do across the rest of the state, there are some anglers who will test the waters on the opening day of the fishing season.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Darin Fagerman, a local conservation officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, about what to expect during this year’s fishing opener.