Gov. Dayton Casts Out On Lake Vermilion For Fishing Opener
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are enjoying the bright blue skies Saturday -- and hopefully a few nibbles.
It's a big Minnesota tradition: the annual Fishing Opener.
Gov. Mark Dayton was out on the water early Saturday morning -- He was fishing with Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk on Lake Vermilion, about 90 minutes north of Duluth, in Tower.
The governor reeled in nine walleye, while Sen. Bakk caught even more: 14.
Fishing guides say the early spring could actually have the walleye biting more often.
Businesses around Millie Lacs, however, say it's been tough the last few years, but there are still a lot of people enjoying the lake for the opener Saturday.
Bill Lundeen, owner of Lundeen's Tackle Castle, says Saturday's opener wasn't as busy as previous years, but he's hopeful the rest of the season will pick up.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources put in place some strict restrictions on fishing walleye on Millie Lacs -- anglers can only take home one per visit.
As a reminder of the threats that Minnesota's lakes and rivers face, Gov. Dayton also declared Saturday "Invasive Species Awareness Day."
State law requires anglers to clean weeds from their boats and unplug the drain to make sure they're not transporting zebra mussels or water flea. The DNR issued more than 500 warnings or citations last summer, with fines ranging from $100 to $500.
Information on fishing regulations, purchasing licenses and finding lakes to fish at is available on the DNR's website.