05-08-2004, 04:35 AM
If fish populations are any indicator, anglers who ply the state's large lakes have a good chance of success on the 2004 fishing opener, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Many of the state's large, well-known lakes have strong walleye and northern pike populations, thanks to favorable spawning conditions in the past five to ten years. In addition, experimental regulations, which tend to protect mature fish, may be contributing to better quality fishing on some lakes.
"Whether we get a good bite on the opener is another question," said DNR Fisheries Chief Ron Payer. "That depends on water temperature, and mostly, the weather. But it looks like the fish will be there."
Here's a look at conditions on a few of Minnesota's most popular lakes:
Lake Pepin
Thanks to extraordinary spawning conditions in 2001, Lake Pepin's walleye population has a large number of 17 to 18 inch fish, according to John Hoxmeier, DNR large lake specialist in Lake City. "It was a really good year class and the gizzard shad (an important forage fish) were abundant," he said.
Hoxmeier said anglers who fish Lake Pepin can also expect good populations of smallmouth bass and sauger and a few northern pike. Lake Pepin is a natural impoundment in the Mississippi River, and is open year-round for many species including walleye, northern pike and bass.
Lake of the Woods
Walleye between three and six years old - 11 to 15 inches - are abundant in Lake of the Woods this year, thanks to consecutive years of successful spawning, said Mike Larson, DNR area fisheries supervisor in Baudette. Fishing on the opener will depend mostly on the weather. "If we get a lot of warm weather, the bigger walleye tend to move out into the lake, making them harder to catch," Larson said. "But if it's a late spring with colder weather, the larger fish stay closer to shore and are more vulnerable to anglers.” Larson said northern pike, which are open year-round on Lake of the Woods, remain abundant with opportunities for 20-pound fish.
Leech Lake
The walleye population in Leech Lake holds an abundance of fish larger than 20 inches, according to Harlan Fierstine, DNR area fisheries supervisor in Walker. But smaller walleye are less abundant as spawning conditions haven't produced high numbers of young fish in recent years.
The Cass County lake's well-known population of muskie continues to improve each year. It used to be that a 50-inch fish was practically unheard of, Fierstine said. "Today, we're hearing about fish that are 55 inches and larger." Fierstine reminded anglers that the muskie season doesn’t open until June 5. In addition to walleye and muskie, Fierstine said anglers will find good numbers of northern pike, bluegill and perch.
Mille Lacs
Anglers who fish Lake Mille Lacs have an excellent chance of hooking nice walleye, according to Tom Jones, DNR large lake specialist in Aitkin. "Lots of lakes have five-pound walleye," he said. "But at Mille Lacs, you have a real chance of catching a five-pound fish every time you go out."
A new protected slot limit (see sidebar) should allow anglers to keep more fish this year while still protecting mature fish - the lake's spawning stock. The new regulation is not expected to harm the large number of walleye hatched in 2002, which will reach 10 to 13 inches this year.
Anglers are encouraged to release 10 to 13 inch fish that haven't been deeply hooked. Jones added that northern pike and smallmouth bass populations are all strong this year and might provide good fishing if the walleyes aren't biting.
Rainy Lake
A series of years with excellent spawning conditions should provide good fishing on Rainy Lake this year, according to Phil Talmage, DNR large lake specialist in International Falls. "There are several strong year classes within the protected slot that will provide anglers with a good opportunity to catch large walleye," Talmage said.
There are also good numbers of walleye between 12 and 15 inches, which are outside the lake's 17-28 inch protected slot (one over 28 inches is allowed in a possession limit of four), Talmage said. "There should be some good opportunities to harvest fish."
In addition to walleye, Talmage said crappie, northern pike and smallmouth bass populations continue to be strong.
Winnibigoshish
Excellent spawning conditions in the spring of 2001 produced an abundance of walleye that should reach 13 to 15 inches by early summer, according to Chris Kavanaugh, DNR area fisheries supervisor in Grand Rapids. He added that walleye from other strong years including 1994, 1995 and 1996 should reach 18 to 23 inches this year.
"It's too early to tell for sure, but there are indications that the slot limit, which protects fish between 17 and 26 inches, is having some effect,"Kavanaugh said. "We'll know more in a few years."
Northern pike fishing, which usually picks up in the late summer and early fall has been consistently good with fish that average three pounds. Although the average size is moderate, there are fish exceeding 15 pounds present, Kavanaugh said. Perch fishing, most popular with ice anglers, has also been improving with an abundance of fish longer than nine inches.
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