It has been debated over the years as to whether Minnesota has more fishing holes or golf holes. But there will be no doubt about which will be used the most in about a week.
Next Saturday, tens of thousands of Minnesotans and visiting anglers will stream to Minnesota waters for the traditional opening of the state's fishing season. And they will bring with them countless rods and reels, tackle and lures, bait and boats.
But it doesn't stop there. All those anglers need rooms, food, gasoline, campgrounds and more bait ... all of which will create much needed jobs throughout the state.
Conservative estimates indicate that anglers will spend more than 3 million dollars in Minnesota on the opening weekend.
Why is Minnesota's fishing opener such a major event each year? I'm sure statisticians could crunch some numbers and work some percentages, but the answer (in my mind) is really quite simple: "We've been in the house all winter. We want out. The tackle box is rusty. My thumb has a cramp from running the remote control for five months and I just heard my mother-in-law is coming to visit for the whole summer."
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See, it's really quite simple.
I may have over-dramatized the situation just a bit, but I think most anglers will agree that opening weekend in Minnesota is an annual tradition. In fact, most avid Minnesota anglers know that fishing is usually better a week or two after the official opener when the water is a bit warmer and the spawn is complete.
Every year since 1948, Minnesota has had an official (not quite so official in the early years) fishing opener event ... usually attended and led by Minnesota's governor.
The "Governor's Opener," as it has come to be known, will be held next Saturday at Lake Vermilion in northeastern Minnesota.
Lake Vermilion is a beautiful body of water surrounded by dense woods, encompassing some 365 islands and more than 1,200 miles of shoreline. The fishing on Lake Vermilion over the years has been great, with walleye, muskie, northern and pan fish readily found in this near pristine water.
This Governor's fishing opener will be the 57th year that Minnesota has celebrated the tradition by focusing major media attention on a specific area of the state.
Although I can't speak for future generations, I have to believe that as long as there are abundant fish in Minnesota's waters, and anglers looking to shake off cabin fever, the Minnesota fishing opener will live on.
Johnson, who works with the Minnesota Office of Tourism in St. Paul, can be reached at (651) 297-3488 or via e-mail at curt.johnson@state.mn.us
