Best Lakes For the Minnesota Fishing Opener and How To Fish Them
In Minnesota, fishing opener weekend is a celebration. It marks the beginning of a new season of chasing walleye, northern pike and bass and the end of a long, long winter. Minnesotans rejoice by turning their first chance to be on the water into a social event including getaways, music, contests and lots of fishing.
Certain fisheries have gained a reputation for providing great opportunities to find hungry spring fish ready to bite. Here are some of the fan favorites from Omnia ambassadors hailing from the land of 10,000 lakes.
Minnesotans love their Walleye, for the thrill of the hunt and for a tasty shore lunch opportunity. If you’re itching to find the walleye bite, these are the places to start. Opener weekend also attracts anglers targeting panfish like Crappie, fighting species like Smallmouth Bass and toothy predators including Northern Pike.
Here are some of the most popular destinations for Minnesota's fishing opener. View the lake for the essential stats, associated fishing reports and the techniques and gear that are most successful.
Looking for another lake? Browse our databased of more than 20,000 waterbodies.
Top Lakes for MN Opener and How To Fish Them
Lake Minnetonka may be the king of Metro-area lakes for fishing, but you won't find much solitude there. For a less busy experience, consider other area lakes like Independence or Lake Waconia.
Waconia is a large lake in its own right and home to thriving Largemouth, Walleye and Pike populations. The early season Crappie bite can be especially good with down-sized jigs and spoons and since that season is open already, Minnesotans don't even need to wait for the Opener weekend.
“Lake Winnie” is known for having a variety of species but is loved for its Walleye. There are plenty of keeper-sized fish in the lake and they’re especially active in the Spring and Fall when water temps are cool.
Already a legendary Walleye fishery, Mille Lacs has more recently gained a reputation for stellar Smallmouth Bass fishing as well. Because of its size and the rapid weather changes, some anglers opt to go with a local guide.
Located less than an hour from the Twin Cities, the Chisago Lakes area has a lot to offer for fishing opener weekend. Lake Chisago is the headliner and the deepest lake in the county. Spring is a great time to target Largemouth Bass with Texas Rigs.
Other area lakes that are great multi-species destinations include Green Lake, South Center Lake and Forest Lake.
Lindner's Angling Edge: Up North
If you're planning on being in northern Minnesota, you've got access to some of the best walleye and panfishing on earth. You might just have to wait a bit to make sure your lake is open on the opener.
Al Lindner is the legendary host of Lindner’s Angling Edge and Omnia ambassador. As an inductee to multiple fishing halls of fame and after working in the industry for decades, he was the perfect one to ask about the top destinations in the northern part of the state. Here are his picks for large- and mid-sized lakes known to be full of Walleye.
He advises fishing shallow in the early season. "On fisheries that have stained and dark water, you can even catch walleye way up in two feet of water around walleye opener time.”
Minnesota's fishing opener is an exciting time for anglers across the state and there is no shortage of quality lakes to try. Do a little research to be ready and then get out and enjoy the official start to open water fishing for many species, and the unofficial end of winter misery. It's worth celebrating!
For more tips and fishing reports from Al Linder, follow his Omnia Ambassador page.
