The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expects good conditions for the fishing opener. In southern Minnesota a mild winter and light snow cover means very little winter kill is likely.

This is Super Bowl weekend for the Department of Natural Resources. About half a million people will cast a line this weekend during the walleye and northern pike opener. The early start to spring should also have a spawning cycle ahead of colder years. The DNR includes Cannon Lake in Rice County as one of its good bets for walleye.

DNR boat and water safety education coordinator Debbie Munson Badini advises everyone to wear a life jacket, "Should you fall into cold water, already having a life jacket on -- and not just on the boat -- can make all the difference in whether you end up as a survivor or a statistic." Last year in Minnesota, 14 people died in boating accidents. Thirteen of them were not wearing a life jacket.

The department also encourages anglers to be cautious if they are going to have a campfire during their fishing excursion. Fire danger is high in many parts of the state.

The No. 1 violation conservation officers encounter is someone fishing without their license in possession. Other frequent violations include extra fishing lines and over possession limit.

Jeff Ledermann is an angler educator and says, "Kids love to fish." He suggests adults use live bait and catch smaller fish like bluegills to keep younger children interested and develop their passion for the sport.

Fishing contributes nearly $2.5 billion to the state's economy.

 

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