Minnesota Fish Tales that Are Not Lies

The management efforts of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are instrumental in the maintaining of the quality of Minnesota's fishing. The concern with Minnesota fishing is usually not one of numbers of fish, but one of the quality, size and health, of the species caught. Fishing is the main driver of the summer tourist seasons and the economy of Northern Minnesota. Fishing is the past-time for Minnesota's summer visitors as they fish walleye, northern pike, crappie, and small mouth bass. Even the Metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul boasts some of the best musky fishing in the state.

Fishing is a popular Minnesota activity. Each year, more than one million anglers pursue the walleye and it's finny cousins on opening day of fishing in mid-May. Fishing is what kids, of all ages, do in the summer in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources helps out by giving out information about fishing around the state. Fishing off the docks, walls, swimming floats, lake shores,river banks and certainly boats are favorite places to fish from for fishermen and fisher women of all ages.

There are a variety of species of fish that are available in most waters through out the state. Walleye's, the Minnesota's state fish, habitat are lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. The habitats of Crappies, favorites of the cane pole crowd, are small to medium-sized lakes. Minnesota small mouth Bass, they are much more plentiful in Minnesota than largemouth bass, are found in lakes, rivers, ponds, impoundments. Perch, like small mouth bass are found in lakes, rivers and ponds. Last, but certainly not least, Northern Pike, the fresh-water barracuda, is found pretty much any where there is water in Minnesota.

For many of us, fishing defines Minnesota's quality of life. Our good fishing today is not a matter of chance or good fortune. Our fishing forefathers fought tough battles to protect habitat and access, rid waters of gill nets, enact protective regulations, and expand fishing opportunities with stocking programs. Good fishing in Minnesota is the responsibility of more than just the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and their regulations such as fishing seasons, bag limits, size limits, local lake regulations for catch and release and slot limits and gear restrictions are all designed to reduce fish mortality. Today's fishing organizations have a place in the process too, they lobby for specific events or purposes like stocking programs, species-specific fishing regulations, and local habitat projects. Every has a part in the large picture of protecting the priceless Minnesota sport fishery!