As expected, widespread wind and rain hurt catch rates in the southern tier while calm, sunny, pleasant conditions up north coincided with success, including lots of walleye limits caught on Upper Red Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish and the south shore of Lake of the Woods. This week, Parsons was on the receiving end of fishing reports from all over the state. In 2019, the year leading up to COVID-19, DNR sold nearly 348,000 fishing licenses through Monday after the opener, slightly more than this year.

The 2021 fishing opener attracted 25 % more license-holders than were at this year's opener. Fishing ballooned during the social distancing era of COVID-19, drawing 441,000 license buyers for the 2020 fishing opener and 461,804 buyers for opening weekend in 2021. 'We hope to make some up as the weather improves.''Īccording to license sales tracked by the DNR, 344,871 people had purchased a fishing license through Monday, or 22,500 fewer anglers than a year ago.

'People often buy their license the first time they fish in the year,'' Parsons said. The opening days of the walleye and northern pike season produced winners and losers based on the bite and weather dynamics, but overall participation was 6% lower than last year and at its lowest since 2014.īrad Parsons, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries chief, said the slump in license sales was tied to 'terrible'' weather across the lower portion of the state and the lateness of spring.

Heavier than heaven book