Minnesota Fishing – April 2015Trout harvest season opens April 18
Got your fly tackle and lures ready? The trout harvest season on inland streams opens Saturday, April 18.
It’s a great time to be a stream trout angler. Opportunities for trout anglers have continued to expand, and at present there are about 3,800 miles of trout streams in Minnesota. With an early snow melt, and barring heavy rains, the streams will be flowing clear, making conditions good for fishing.
The possession limit for brook, brown and rainbow trout, and splake, is five combined, with not more than one longer than 16 inches. In Lake Superior streams, different regulations exist below posted boundaries, and anglers should check for special regulations on the streams where they plan to fish. For more information on trout fishing, see
www.mndnr.gov/fishmn/trout.
Tips for introducing kids to fishing
Planning to take a kid fishing this year? Here are some tips from the DNR:
Fun and safety are the most important considerations, and adults need to practice patience;
Fish for smaller fish like bluegills that tend to bite frequently, and use live bait, smaller hooks and lighter line;
Fish from shore so it’s easy to take breaks;
Keep fishing gear simple, appropriately sized and in working order;
Pack snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent and first-aid basics;
If fishing action or weather doesn’t work out, call it quits before it becomes a negative experience and try again another day; and
Congratulate kids on catching any size fish, and take lots of photos.
Common fishing questions, a beginner’s guide to fishing, and places to fish can be found at
www.mndnr.gov/fishmn. For information about hands-on programs that teach the basics of fishing, see
www.mndnr.gov/takeakidfishing or
www.mndnr.gov/bow. Resources for educators can be found at
www.mndnr.gov/minnaqua.
Catch that? Bass fishing expands
Anglers get more opportunity to fish for bass this year starting on the Saturday, May 9, fishing opener when a new catch-and-release bass season begins in most of the state.
The catch-and-release season runs until the regular harvest season opens Saturday, May 23. All largemouth and smallmouth bass caught during this two-week period must immediately be released.
Meanwhile, anglers in northeast Minnesota can continue to catch and keep bass during these two weeks starting May 9. Northeast Minnesota is defined as essentially north and east of U.S. Highway 53. In past years, anglers could not fish for bass until Memorial Day weekend outside northeastern Minnesota.
In another bass season change, the fall closure on harvest of smallmouth bass has been lifted in the northeast.
More on bass fishing can be found at
www.mndnr.gov/fishmn/bass.
