There was more ice than boats on the Rainy Lake Saturday for Minnesota’s walleye fishing opener, but fortunately, Mother Nature appeared to be in a good mood.
For the second year in a row, Rainy Lake and many of the state’s other lakes weren’t free of ice for the kickoff-to-summer event. However, despite snow flurries Friday afternoon and evening, the much-missed sun came out and sent thermometers higher than they have been all year.
Although Saturday brought in the first day of 70-degree temperatures of the year, Kevin Peterson, Department of Natural Resources International Falls area fisheries supervisor, said he thinks there was more ice on the lake for this year’s opener than there was in 2013.
“I don’t have a first-hand observation of what it was like out on the lake Saturday, but I don’t think there were a lot of people out,” he said. “Just from talking to people (Monday), it is safe to say fishing was light over the weekend.”
Many of the “die-hard” anglers, as Peterson called them, ventured out on Rainy’s waters in search of some fish, which they reportedly found, he said.
“They had to dodge some ice, but they caught fish,” he added with a laugh.
The average ice-out date for Rainy Lake lands around May 5, which cuts it close to being nonexistent for opener on a year with a mild winter. Last year, the ice finally left Rainy on May 16.
Because of Rainy Lake’s northern location and long winters, Peterson said other lakes around the state rank higher in popularity for opening day simply because it is uncertain when Rainy’s ice will officially be gone.
Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon kicked off — with some success — the 2014 fishing season and the 67th governor’s fishing opener at Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake in Nisswa, Minn.
Closer to home, Peterson said he received reports that Crane Lake experienced “excellent” fishing during the weekend. And Borderland’s own Rainy River had anglers catching both trophy-sized walleyes and some to bring home for dinner, too.
Bait shop reports
Laura Besch, manager of Rainy Lake One Stop and The Loon’s Nest, said Saturday’s warm, sunny weather did the stores’ business a favor.
“The weather got people out and moving,” she said.
While bait sales were “decent,” Besch said she heard few reports of fish being caught.
“I think a lot of people were doing some dock fishing,” she said. “Sales were pretty equal to what we experienced on last year’s opener.”
Still, the weekend is good practice for the upcoming busy season.
“It helps us get our feet wet and prepare for the summer,” she concluded.
South of the Falls, Phil Hart, owner of The Gateway Store in Kabetogama, echoed some of Besch’s comments.
“There was enough fishable water, people just had to be creative,” he said.
Thursday’s wind and rain drove chunks of ice into a few of the area’s more popular landings, causing them to close until Sunday or Monday.
“Some of the main ramps were iced in,” he said. “A lot of people were fishing off the docks and shorelines, and I hear they did quite well.”
The store’s business was about two-thirds of what it should have been opening weekend, Hart said, adding bait sales also fell short.
“We were expecting business to be down,” he said. “We did sell a lot of accessories and our sale numbers were pretty damn good.”
Regardless of iced-in ramps and slower sales, Hart said Saturday’s weather couldn’t damper anyone’s mood.
“When it’s 70 degrees and sunny, you can’t help but be in a good mood,” he said.
2014 at a glance
Judging from the Department of Natural Resource’s fish monitoring efforts, Peterson said he anticipates 2014 to be a good for angling success on Rainy Lake.
“The walleye population is strong,” he said. “There are a lot fish of different sizes to be caught. Anglers will have no problem catching keeping-sized fish for a meal, as well as bigger fish in the protected slot.”
Right now, anglers are likely to have the best luck in some of Rainy Lake’s open bays or anywhere with a current.
“The walleyes are in the midst of their annual spawning run right now,” Peterson explained. “They aren’t going to be found far from their spawning areas. Rivers that flow into Rainy, rocky shorelines, and Black Bay are all excellent spots for early spring fishing for a number of species.”
Overall, Peterson said he predicts this season will receive two thumbs up for its fishing.
“Fishing is always good,” he said. “It’s the catching that varies from day to day.”
