Anybody else not fish the opener?

[Scoot]

Too many boats, pick-up/trailer rigs, people, and most importantly rookies for my tastes. I've skipped the opener the past few years and fished a few days later. Or... better yet, I fish the river and have things all to myself.
If ever there's a weekend to have some one-who-thinks-I-am-silly cut you off, anchor in front of your drift, snag your anchor rope, troll six feet from you, etc. it's opening weekend.
Am I the only one with this jaded and bitter attitude?
Not everyone who fishes the opener is an amateur, but all amateurs seem to fish the opener.
Good luck to all who take part in the weekend. Save some for those of us who are too crusted over to fish with ya. Catch lots and put most back.
Scoot

[leechlake]

Scoot, you are absolutely correct, but as I found out you're going to get scolded by people for mentioning it. Actually, part of the fun is having everyone there. We call it "AH" amateur hour and it's okay but yes it's busy and you get to see some things you'll never see again, good luck on the river. By the way...I think you posted the question on why people don't fish the river. If you are did you see the photo in the outdoors sections of the Strib on Sunday. It showed four or five boats fishing the St Croix...in the background was a gigantic smoke stack...a bridge...power lines and wires....right or wrong that's what I invision when I think of river fishing. Good luck fishing and I hope you have at least one "opener" experience.

[CrappieJohn]

I never plan on a fishing trip that weekend, but I live where I have access to year-round fishing. I guess that that is to my advantage. The pressure gets moved around some. You are going to find the same sorts of trash anglers anywhere and as long as the season is open. The biggest reason I just stay home that weekend is the increased incidence of drunks in the boats and on the highways. Too many people are on the water that lack boat handling experience and ethic that are all boozed up and lacking sleep for me to risk sharing the lake with them. The one issue the DNR ought to adopt is a zero tolerance program for watercraft users. All watercraft and watersports! I think that if such a program were enacted we would see a far "cleaner" opening weekend with far fewer problems. Good Fishing.........Crapster

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Sure life happens- why wait

[Chev_trucks501]

I happen to agree with Scoot. I never fish the opener for most of the reasons he listed. Used to go a while back but getting stuck at the boat landing with one guy who doesn't know how to launch his boat is frustrating. I actually saw one lady back the boat into the water, unhook the trailer and then shove the whole rig into the water. I just watched in amazement as she parked the truck and proceeded to get into the boat and leave the dock...

Well Good Luck

Chev

[Surface Tension]

While landing and water etiquette seems to be the worst on opener I still like the Buzz of opener. I for sure couldnt sit home because of a few bad sportsmen.

[Guest]

I agree that it can be a royal mess on opening day and I to have not fished that weekend because of the mass of people. I live in the metro area and even on a normal Saturday it can be crazy at the boat ramps and on some lakes you can wait two hours in line just to get on the water unless you get there early.

[MrBig]

I have to respectfully disagree with you Scoot. I am mainly a weekend warrior from the cities. I'm happy there is an official "opener". I look forward to it as a chance to get together with the boys and swap stories. The time that we get to spend together fishing now seems to be less and less. The fishing on opener is a bonus. I totally agree with your comments about all the boobs that are out there. But we just laugh at everyone. We also stay at a resort so that we don't have the launch nightmares--that does get your blood boiling.

Anyway, I just appreciate any time that I can get out with the boys, and opener is a special tradition. I hope we can enjoy it for many years to come.

[Jim W]

Hmmmmmm, the trout streams all of a sudden arer abandoned!!!! YEHAAAAAA!!!

GOod luck to all out, be safe, think of others and
Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W

[Aquaman01]

I'm new to boating just the last couple of years and may be considered one of those newbies for amateur hour. Thankfully, I've managed to get plenty of pointers from the seasoned guys here at this site, so I hope if I get in anyone's way, it's not for lack of fore-thought, but lack of experience.

I hereby pledge, as a newbie, to do my best to do my duty to Neptune and Minnesota - I shalt not -

1) Back down the ramp with my boat tied down
2) Wait until the boat is in the water to try starting the motor for the first time this season
3) Fish someone else's marker
4) Hot-dog my vessel near other anglers
5) Keep more than I'm gonna use
6) Be impatient and callous to people who may need my assistance
7) Set a bad example

I'm fishing a small lake with lots of parking and enough keeper-size Northerns to have a good, productive, fun opener.

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Aquaman
<')}}}}}><{
Peace and Fishes

[Guest]

Guys, there are thousands of lakes, many of which are small and do not even see "traffic" most of the time. Yes, some of you in the big city will have a hard time dealing with overcrowded lakes, but that's something you are used to already on a regular basis

I am skeptical to go to the well known "walleye" lakes for opener, so I am choosing to find a small lake to get to know better. There's no way I will sit at home wondering, what if???

Good luck and always help those in need!

[Guest]

I certainly won't let "anyone" allow me to ruin a great day on the water by the simple fact that some one may be having a hard time at the boat landing(for whatever reason)...it's a matter of view point, perspective, and attitude...get there early....someone has to be "first"....just make sure it's "you"....lol....and if your not....that's what the word "patience " is for...maybe you'll be second or even third....you don't want to be there for 2hours...if you are ..it's because you made a mistake by arriving at the landing to late ...just have to plan your trip better next time...leave earlier!..not "there" fault because you're 10th in line...jon

[Ole1855]

I agree, opening seems to bring out all the rookies, but as for opener being the only time you find poor etiquite on the water I can't agree with that. I fish a lot from opener thru July, and in the past 5-7 years I have found peoples rudness is growing more each year. I fish Leech and Mille Lacs most of the time so my experiences are related to those lakes. One experience last year on Mille Lacs I'll never forget. My girlfriend and I were fishing in the SW area of the lake, there were lots of boats and everyone was catching fish. I told the girlfriend it was getting a little too crowded for me so lets move to another spot and bobber fish. When we anchored and began to fish, there wasn't another boat within a 1/4 mile of us, we started pulling in one walleye after another, and here came the boats. Within 20 minutes we had 15 boats trying to drift over or troll around the hump we were anchored on, 2 caught my anchor rope. One boat in particular, was a big Lund ProV with a Dad and 2 kids 13-15 years old, they were drifting on a collision course with my boat, finally when they got within 15-20 ft. one of the kids said, " Dad, aren't we getting a little close", so the Dad starts the 225 hp Merc and motors out away from my boat, when he gets even with my boat he starts his motor up and backs in towards me, within 10 ft.!!! My girlfriend kept telling me to hold my tongue because of the young boys in the boat. So all I said was, "you sure are teaching your boys a good lesson of boating etiquite aren't you", he started his motor and left. I wish there was something we as respectful fishermen could do stop the kind of behavior, any ideas?

Ole

[merc]

I agree with CD, fish the smaller lakes and it isn't near as bad. For years I skipped the opener because of all the reasons listed, then I just started going to the smaller lakes and didn't have the crowds plus had better fishing quite a few times. Smaller lakes usually warm faster meaning better fishing a lot of years, maybe not always for walleye but you can get panfish as a back up. Good luck to everyone!!!

[Crawlerman]

I usually look forward to Bass opener myself personally.. I still don't see what all the hype is about Walleyes.. They don't put up nearly as good of a battle Pike on the otherhand I like if I can catch them, I generally throw some mepps and daredevils out opening day. Fishing less popular or less thought of lakes will prally make it easier for you to get in. I might even fish the St. Croix this year, altough the season there is allready open.

[Guest]

even though my last posting stated to get to the landing "earlier"...i'm not one of those people(did it like the rest 20 years ago) .....i'm not into the opening day syndrome anymore either.......quit that years ago when i was young and "pumped".......i look at the world now through calmer eyes different perspective on fishing in general...no "driving force" to beat everybody to the ramp...i generally fish the smaller lakes..still quality fishing...or i go to the bigger lakes a little later(june 9th for a 10 day tent stay on sandpoint-namakan (walleyes smallmouth and lake trout)....no crowds ...no boat ramp hangups...no pressure...just pure enjoyment......it's what it's all about...the fish are still there...they'll wait...may 10th is just a day...the fish could care less...my "opener" is still a month away...best fishing anyway is june...weather's nicer in june also...but the best of luck to everyone that chooses to go opening day...can hardly wait to smell that campfire!....lol!.......jon

[Havin' Fun]

All I do is pray for rain...and than keeps the average joe in and lets the walleyes bite all day long!!!

Scoot, you should load up your boat and come on over to the lake you and I talked about some time ago. There is plenty of room on that one...especially where I fish.

[Guest]

Try North Dakota ... Devils Lake in particular. The season never closes here.

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Kevin Neve's Devils Lake Guide Service
fishingminnesota.com/kevin-neve-guiding/
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 701-473-5411 or 701-351-4989
Minnewaukan ND

[Dennis Steele]

Hey just join in the fun and remember when you were that me at the launch once.I know I have been there.Patience goes hand in hand with fishing and so does the opener.

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Minnesota River Guided Fishing
"fishhead"
[email protected]
www.mnriverguidedfishing.com

[Guest]

Im not too sure on what to say. Im 16 and can be considered a "rookie" to some extent. Each time I go to the lake I hope to learn, either by watching others or from my own mistakes. I guess what Im trying to get at here is if I screw up, I hope someone will point it out to me, instead of tearing my head off so I can try to correct it for the next time I head out. Well, I guess I said my piece. Happy fishin.

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Walleye Slayer
"Leave nothing to fate"

[hattrk4me]

I have not fished a MN opener since the mid eighties. Not by choice, its just work out that way. This year will be no different.

good luck to those that make it out.

[Uncle Grump]

YELP-YELP-YELP!!! GOBBLE-GOBBLE!! BLAM!!!

I've skipped the fishing opener for years too. I go turkey hunting!
UG

[Guest]

i usally try to hit the operner i fish cannon lake not to many people where i fish but i also fish off shore to avoid any hassels of the boaters good luck to all who make it out this weekend

[LuckyFish]

I don the waders and fish midnight till dawn and sleep during the day, when most of those "me" fishermen are out. No worries about the landing. Good luck to all that do brave the idiots on the opener. Have Fun!
Lucky

[waterwolff]

Well lump me in with the teaming masses of boobs, rookies, and weekend warriors I have not missed a opener in 30 years and will again be on Mille Lacs for the big show. I just love the whole thing about it the friends, the cook outs, the campfire stories. The boat launch can provide more laughs than a comedy club. You just have to take it all in stride. I have the good fortune of being able to fish most every weekend I want to and my season really does not start until mid september through freeze up so let the good times roll lets all have a safe and productive season and hope to see yea on the water.
Mike

[RuKiddingMe]

I'm with Uncle Grump, been Turkey Hunting Opening weekend for some time now.

The Walleyes will be there the few following weekends, and then it's on to the Musky Hunting all other fish are just bait.

Good Luck in 03' y'all...

Matt