Opener Moved Up

[LMITOUT]

I'm laughing at the guys that are already booked for the current opener and worried about it moving up a week. How does this impact your trip? Can you not go if it's not the "real" opener? Is it cuz you can't say we went on opener however many years in a row? Who cares??? The fish won't know.

Exactly. It's absolutely ridiculous. Same with those who whine about abolishing the "opener" all together. Pick a date and go that weekend just like before. It's not the end of the world. Geesh!

[CaptainMusky]

I think its ridiculous the people who believe our legislature making knee jerk decisions about something they should have no role in is OK.

Why only the walleye and northern season? What about bass and musky? Makes zero sense. Not well thought out at all. Economic impact to the good will be minimal. Ask your legislators who stands to benefit from this? Really question the answer.

[thatoneguy]

" Economic impact to the good will be minimal"

Heh. Come talk to resort owners in, say, the Cass Lake area about this. I did at the hsolist Chamber dinner tonight. It would mean thousands of dollars to each resort up here, plus extra biz for bait & tackle shops, cafes, gas stations etc. It would have significant impact.

[JohnMickish]

The opener is not really an opener anyways. There are places in the state that are open for Walleyes way before the "opener". If you really need to wet a line, go do it this weekend.

[Bass4life]

Why cant they just leave it alone? What about next year when we have a "record late ice off"? Will the brilliant lawmakers propose to delay the opener so the fish have a chance to spawn without being bothered? Doubt it. Just one of those years.

[ZEEK1223]

I think all seasons, fishing or hunting should be dictated by the environment, or different seasonal patterns for the current season at hand. Why have a date set in stone for a opener, when weather patterns can vary so much from year to year. If it is your intent to protect a vulnerable species at at a specific given time. There is no way that the same day of every year is going to protect them every single year.

[RumRiverRat]

That Dill guy is the same guy that got the Bass Opener to coincide with the Walleye Opener just so he can fish for bass on Pelican Lake that weekend.

Am I correct?

Also if you guys want to get out and fish head to Pool 4, the Saugers and Walleyes are stacked like firewood below the dam in Red Wing.

[BSG]

I really wish they would just leave this alone and address the tribal netting instead. Much greater issue IMO.

1 Extra weekend of fishing, or a lifetime of terrible resource management.

Wanna fish for walleyes May 5th, go to Wisconsin. It's open there.

[kevfish1]

Why cant they just leave it alone? What about next year when we have a "record late ice off"? Will the brilliant lawmakers propose to delay the opener so the fish have a chance to spawn without being bothered? Doubt it. Just one of those years.

Yes i would suggest they do that. Start a week early this year and if it is a late ice out next year go a week later. Sounds good to me

[Big Tom]

I really wish they would just leave this alone and address the tribal netting instead.

Given it's a Federal Treaty affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, just what is it you think the Minnesota Legislature is going to do?

[Big Tom]

I'm laughing at the guys that are already booked for the current opener and worried about it moving up a week. How does this impact your trip? Can you not go if it's not the "real" opener? Is it cuz you can't say we went on opener however many years in a row? Who cares??? The fish won't know.

[stjwalleyemman]

why even have a season just leave it open year around

[Stick in Mud]

I don't know if I buy all the slippery slope arguments about how this one change will automatically lead to more future changes, increased taxes, confused fishermen, etc.

And I'm also not sure I buy the argument that moving the "opener" up a week won't have much of an effect on local businesses and economies....A LOT of people will head north to catch some walleyes if it's opened earlier, and they'll be buying gas, bait, lodging, etc etc.

[BSG]

Given it's a Federal Treaty affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, just what is it you think the Minnesota Legislature is going to do?

Hopefully something.

I'm just saying, we've got bigger issues as a state when it comes to the DNR.

Should we Keep wasting our dnr license fees on northerns and muskies that get dumped in the ditch?

[birchbranch]

Bass are basically overexcitable carp, therefore a rough fish, so I say open them up all year. Nobody wants to eat them anyhow, so it's primarily catch and release. By the way,,,, WHY do we even have DNR fisheries biologists if we are going to allow half-wit politicians to make decisions in regards to our natural resources?????

[Grum]

WHY do we even have DNR fisheries biologists if we are going to allow half-wit politicians to make decisions in regards to our natural resources?????

+1

[pushbutton]

And I'm also not sure I buy the argument that moving the "opener" up a week won't have much of an effect on local businesses and economies....A LOT of people will head north to catch some walleyes if it's opened earlier, and they'll be buying gas, bait, lodging, etc etc.

[cribbageboy]

Just curious why this would have any kind of economical impact at all??? If it opens the 5th, Minnesotans spend money on the 5th. If it opens the 12th, Minnesotans spend money on the 12th. I guess I don't see what the difference is. If I had a cabin rented for the 12th, and they moved the opener to the 5th, I would either a) keep the cabin and fish the 12th or b)cancel my cabin on the 12th and rent one for the 5th.

That's like saying neck tie sales would double if Father's day got moved to January.

[pushbutton]

Because in my example, the spots for the opener are already booked something like a year in advance, if it opened a week earlier, I and others that originally procrastinated or do not have a standing reservation, would now have the chance to go there, this is a place that has limited lodging opportunities, public or private. Also because people like me would just use this as another excuse to go fishing because the Mrs. just bought yet another pair of shoes..... and then she would respond in kind and buy yet another pair of shoes....just a vicious cycle with the economy benefiting You really do not think any extra activity would result from this? Some Minnesotans that planned to go to Wisconsin would stay home; people that had reservations not from Minnesota in Sconnie might also consider us instead, even the cheeseheads this is not a zero sum game......it is an extra sum game. Again, something is better than nothing...... at least in my world, and many others that rely on the fishing/tourism industry.

[HNTNBUX]

Who are you people? Someone is trying to offer the chance for an extra weekend of fishing on a lake that you want to go to instead of a river or out of state and many people are complaining. I don't get it.

[goose89]

Who are you people? Someone is trying to offer the chance for an extra weekend of fishing on a lake that you want to go to instead of a river or out of state and many people are complaining. I don't get it.

We're (I am) People, who even if we're offered something better / more, don't want politicians impacting our sport(s) anymore than they already do. If there were a groundswell of resorts (constituents) petitioning the suits on the hill, that's one thing, and that's what's supposed to happen. But if / when it's just a couple of politicians with a feel good idea to put there hat on, I'm against it no matter how much it benefits me.

[20lbSloughShark]

I am keeping my fingers crossed it opens on may 5th, I work the 12th and 13th.

[griff321]

Who are you people? Someone is trying to offer the chance for an extra weekend of fishing on a lake that you want to go to instead of a river or out of state and many people are complaining. I don't get it.

Well for me opening week is like an event. I have the time off for the second week, so it's like I'll be missing out on all the fun surrounding opener. My opinion is that it will kinda muddy up both weekends and it wont be as fun of an opener as usual.

At the end of the day, I think it'll help the resorts and guides and I'm all for the working men and women.

[goose89]

I'm with Mr Schara....

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/146482765.html

[Hookey]

since the price of gas always takes a big jump a day or so before opener will the increase come a week earlier ?

Also note the purposal was made as a add on to a much larger bill. Perhaps as sweetener ?