Opener Moved Up

[PierBridge]

So LMIT and the Dems joining forces...WOW ....

In case the ZERO percent chance this has of happening, happens. And if it's about the economy and resorts. Maybe you guys should go up a week early anyway and fish for some pan-fish and Rough-fish?

Or is maybe the much chastised, Walleye, really that important in the grand scheme of things...

I''l hang up and listen!

[Nick Kuhn]

The tension is palpable in this thread. I will be fishing for bass and pike on May 5th either way: in Wisconsin. I actually hope Minnesota moves the opener up, less boats to have to share the water with.

[Big Tom]

I'll be fishing the 5th either way as well, likely with a crappie minnow and a bobber right outside the same bullrushes I always fish the first week of May and that evening off the same dock. I'll either be able to keep those bonus walleye's I frequently catch or I won't.

Whatever the rubes in the legislature do will have no more impact on me then that. Either way, I'll enjoy the day, the kids will catch fish and there will be something in the frying pan for dinner.

When the 12th rolls around it will still be about the fiahing and not about "I went up fishing on opener for the Xth year in a row, got really drunk, made a fool of myself and caused a huge scene at the landing because I don't maintain my boat and haven't the slightest clue on what launch etiquette is." There will be plenty of others very capable of that.

[chris63]

Are you not crying about the crybabies too?c63

[Big Tom]

The only real valid point he made was for the Governors opener. Sure it can still take place without a hitch, but just maybe not exactly the warm fuzzies of an actual opener.

You know the real entertainment on the Governor's Opener for me the last 8 years was hearing that Pawlenty "The Outdoorsman" get outfished by his wife again. Of course our current Governor will probably get outfished by his dog. Arne Carlson though, now there was a fisherman.

[pushbutton]

So LMIT and the Dems joining forces...WOW ....

In case the ZERO percent chance this has of happening, happens. And if it's about the economy and resorts. Maybe you guys should go up a week early anyway and fish for some pan-fish and Rough-fish?

Or is maybe the much chastised, Walleye, really that important in the grand scheme of things...

I''l hang up and listen!

Had to have the quote about Lmit and posted twice As far as the seeming contradiction.....here goes. I could care less about the walleyes personally, but since my father drinks the eyeball jesus juice, would be glad to take him up to Red Lake where I could put him on a gaggle of those wet socks; and, since they are so easy to catch, after getting limits in about an hour, would get to spend the rest of the weekend in the river pounding sheepshead and chasing big pike

[PierBridge]

Now there's a fantastic plan! I may hit RED too if this miracle happens!

[JediTrav]

I'll be fishing either way, it really doesn't matter to me. There is always something to fish for.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

Unless something very unexpected occurs, based on the Senate information hearing today, it is unlikely an early opener is in the cards. The DNR provided spawning and egg taking data, that shows the process only a little ahead of schedule at some stations, on-tract at most. So normal, average season so far. The resort industry was mixed about it, but the majority of the smaller Mom & Pop resorts don't feel ready. Then there is the Gov. Opener which has been in planing for the last year, and many Crappie contests set to go on the first weekend in May. Sounded like a no-go from the Senate side of things.

[Springerguy1]

No early opener due to concerns from biologists is something I can live with. However, not having an early opener due to Ron Shara's crappie contest or desire by some resorters to hold off on the opener is really unacceptable. I continue to baffled with the state of MN - maybe it's just me but doesn't it seem like the average working stiff in this state has minimal input while a very small population of resort owners have more input into the fisheries?

[LMITOUT]

It's not just you.

[FM_Mike]

The opener was scheduled for May 12th. How does the fact that the opener is going to happen on the day it was scheduled effect anyone in a negative way.

I am baffled reading how many lives will be irreparably damaged if the opener stays where it was original scheduled.

We all have spring fever, but come on, the opener staying where scheduled will not be the end of the world.

Or will it......

Mike

[Hookey]

Na, what is interesting is the opener was suggested by a senator based on what he thought the DNR said. Everything read I could find never quoted a DNR officer or fisheries manager. I would love to read a artical that clearly states the DNR's opinion on the subject.

The senator suggested it based on the fact that the legislator session produced nothing. This would have been at least " something to feel good about " and I quote. Read this entire thread for the exact quote and the senators reasoning.

To blame the failure of the senate to approve a bill that THEY not the DNR suggested on small resort owners is a shame. They should have had the facts from the DNR before they tried this goodwill stunt.

Once again they fail to agree on anything and once again not their fault.

My opinion based on the facts and quotes I could find. If I missed a article or quote please post it as I don't mind being corrected I just want to figure out how this all played out. Thanks

[Sota2Florida]

The way I see it it's the politicians that are screwin up Mn. Bakk has no reason other than to try and make the Repubs look bad with this amendment. His original comments made that clear. No interest in the fisheries or welfare of resort owners.

At least Dirk Peterson finally said this may not be a good idea as the recent cold spell has the spawning on a "normal" timetable. If the DNR suggested an early open I don't think this would be such an uproar. Let the DNR do their job.

[Hookey]

Lots of facts here !

More stuff.

ST. PAUL – Walleye and northern pike may be safe until Mother’s Day weekend after all, if discussion in a Senate committee Monday is any indication.

Members of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Monday expressed no support for moving the fishing opener to May 5, a week earlier than the traditional Mother’s Day opener.

A record-warm March prompted a drive to move up this year’s fishing opener. At the time, walleye were spawning earlier than normal. Now, however, fish experts say spawning has slowed closer to normal, raising a concern among biologists that an early opener could hurt the fish.

Anglers told the committee that they, too, were concerned for fish and urged lawmakers to keep the opening as is.

“Ninety percent of the guides in my area ... are against the early opener,” fishing guide Tom Neustrom of Grand Rapids said. “We need to protect these fish, we need to protect the walleyes in Minnesota from being overharvested.”

Representatives of resort organizations said their members are divided on the subject, but whatever lawmakers do, they want a decision as soon as possible.

“They are not mixed in my district,” Sen. John Carlson, R-Bemidji, said. “They don’t want it. I have not had one — not one phone call, not one email — from anyone who wants it.”

With just 20 days left before an early opener, getting things done in time would be difficult. Resorts “are struggling right now to meet the May 12 opener,” said Tony Kwilas, representing larger Minnesota resorts and other hospitality businesses.

The House overwhelmingly voted to amend a bill April 3 to push the opener up to May 5, so anglers can get out a week before Mother’s Day weekend.

A leading House member on outdoors issues said the final decision cannot come until next week, too late in resort owners’ opinions.

“It was not as well researched when we voted on it,” Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, said.

Before the House vote, there were no committee hearings and little discussion about the issue.

Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, presented the idea, given the warm weather at the time.

Opinions about the issue are changing quickly, Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, said Monday after his environment and natural resources committee heard testimony that produced no support for the earlier openers.

“The more people are weighing in on it, the more of a concern it became,” Ingebrigtsen said.

On a related issue, Ingebrigtsen said that he expects the House to go along with the Senate-approved provision to raise hunting and fishing fees.

The Senate bill contains the increase, but a House-passed measure does not. The Senate chairman said he expects the fee increase to prevail in negotiations.

Tags: minnesota legislature, sports, outdoors, fishing, updates, legislature

[pushbutton]

Can't imagine how all those fish in the border waters will survive......the "Cheeseheads", the Daks, the Iowegians and the Canucks tourism industry are laughing and thank the sheep in the great Nanny State Keep in mind I really truly do not care what I will be fishing for on the 5th or the 12th.

[LMITOUT]

Na, what is interesting is the opener was suggested by a senator based on what he thought the DNR said. Everything read I could find never quoted a DNR officer or fisheries manager. I would love to read a artical that clearly states the DNR's opinion on the subject.

I never heard where this idea came from other than Senator Bakk and can only assume people were talking about how nice the weather was 3-4 weeks ago and how it would be nice to be out fishing so he floated the idea. The key to this is: 3 to 4 weeks ago when the weather was nice.

The DNR themselves eventually said they didn't think it would be an issue but had some reservations about Mille Lacs. Other than that isolated case, they appeared to be open to the idea and felt the spawn would be in the rear-view by May 5th. Once again, this was about three weeks ago when the weather was nice and before we had this cold snap, errr, I mean typical spring weather... *cough*

If not for the retreat to normal weather I bet this would have passed.

[LMITOUT]

I am baffled reading how many lives will be irreparably damaged if the opener stays where it was original scheduled.

I'm baffled how it was thought that the world would have came to a crashing end if it was changed to May 5th.

Absolutely mind bottling.

[RumRiverRat]

It baffles me that guides and anglers are saying that we need to protect the Walleyes in MN from overharvest.

Last time I checked the limit is 6, how is having an opener a week early going to change the fact that the limit is 6?

[theharvester]

the guides are against it?you mean the ones that give fishing reports and the name of lakes ?that does 100 percent more damage then opening a week early. save the fish for a week ? with the current reg of one over 20 inches how is this hurting anything ?

[Comit 2]

It's a no go!! We'll wait for the 12th.

[PierBridge]

I guess I'm a little surprised at the amount of Resorts that were/are against it. And in the end that's what killed it along with the DNR's latest input.

Let's face it. the proposal had good intentions in spite of the typical paranoia in here, but it never had chance to be honest.

[goose89]

Not too difficult to understand some of the resort owners stance. Who'd want to risk future livelihood on one week of income?? If you can't deliver what we (the customers) are used to and expect, negative reviews here and elsewhere are bound to follow. We start / listen to bad reviews with more intensity than positive ones.

Good intentions? maybe...but good intentions and good ideas are different animals, IMO. Not that it was a bad idea, but how it came about was, IMO.

[pushbutton]

I run a small business and everyday have to make decisions based on if we can fulfill our expections and sometimes have to turn business away to competitors who are more equipped to do it....but at least I have that choice, don't cry foul, and only myself to blame if the business can't succeed If someone truly thinks this is to help the fish out....fine.... even though I don't agree with that mindset, at least I can respect it; but guides, resorts, baitshops ect... worried about another week of business? To quote Lmit...."absolutely mindboggling" Tip that socialistic apple cart over!

[CrappieAttitude]

What I am confused about this whole situation is was the date change brought about because of the early ice out, or was Mothers Day actually one of the behind the scenes bigger "items" that concieved the conversation. I understand that the early ice out brought about an earlier movement in the fish, but trying to make a decision a couple weeks before the season is scheduled to open was in my opinion destined to fail from the get go.

I can agree that having opener on Mothers Day kinda takes away from that particular weekend, but in the future wouldn't it be easier to set the opener to always falls on the weekend prior to Mothers Day? Every calandar I have ever looked at has Mothers Day printed on it. I know the water conditions will vary year to year, but at least this way it would be consistant. Just a thought.

CA