What is Fishing Opener?

[Muskieguy]

I do business with people in Toronto Canada, and I had sent an email to them to let them know I would be on vacation for the fishing opener. They wrote back "What is a fishing opener"? How do I describe it to them? How do I make them understand how painful the next 3 weeks are? I am trying to find some facts to send them, # of anglers who fish opener, dollars spent etc. but cannot.

Muskieguy........

[wall eyell be]

Quick, clean and easy answers.

1. It's a Minnesota Thing.

AND

2. If ya gotta ask, you wouldn't understand.

[Dave B]

Tell then it is like staring at a rink of prefect frozen ice for 2 months but not being allowed to skate until some date in the future when everyone can hit it at once.

[Fish Head]

I like wall eyell be's answer.......If ya gotta ask, you wouldn't understand!

[Hemlock]

Quote:

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Tell then it is like staring at a rink of prefect frozen ice for 2 months but not being allowed to skate until some date in the future when everyone can hit it at once.

---

Now that is something "we" could relate to! LMAO

[Eric Wettschreck]

Tell em it's a Minnesota holiday. Much like state high school hockey tourny and deer hunting.

[Muskieguy]

Here is what I came up with:

"It is the opening of the fishing season here in Minnesota. It is as much a holiday (for sportsmen and women) as Christmas is to Christians. I cannot seem to find any facts on it but I remember hearing that over 1 million Minnesotan's will fish on "opener" weekend. The season starts at 12:00am Midnight on Saturday May 14th., and I will be in my boat with my fishing pole and a flashlight at 12:01."

21 days 10 hours.

Muskieguy....

[irishjigs]

You can try your best to describe it, but there just isn't a way where a person not from MN would understand...case in point...I tried to explain "Opener" to a guy from Texas, he didn't get it until he was on the lake and after talking to a few people who have a tradition of going to a lake with friends, family, etc. He got it after he witnessed it first hand.

Ask them how it was not having the NHL this year...then tell them that is how we feel from mid February until that glorious weekend in May.

[DougSpringBay]

This can only be described as follows:

It is the time when a continual state of mind, is once again united with the physical being, together in a state provided by God Himself in His magnificant omniscience and love for the outdoorsman that He created.

Doug

[guideman]

It's simply the best day of the year in Minnesota if you're a fisherman. Family and friends of all generations, sharing the joys of fishing.

Sitting around the campfire sharing stories of an

opener gone by. Granpa's big fish, the year Dad finally caught his limit, the first time your son joined the "Guys" for the opener. That's what the fishing opener is all about, at least in my mind.

"Ace"

[fishnhooks]

I have found that it is a time that you spend all the money you need to in order to get ready for it, then during the opener you find out what more you need to buy. Very much like Deer hunting opener, it is being able to get out and be part of this great holiday. Whether you get to fish from a boat, from shore, a dock or where ever, it is something that a person just needs to do.

I think that there should be a card for this holiday, some thing like "Happy Opening Fishing to you!" open the card... "Good Luck and May your Opening Fishing be a joyous time for you and your crew!"

"hooks"

[Northlander]

Like when Gretsky was signed by the Oilers?

Not being able to fish the opener is like the day he was traded!

[sami0115]

Opener is o.k., but the real opener is Memorial Day weekend when we can fish for BASS!!!

[riverrat56]

Sami,

Now why would you wanna do that?

Muskyguy,

How bout telling them the only way we can justify fishing in 40 mph winds with a windchill of 17 below, freezing rain, and with ice forming on your boat is to close the season for 4 months and then decide that even though we have 200 some other days to fish eyes' we need to fish this day no matter what the weather to make up for the 120 we missed.

RR56

[guideman]

Hey sami,

If you come up to Vermilion on the opener you can fish for bass on May 14th.

"Ace"

[kpj5br]

All you poor guys, waiting for "opener". There's no such thing, you need to fish in your boats all year long, for walleye, bass, northerns, whatever you want, on the mighty "never closes" mississippi pool 4.

Do this, and the "opener" is simply yet another reason to have a beer.

[Dave B]

www.lakevermilion.com check out the webcam right now....THAT is the opener.

[squeedunk]

Fishing opener in my family is a chance for the guys to go to the cabin without the women and be complete slobs for a few days. Beer, Twinkies, and sunflower seeds are acceptable and even encouraged for breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. It is a great excuse to get out of town for a weekend and spend some time with my brother, dad, uncles, friends, and other random guys who show up to partake in the festivities.

I know river fishing is open all year but the point for us is to get to the cabin to fish and make fun of each other for 48 hours straight. It gives us something to look forward to each spring and we aren't bothered too much if the catching isn't good because the fishing is always great!

Is it ironic that as I am typing this the country song "I'm Gonna Miss Her" is on the radio?!?! Opener ought to be declared a state holiday for how important it is to so many of us. Just over 18.5 days left!!!

[PERCHJR]

Ain't that the truth!!! It sure is fun to fish year around!!!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!

[wall eyell be]

Don't get my wrong; I also fish year round. It's just that in the "off season" I fish for perch, crappies, and sunnies. Which is OK because some of the best perch and crappie fishing happens during March and April.

So there really isn't such a thing as " Fishing opener" (or at least, it's a misnomer)

But I certainly appreciate the significance of " Walleye opener"

[guideman]

You can look at it any way you like, however for many "Minnesota anglers", Opening day isn't just about the fishing. It's the company, the stories of openers gone by, sittin around the campfire on the same bench as your Dad and Grandfather. The

glow on your sons face the first time he does the opener with the Guy's. The crowded ramps and the line at the baitshop are all a part of it for me.

It's the best day of the year at my house!

Hail to the Fish Gods, Opening day is nye!

"Ace"

[wall eyell be]

aahhhh, ACE

You have done a fine job of capturing the essence of what I refer as "appreciate the significance of Walleye Opener"

and yes, even though I'm enjoying the panfish; I do eagerly await all that Walleye Opener brings.

Plus, your eloquent post just makes me all the more anxious for MAY 14, 2005.

[The Grebe]

"Hummm? Let me see? A fishing opener is a Rapala Fillet Knife...!"

[sakazulu]

"Opener" is a spectacle not unlike a parade. Some of the "floats" make you laugh and some you wish you could just be riding on!

[76k20]

the best one of about 365 excuses to go fishing. and also a darn good reason to finally go out and buy that new (insert frivilous item) you have been looking at for a couple months.