Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - May 5, 2022

Few fishing reports are available as most anglers stay ashore, preparing their rigs, gear and boats for the Minnesota Fishing Opener on May 14. Will your favorite lake by free of ice by the opener? Find out at the DNR's Lake Ice Out Dates Map.

This Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8, enjoy a day out on the water with your mom during Take a Mom Fishing Weekend!  

This summer, anglers can participate in a fun fishing tournament and support a worthy cause! The virtual Hook, Line & Shelter Fishing Tournament is open to anglers on any Minnesota lake across seven fish categories beginning May 14 and running through Labor Day.

Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2022-2023 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: Stream trout: April 16; walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass (catch-and-release) and lake trout: May 14; muskie: June 4. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, anglers need to be very cautious due to extremely cold water this time of year. Learn more about cold water dangers.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, please visit Explore Minnesota's COVID-19 Information page before traveling.

Anglers are catching lots of coho salmon when fishing Lake Superior between Duluth and Two Harbors. Stream fishing has been decent for Lake Superior steelhead in streams and rivers south of Two Harbors. It won’t be long until the steelhead move into streams and rivers further northeast. Panfishing is picking up on the St. Louis River Estuary. Lake Vermilion anglers are crossing their fingers for open waters by opening day.

While ice is slowly melting on Lake of the Woods, temperatures in the 60s and strong outflow from the Rainy River and other rivers and streams should result in more rapid melting. Sturgeon action has improved on the Rainy River but anglers must use caution due to the strong current. Some small lakes in the Detroit Lakes area are free of ice, and most lakes should be ice-free by the end of this weekend! Lots of crappie anglers are expected to hit the open waters this week and next.

In Otter Tail Lakes County, anglers expect to find post-spawn walleye, along with a good mix of fish in the shallows. Until then, crappie anglers are finding fish near the standing weeds in 2-7 feet of water when using small jigs and plastics. The official ice-out date for Lake Mille Lacs was May 2, roughly a week later than usual.

No fishing information is currently available, but there are a number of fishing programs offered in the Twin Cities vicinity over the next few weeks. Find out more!

The May 1 Stream Flow Report showed high water flows and some flood levels for southeastern Minnesota streams and rivers. Walleye anglers will want to pitch small jigs and fathead minnows into the shallows of Big Stone Lake.