2026 MN Fishing Opener

 

I fished with Snatcher Chuck on Platte/Sullivan on Opener Eve afternoon.  Doing a little pre-fishing for the tournament at the end of the month. Lois and Theo fished out of Theo's new to him Skeeter. We fished from about noon to 3:30. It was windy and cool, and the fish were not on fire, so we called it early.

Here are my logs from Fish Swami on Opener:

Midnight to 2:15 AM @ Eddy's Jetty.

AM 2Eye (I arrived at the Jetty at 11:40 or so. Not sure where I can park. Shined a few eyeballs at the North Corner and a group at the Harbor Mouth. It was calm. I fished at the Harbor Mouth and got a 19ish walleye on my very first cast. I didn't put my measuring board in my tackle bag, doh! I got a cigar about 20 minutes later. A group of non-committed fishermen came out from the hotel about the time I got the cigar. A boat went out, and the wind came up. Two guys with a boat came and fished from shore. The fish left. By 1 am it was raining, and I left just after 2am. I got home and went to bed; no morning bite at the GOMH for me this year.

6:20-7:20PM @ The Grumpy Old Man Hole

PM 2Jump 1Pike. Nobody was at the bridge, so I quickly unpacked and headed down on the SW side. A guy and girl showed up about ten minutes later. I got a couple of jumpers and a gator bullhead. The guy hooked up and lost what he said was a golden that got him hung up in the cats. The guy had been out bow fishing a few nights ago and said he saw hundreds of bass and walleyes in shallow. I went to the NE side as Morrill Man showed up. CO Drew showed up. As I was packing up to leave, the chick got a jumper, and I briefly talked with the CO.

7:45-8:15PM @ Lake Place Dock

PM 1Pike (I got a small pike on my very first cast off the dock. I had four more hits that didn't hook up. Nice to finally get some signs of life. It was windy.)

9:00-10:40PM @ Eddy's Jetty

PM 1Eye I made the call to head straight fo MIlle Lacs from the cabin. Only two people were fishing at the Harbor Mouth. I set up on the North Standing Rock. A couple of cars full of Ishnabee showed up. The two who had been fishing at the Harbor Mouth left. Several boats were out by Indian Point. A few boats came into the Harbor and left. I almost left for Casey's when a couple of the ladies showed up with some good-smelling food. The other guys got a cigar around 9:30. I got one about 5 minutes later.  At 10:45, I decided to head for Casey's. I thought it was just coming up on 10 pm, when I headed to the car. Time flies, I guess.

11:50-12:50PM/AM @ Eddy's again

PM (Skunked this trip. The group from earlier had left when I got back from Casey's. I don't think I got any bites, and I didn't shine a single eye tonight. I did catch a rubber strap at the North Corner.