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Gone fishing

ST. PAUL — Mothers who are Minnesota residents can fish without a license during Take a Mom Fishing Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 11 & 12.

Like anyone else, mothers can fish only for species with open fishing seasons. In the southern zone, the Northern Pike limit is two with a 24-inch minimum size. The walleye limit is six combined with not more than one walleye more than 20 inches long.

The largemouth and smallmouth bass are catch-and-release only until Saturday, May 25 when the limit becomes six combined.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) predicts the 2019 walleye opener on Lake Shetek in Murray County could be “one for the ages.” The gill net catch rate in the 2018 survey was 24.8 per gill net, the highest catch rate observed in the last two decades in Lake Shetek.

Winter reports indicated a good bite of slightly larger walleye (17-18 inches). If walleye action is slow, anglers can try catching crappie. The DNR reports black and white crappie are present in good numbers in Lake Shetek, with decent numbers of crappie more than 10 inches long.

The DNR said Lake Sarah in Murray County is another walleye hotspot, especially mid-May to mid-June and again in the fall. Yellow perch are also abundant and large on the lake.

The DNR reported zebra mussels on Lake Sarah last fall, so anglers are reminded to clean their gear and not transport Lake Sarah water to other waterbodies.

The Minnesota River is recommended for anglers seeking solitude or to get away from the wind. Fishing includes everything from a 50-pound flathead catfish, 20-pound channel catfish or 10-pound walleye; plus sauger, white bass, crappie, northern pike and smallmouth bass.

Less-targeted species found in the Minnesota River include buffalo, common carp, freshwater drum (sheepshead), gar, red horse and shovel-nose sturgeon.

In addition to a basic jig-head with live bait or plastic, a classic slip-sinker rig is one of the best methods for catching a variety of fish species on the Minnesota River, according to the DNR.

Walleye fishing in the Minnesota from the Granite Falls dam to Mankato is typically best during spring and fall. Many anglers fish tributary mouths and rocky habitats in spring and areas around deep holes in late fall, the DNR reported.

Great shore fishing can be found at Minnecon Park in New Ulm, Sibley Park in Mankato, Renville County parks and Memorial Park near Granite Falls, according to the DNR.

The DNR advised traveling the Minnesota River with caution and recommended observing USGS gaging station online reports before fishing for stage and flow predictions.

“Pike fishing in St. James Lake has the potential to be fast and furious when the opener rolls around,” the DNR predicted. “Harvest of northern pike will do this lake some good to thin the population and increase growth of remaining fish.”

Mountain Lake in Cottonwood County was listed as another northern pike opportunity with fish averaging 28 inches.

In the Spicer area, the DNR predicted best walleye bets on Big Kandiyohi Lake, Lake Minnetaga, Carrie Lake and Wood Lake.

With cooler weather, deeper, clearer lakes like Green, Koronis, Rice, Eagle, Nest, Norway, Andrew and Diamond Lake should be successful for walleye near shallow bars, shoreline or where there is flowing water.

For more information, visit www.mndor.gov

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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