GRAND RAPIDS — It's not here yet, but soon we'll be back fishing on the open waters of Northern Minnesota.
As the ice begins to disappear from lakes, longtime fishing guide Jeff Sundin joined us on the KAXE Morning Show to talk about what’s next for anglers, from early open water options to behind-the-scenes policy discussions shaping the future of fishing in our state.
While some are still sneaking out on late-season ice in remote spots, Sundin said the ice fishing season is essentially over across north-central Minnesota. Resorts have shut down and fishing shelters were required to be off the ice by March 31.
“With this snow that we've got floating around here today, as it starts to melt, that's going to make things sloppy and messy again,” Sundin noted.
Open water fishing is already underway in southern parts of the state and along border waters, including Big Stone Lake on the Minnesota/South Dakota border, Rainy River, Mississippi River and lakes around Mankato.
Recent fisheries meetings reveal concerns
Sundin participated in two public meetings recently: the MN Fish public meeting in Grand Rapids and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries summit at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. Both meetings featured similar concerns like walleye limit reductions, forward-facing sonar, bait shortages and more.
Outdoor News reports live bait shortages continue to be a problem in the state, with many bait shops experiencing shiner supplies drying up early in the ice-fishing season.
When it comes to bait shortages, Sundin said he thinks it might open up opportunities for small businesses. Aquaculture and aquaponics can produce golden shiners and more, much like raising spinach or strawberries in a closed-loop system. More info can be found at Minnesota Aquaculture Association.
Sundin reports on his fishing blog that supplying Minnesota's anglers with live minnows has always been a big job, especially amid concerns of aquatic invasive species and strict regulations about importation of minnows from outside the state. Sundin also writes that climate change may be altering the biomass of small ponds and streams, allowing predators to flourish.
Forward-facing sonar was also a topic at both meetings, with attendees questioning whether the DNR has the authority to regulate the use of advanced fishing technologies. Forward-facing sonar shows fish interacting with lures in real time.
"As a long-time angler, I’ve seen lots of developments in technology, and lots of them have been touted as the 'end of fishing,'" Sundin wrote. "Somehow, predictions of gloom and doom always seem to turn out wrong, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this is the case with forward facing sonar too.
"That said, the impact of using forward facing sonar simply cannot be ignored. Unscrupulous anglers do have the potential to do serious damage by using FFS technology carelessly."
For more information, listen to our conversation above!
Are you getting the boat ready for open water season? Let us know!
