Countdown Continues To The Fishing Opener

Those of us in the upper Midwest are somewhat unique in that our fishing seasons generally do not extend all year long.   In fact, walleye, which is the most desired species among the greatest number of fishermen, is off limits in many waters for a period…thus giving us the chance to have our annual “fishing opener” weekend.

In Minnesota and Wisconsin the fishing opener is a widely celebrated event.   In Minnesota, for instance, it is said that on this particular weekend nearly a million anglers take to the waters mostly in an exercise to get rid of the winter cobwebs, of sorts.   Even the governor gets involved in the party by highlighting tourism in some part of the state by wetting a line.   It’s an event that most sportsmen certainly want to be prepared for and do not want to miss.

The timeline for the opener is quite simply this – in Wisconsin the walleye opener is two weeks from today…and in Minnesota it is three weeks away.   If you haven’t started looking at your fishing gear and boat now might be a good time to do so to avoid the last minute rush.   Quite frankly, there’s nothing worse than procrastinating until the last minute only to learn something about the boat needs fixing and you haven’t had a chance to discover it yet.

Let’s begin by talking about licensing.   Today with the advent of the Internet there really is no excuse not to be buying your licenses.   The new electronic system used in both Minnesota and Wisconsin makes the process easy and quite painless—whether you do it at the local bait shop or online.   If you haven’t already done so, get this task done now by linking here:  Minnesota   Wisconsin

Next, check over your fishing rods and reels.   They all should probably get new line, but do the reels need some new oil or grease, too?   Good equipment should be cared for properly and there’s no excuse that sometime during the off season you haven’t done this while sitting in the easy chair and watching TV.   Fishermen can multi-task, can’t we?

How about the boat and trailer?   Yes, don’t overlook the trailer.   Do the bearings on the trailer need to be repacked with grease?   Do the lights need repair or bulb replacing?   So often we pay too much attention to the boat and forget about the equipment that gets us to the lake.   As for the boat, are all batteries in good working order and fully charged?   Is the boat’s electronics hooked up and working properly?   Don’t forget the little things like having enough PFDs on board and a working fire extinguisher.

Moving to the tackle box…now’s also a good time to remove the clutter.   Take out some of the junk you haven’t used in years.   Quite honestly, if you haven’t had a need for it during the past two fishing seasons it’s unlikely you will require the item during the coming fishing season.   Organizing your tackle and terminal equipment will save you time and frustration on the water.

How’s your clothing?   Do you remember last year when it rained for a good portion of the opener and you were miserable?   Did you vow to buy some good quality rainwear and never seemed to get around to making the purchase?   Don’t skimp on clothing for the opener.   Openers are noted for wide temperature extremes…but if you’re a gambling person you can almost bet on needing warm clothes.   The opener might be a celebration of spring but sometimes up north winter doesn’t forget to say goodbye, at least not quite yet.

Let’s not forget the other important thing, either.   In Wisconsin the opener occurs on Mother’s Day weekend…if you’re going to be up at the lake all weekend why not make arrangements for the local florist to schedule a delivery.   Don’t cap off a fun fishing weekend by coming home to a growly spouse who feels neglected.   In fact, consider taking her along…on second thought…use your best judgment with this one.

Finally, the fishing opener should be all about sharing fun with good friends and family.   Oh sure, some of the best fishing will still be many weeks off…but the opener allows each of us to focus on a single weekend and appreciate this pastime about which many of us are quite passionate.   Preparation before you pull out of the driveway will make your time spent on the water more pleasant and carefree.

The clock’s a ticking…get your final flight checks done soon.   For a few additional ideas on what might need to be checked over, click here.   Good luck…and good fishing!!

© 2005 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.