Whether it’s casting crank baits for walleye or watching bobbers for bluegill, Minnesotans love to fish. In fact, about 36 percent of the state’s residents fish - a higher percentage than any state except Alaska.

Reasons Minnesotans long to wet a line vary. For some, it’s a family gathering at a picturesque lake cabin. Others anticipate a long, action-filled day pulling golden walleye from the depths of their favorite lake. Still others look forward to a shore lunch or an evening fish fry.

Whatever their reverie, Minnesota anglers consider the May 14 fishing opener, when walleye, northern pike, sauger and lake trout become legal game on the state’s inland waters, one of the defining moments of their summer.

With more than 5,400 game fish lakes and 15,000 miles of fishable streams and rivers, Minnesota anglers won’t lack for opportunity. Nor will they lack for abundant chances to tangle with their favorite game fish, said Ron Payer, chief of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries management.

“Overall, populations of game fish in Minnesota are in great shape,” Payer noted. “Walleye are abundant and many anglers say bass fishing has never been better. There are more trout today than there were 30 years ago. We can continue to improve fishing. The DNR is working with anglers to create more opportunities and improve habitat in lakes and rivers across the state.”

Protecting aquatic habitat and the fish, wildlife and clean water it supports is a shared responsibility, said John Guenther, director of the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife.

“The DNR provides education, technical assistance and grants to private citizens, conservation organizations and local governments,” Guenther said. “It’s one way we’ve helped our partners in restoring and protecting shoreline habitat and enhancing and protect water quality.”

GAME FISH FARING WELL

WALLEYE Anglers catch an estimated 3 to 4 million of the state’s most popular game fish each year. Still, the population is in no danger of going belly up, thanks to good water quality and more than 1,200 lakes with fishable walleye populations.

To ensure lakes produce enough walleyes to keep up with growing angler demand, the DNR protects habitat, limits the catch through regulations, and stocks fish where natural reproduction is limited and other desirable fish species will not be harmed. Last fall, the DNR stocked about 3 million 5- to 7-inch walleye fingerlings weighing about 145,000 pounds. In addition, last spring the DNR stocked 283 million walleye fry.

In recent years, the DNR has also instituted special regulations that protect medium-sized walleyes to increase the average size that anglers can catch. “There are individual lakes where the average size of walleye has diminished due to harvest,” Payer said. “But it’s a sustainable harvest and with the cooperation of anglers, walleye fishing will continue to improve.”

NORTHERN PIKE

In hopes of growing more trophy pike, the DNR implemented special regulations in May 2003 that limit the harvest of medium-sized pike on 66 lakes and one stream. This year, similar special regulations will be take effect on Big Fish Lake in Stearns County and East Rush and West Rush lakes in Chisago County. In addition, anglers will be required to release all northern pike on Black Bass Lake in Kathio State Park.

The regulations, which affect lakes mainly in northern and central Minnesota but are found as far south as Carver County, were placed only on waters capable of growing large pike, based on past surveys. While it’s still to soon to see results, Payer is confident special regulations will eventually bring positive change for northern pike, a fish that some say has been declining in size for the past 50 years.

“Trophy pike need habitat and protection from anglers, ” Payer said. “Cool, deep oxygenated water and abundant soft-finned forage fish such as ciscoes or tullibees are often found in lakes that produce trophy pike. Pike also need to be protected from harvest in order to grow.”

MUSKIE

Known as “the fish of 1,000 casts” for its aversion to anglers’ lures, this fearless fighter attracts a dedicated and growing cadre of anglers. With single-minded resolution, muskie anglers ply the state’s 81 muskie lakes for the chance to tangle with one of these fish, which can weigh up 50 pounds.

Because of its particular habitat requirements and slow growth, the muskie is destined to be a relatively uncommon and difficult to catch. “The goal of muskie management is to create or protect self-sustaining populations,” Payer said. “With proper management, the trophy fish will continue to thrill the dedicated muskie angler.”

One of the DNR’s most notable management achievements is the establishment of muskie in metro area lakes. In the Twin Cities, there are six true muskie lakes and a number of lakes and rivers where tiger muskies, a cross between northern pike and muskellunge, have been stocked. These hybrid fish don’t reproduce, but grow quickly and are more likely to strike than true muskies.

Because muskie are perceived as trophies - and because large fish are scarce and old - most states impose a minimum-length limit and low-possession limit. In Minnesota, the possession limit is one and the minimum length is 40 inches. The 2005 muskie season opens June 4.

TROUT

From boreal forests of the north shore to the steep wooded valleys of the southeast, hundreds of trout streams course through Minnesota. They range from clear, cold creeks with profuse mayfly hatches and large, wild brown trout to marginal creeks which maintain trout only through stocking.

Southeast Minnesota has 680 miles of designated, fishable trout waters. More than 2,400 DNR fish-population surveys indicate the trout population has tripled there since 1970. Changes in regulations on 22 trout streams in six counties require anglers to release fish of certain sizes in order to produce larger trout for anglers to catch in the future. The regulations took effect when the stream trout season opened April 16.

“The DNR’s long-range plan is to monitor trout populations, conduct angler surveys, improve trout habitat, and work with partners to improve watersheds and water quality,” Payer said. “It may take several years before anglers notice significant changes in the number or size of trout they catch.”

In addition to trout streams, the DNR stocks 160 lakes with stream trout to give anglers a chance to catch trophy trout - brookies up to six pounds, rainbows up to 10 and browns as large as 16. A list of stream trout lakes is available online at www.dnr.state.mn.us

BASS

At least 300 lakes and 45 rivers in Minnesota hold smallmouth bass. Even more ubiquitous is the adaptable largemouth bass. Both species are highly sought by anglers because of their explosive strikes and fierce fight.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass populations, along with other species, have benefited in recent decades from improvements in preventing of soil erosion, better containment of pesticides and feedlot run-off, the regulation of shoreline development, the reduction of acid rain, and better treatment of municipal sewage.

Also of benefit has been the realization that heavy fishing pressure - particularly by knowledgeable, well-equipped anglers - can drive down the average size of bass. At the behest of angling groups, the DNR in recent years has implemented special regulations to protect large bass on many waters. A growing inclination among bass anglers to release larger fish will also help increase desirable-sized bass in Minnesota waters.

“The keys are protecting habitat and regulating sport fishing,” Payer said. “We’re on the right course now and in the coming years, we’ll see even more benefits.”

SUNFISH

Each year, Minnesota anglers harvest about 64 million panfish, making it the state’s most popular fish for table fare. By comparison, anglers harvest 3.5 million walleye and 3.2 million northern pike.

Because sunfish are very prolific, stocking is used only to introduce fish to a body of water or in highly used public fishing ponds. More often the problem is too many tiny bluegill and an absence of large sunfish, a condition particularly common in heavily fished lakes

In May 2003, the DNR reduced possession limits for sunfish and crappie - along with lake trout at catfish - to help stabilize the declining trend in average size for those species.

BALANCING ACT

By working with partners to protect and improve fish habitat, regulate harvest, and, in some cases to stock fish, DNR fisheries managers help ensure that future generations of Minnesotans will enjoy the economic, social and environmental benefits of fishing.

According to angler satisfaction surveys, more than 70 percent of Minnesotans say the DNR adequately manages the state’s fishing waters. Sustaining that level of satisfaction requires balancing the diverse interests of anglers.

“Some anglers value being alone in a natural setting. Others want to compete in tournaments. For still others, harvesting fish is most important while another angler might value catch and release,” Payer said. “Angler satisfaction is an important measure of how we balance diverse interests while sustaining the resource.”

In coming years, the DNR will conduct more statewide surveys and will continue to seek guidance from anglers through public meetings, open houses and annual roundtable discussions.

“This ongoing conversation with our stakeholders is critical,” Payer said. “It guides our policy decisions and our important day-to-day efforts such as protecting fish habitat, regulating fishing and conducting aquatic education.”