News - Excellent conditions expected for Saturday stream trout opener

[Rick]

Minnesota’s stream trout season opens this Saturday, April 16, and with a weekend warm-up on the way, anglers should find good conditions and excellent fishing around the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Last year, 106,463 anglers purchased a validation required to fish for trout, an all-time high. However, anglers shouldn’t worry too much about crowds of anglers, as Minnesota has over 1,700 miles of trout streams where adjoining land is under public ownership or easement.

“The increasing popularity of trout fishing in Minnesota is a testament to the efforts of anglers, conservation organizations, landowners and the DNR all working together,” said Brian Nerbonne, DNR stream habitat consultant. “It’s a product of good habitat, sound land use and science-based management. In places where we can bring all of these pieces together, fishing is as good as we’ve seen.”

DNR fisheries biologists in southeastern Minnesota, which offers some of the best coldwater angling in the upper Midwest, say the past two mild winters, along with the absence of spring flooding, have led to good reproduction and healthy populations of brown trout, with a large percentage of big fish in many streams.

Crews also have been out stocking yearling rainbow trout in some streams and ponds to provide a greater variety of angling opportunities. Flows are expected to be moderate, with clear water. The southeast boasts more than 700 miles of designated trout streams and over 200 miles of angling easements to provide ample access.

Colder stream temperatures in northern Minnesota mean slower fish activity, but with weekend highs predicted to range from the mid-50s to the upper-60s across the northern part of the state, stream temperatures should warm quickly, leading to a stronger bite. Northeastern Minnesota streams have largely recovered from a setback caused by heavy rains and major flooding in 2012, a recovery helped along by a number of habitat improvement projects.

In the northwestern region, stream flows are low, which can lead to good fishing as trout concentrate in pools and deeper areas. Anglers have good opportunities for finding large trout—brookies as well as browns.

For Twin Cities residents looking for an option closer to home, Dakota County’s Vermillion River offers the opportunity to catch lunker brown trout at a number of publicly accessible spots along the stream. All brown trout must be immediately released. Rainbow trout, however, which have been stocked for many years, can now be harvested anywhere on the Vermillion, a new opportunity offered this year.

Minnesota has 3,817 miles of designated trout streams, plus 2,699 miles of designated trout stream tributaries. In 2015, the state’s five coldwater hatcheries produced 1.7 million fingerlings, yearlings and adult fish for stocking in 75 streams and 158 lakes – roughly 201 tons of fish.

Anglers fishing on designated trout waters must have a trout validation in addition to an angling license. More information on trout fishing opportunities can be found at on the trout streams page.

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