The DNR compiled these Minnesota fishing facts in preparation for the 2015 fishing opener, which is Saturday, May 9, 2015.
Anglers and waters
- There are about 1.5 million licensed anglers in Minnesota.
- About 500,000 people are expected to fish on opening day of the walleye and northern pike season, Saturday, May 9.
- Minnesota has 11,842 lakes, 5,400 of which are managed by DNR Fisheries. There are 18,000 miles of fishable rivers and streams, including 3,800 miles of trout streams.
- Average annual expenditure per angler is about $1,500.*
- Although not every kind of fish lives everywhere, 162 species of fish can be found in Minnesota waters.
Participation and the economy
- Fishing contributes $2.4 billion to the state’s economy in direct retail sales, ranking Minnesota fourth in the nation for angler expenditures.*
- Fishing supports 35,400 Minnesota jobs.*
- Minnesota ranks second in resident fishing participation at 32 percent, second only to Alaska.*
- Minnesota is the third most-popular inland fishing destination in the country.*
- Minnesota ranks sixth among states with the highest number of anglers. The top three states are Florida, Texas and Michigan.*
Who goes fishing
- Most resident anglers – 855,000 of them in fact – are from urban areas. The remaining 474,000 resident anglers live in greater Minnesota.*
- Men account for 66 percent of resident anglers. Women account for 34 percent.*
Fishing habits
- Significantly more time is spent fishing on lakes than in rivers and streams.*
- The average Minnesota angler spends 15 days fishing each year, with 84 percent of resident anglers never fishing anywhere else but in Minnesota.*
- The most sought-after fish species, in order of preference, are crappie, panfish, walleye and northern pike.*