Bemidji anglers reel in another Minnesota fishing opener

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 1.jpg — An angler shows off a walleye caught in the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

By Annalise Braught

May 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM

BEMIDJI 鈥� Fishing piers and boat ramps were buzzing with excitement at the crack of dawn on Saturday as Bemidji-area anglers got out on the water to participate in the Minnesota fishing opener.

Ahead of the opener 鈥攔eferring to the start of fishing for walleye, northern pike, bass and trout in lakes on inland waters of Minnesota 鈥� the Department of Natural Resources expected around 500,000 anglers to fish on May 10.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 3.jpg — An angler fishes from the Lake Bemidji fishing pier as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

"Shallower lakes such as Blackduck and Pike Bay are popular choices for area anglers around fishing opener because they are warmer and often have more active fish than deeper lakes," the DNR outlook reported. "Deeper lakes such as Big Turtle, Turtle River, Plantagenet, Bemidji, Big Wolf, Big Lake and Lake Andrusia may start slow but are excellent choices with their healthy walleye populations. Gull Lake and Grace Lake also present good opportunities for opener walleyes."

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 4.jpg — An angler fishes along the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

The tradition of the walleye opener often overshadows quality springtime fishing for a number of other fish species found in the area. The early catch and release bass season is May 10-23.

Many lakes in the area offer great fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, which are often pre-spawn during this timeframe, the DNR said.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 7.jpg — Anglers fish on Lake Irving as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

Some of the more popular largemouth bass lakes in the area include Balm, Big Bass and South Twin. Various lakes in the Turtle River chain of lakes present good opportunities for largemouth bass as well. Many area lakes also have high-quality populations of panfish such as bluegill and black crappie.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 6.jpg — A family heads out to fish on Lake Irving on Saturday morning, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

The DNR encourages anglers to be aware of reduced bag limits for sunfish (five fish daily) on a number area lakes and their connected waters: Andrusia, Beltrami, Big, Big Bass, Big Rice, Buck, Campbell, Cass, Deer, Fox, Gull, Julia, Kitchi, Little Rice, Little Turtle, Medicine, Minerva, Movil, Pike Bay, Pimushe, Three Island, Turtle, Turtle River, Windigo and Wolf lakes.

For more local fishing information, visit

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 2.jpg — Anglers fish on Lake Bemidji as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 9.jpg — Anglers head through the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 13.jpg — Anglers head under the Mississippi River bridge from Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 11.jpg — Anglers fish on Lake Bemidji as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 15.jpg — Anglers head through the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 12.jpg — Anglers head under the Mississippi River bridge from Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 20.jpg — An angler fishes from the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 18.jpg — A female red-winged blackbird is spotted among the cattails along the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 8.jpg — Anglers fish from the Lake Bemidji fishing pier as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 10.jpg — Anglers fish on Lake Irving as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 16.jpg — The sun rises over Lake Bemidji on Saturday morning, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 17.jpg — An angler comes into the boat landing after fishing on Lake Irving on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 14.jpg — Anglers fish along the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 5.jpg — An angler fishes from the channel of the Mississippi River where it connects Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

051425.O.BP.FISHINGOPENER - 19.jpg — Anglers fish on Lake Irving as the sun rises on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during the Minnesota fishing opener.

By Annalise Braught

Annalise is the editor and a photographer at the Bemidji Pioneer. She is a Mass Communication graduate from Bemidji State University and has a Supervisory Management degree from Northwest Technical College. Her favorite pastime is exploring the great outdoors and capturing its natural beauty on camera. Contact Annalise at (218) 333-9796 or abraught@bemidjipioneer.com.