Community Corner

Lake Minnetonka Walleye Prove Elusive During First Hours of Season

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Most anglers on Lake Minnetonka are reporting a slow bite during the first 12 hours of the 2012 fishing season.

"No fish, but you can't ask for better weather," Shane Cowens of Minnetonka said as he pulled his boat of Grays Bay after six hours on the water. "It's a great day to be out. I can't remember better weather on an opener."

Cowens and other fisherman said palm-sized panfish were active around sunrise, and many boats reported regular bass strikes. 

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Walleye and pike, however, were few and far between. None of the 64 boats informally surveyed between 10 a.m. and noon reported hooking a keeper sized walleye, and only one fisherman had a pike in his livewell.

"It was a catch and release kind of morning, but I have no complaints," Phil Spears of Chanhassan said.

Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lake Minnetonka is not alone in its slow walleye bite. Governor Mark Dayton spent several hours just west of Lake Minnetonka on Lake Waconia for the annual Governor's Fishing Opener but was only able to boat a bluegill. Walleyes are also proving elusive for fisherman on Lake Mille Lacs, according to early reports.

Also of note, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is closely inspecting all boats coming out of Grays Bay, and all craft are being required to undergo a series of checks before leaving the marina.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Water Patrol was also out in full force on Lake Minnetonka Saturday morning.

How was your fishing opener? Did you hook a big one or strike out trying? Tell us in the comments section!


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