The Governor's Fishing Opener is a Minnesota tradition that started in 1948. This year's event is the 77th anniversary, taking place in Cross Lake in the Brainerd Lakes area.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says as of Thursday, 317,411 people bought Minnesota fishing licenses, a 10% increase over last year.

Join 500,000 anglers in Minnesota for the fishing opener amid Mother's Day. Enjoy free fishing for moms and explore over 10,000 lakes with the DNR's guidance. Skip Navigation ...