Gov. Tim Walz stayed overnight at Manhattan Beach Lodge on May 8-9, 2025, for the 2025 Governor's Fishing Opener in Crosslake.

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 77th Governor’s Fishing Opener on Cross Lake kicked off Minnesota’s walleye season Saturday, May 9, promoting the state. Pro-Trump protestors heckled the governor from shore and in boats.

Fishing opener marks the unofficial start of summer in Minnesota By KSTP Updated: May 10, 2025 - 7:22 PM Published: May 10, 2025 - 11:35 AM ...

The 2025 Governor’s fishing opener is underway at Cross Lake. Fox 9’s Jared Piepenburg talks with Gov. Tim Walz about the fishing opener and what he’s most looking forward to this season.

The opening of the summer fishing season this weekend is expected to bring a flood of anglers to Minnesota lakes, thanks to a summerlike forecast and a positive fishing outlook.

At least 221,288 people had purchased a fishing license two weeks prior to Saturday's fishing opener, a number that keeps on growing. The reopening of the fishing season has many wondering what ...

They call it the Minnesota Fishing Opener, but walleyes are the species of choice for most anglers who venture out for the annual event, one of the biggest of the year on the state’s outdoors ...

Before Rolvaag's term, Gov. Elmer Andersen decided to move the governor’s fishing opener to a different location each year, with Leech Lake near Walker hosting in 1961 and Detroit Lakes in 1962.

While there is fishing opportunity available in Wisconsin 365 days a year, the first Saturday in May still carries special meaning as it is the opening of the general inland fishing season.