Fishing opener is upon us! Wisconsin opened this past weekend and Minnesota opener is just a few days away (Friday, May 11, 2024). Greg Fisher of Vados Bait & Tackle brings us an update from the Twin Cities metro area on bait availability and some general points about what to expect on the bite.
Shiner runs have been hit or miss, so it might be hard to snag some at the bait shop especially for spottails. Goldens are in and should be readily available for opener. The sucker population is recovering well after the winter kill and the previous summer kill, so they should be readily available all summer long. Leech catching is going well but not a lot of big ones yet, this should get better in the next week. Crappie minnows and fatheads are looking great with no signs of spawning yet.
Due to the cycling warm and cold temperatures, fish movements have not been rushed so they should be positioned well for opener. Jigs and minnows, pulling leeches, and bobber fishing should all produce fish and possibly trolling with cranks to cover water. River systems have been excellent for fishing lately – Pool 2 has especially been great. The St Croix will pick up again as the water comes up and bait moves back in.
For a more in-depth Metro Area fishing report from this past weekend, click here.
Good luck out there and happy (soon-to-be MN) opener!
Check out Vados Bait on Central Avenue between Hwy 10 and 394 (away from traffic and downtown) for everything you need for fishing the Twin Cities metro, even on your way headed north to ensure you arrive with good, fresh bait.
