Leading up to the fishing opener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prepares reports from all over the state of Minnesota, including the Glenwood area.  

The reports are prepared by area fisheries managers and include detailed information on waters in the region and what fish you can find there.  The following is the DNR report ahead of this weekend’s opening fishing season (starting at midnight May 13).  Anglers looking for local information before the Saturday, May 13 fishing opener can look at the regional fishing reports from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. These reports include details about waters in each region and can be found on the DNR website(mndnr.gov/fishing/outlooks.html).

Glenwood Area 

With two feet of ice still covering most lakes in mid-April, it is going to be a later than average ice-out this year. Warmer temperatures in the extended forecast should start to speed things up but water temperature will still be cool by fishing opener. Anglers may want to focus on shallower lakes for this year’s opener. Typically, our shallow, turbid lakes are your best bet early in the season because they warm faster and fish become more active. These productive lakes also tend to have greater Walleye numbers. Shallow prairie lakes in the western and southern part of the four-county work area would be good options. In addition, strong Walleye numbers are present in the lakes along the Pomme de Terre River system. Bass and Northern Pike are most abundant in clear, vegetated lakes, which tend to be in Pope and Douglas Counties, especially in the north and eastern parts of the work area. 

While many anglers target larger game fish species during opener, don’t forget about the excellent panfish opportunities during this time of year. Most lakes in the area support good populations of Black Crappie and Bluegill. Anglers have plenty of lakes to choose from, including 17 lakes that were included in the Quality Sunfish Initiative. These include 10-sunfish bag limits on lakes Amelia, Andrew, Blackwell, Gilchrist, Grove, Irene, Leven, Mill, Minnewaska, Osakis (including Little Osakis), Red Rock, Reno, Vermont, and Villard, and 5-sunfish bag limits on Moon, Round, and Whiskey. 

For a unique opportunity in the Glenwood Area, head to the West Branch of the Chippewa River or Lake Emily for Channel Catfish. First sampled in 1995, catfish are now abundant. During the 2022 survey catfish averaged 23 inches, with the largest being 29 inches. 

A recent addition to the Glenwood Area is the opportunity to fish for trout in Spruce Creek, northeast of Alexandria. Since 2019, catchable-size Brown and Rainbow Trout have been stocked annually into Spruce Creek by the Viking Sportsmen and DNR. Shore fishing is available in Spruce Hill County Park. In 2022, over 3,000 trout were stocked into Spruce Creek. The stream trout opener was on April 15. 

DNR offers tips on how to catch, release fish

Anglers who intend to release any of the fish they catch can boost the chances those fish will survive by following best practices for catch and release:

• Plan fishing trips around the weather and the species, keeping in mind that cold and cool water fish such as brown and brook trout, and walleye and northern pike, might experience more stress during hot weather. Then choose the right tackle for the job and avoid “playing” a fish too long — land it quickly to reduce the buildup of lactic acid in the body.

• Set the hook quickly to avoid hooking a fish in the stomach or gills. Before handling the fish, anglers should wet their hands to prevent removal of the fish’s protective slime coating. If possible, unhook and release the fish while it is still in the water. If a hook is deep in the fish, cut the line and leave the hook in the fish.

• When holding the fish out of the water, support it with both hands using a firm, gentle grip. It is OK to measure the fish and take a photo – however, minimize the time the fish is out of the water. Anglers intending to release a fish should not place it on a stringer or in a live well.

• To release a fish, hold it horizontally in the water by cradling it under its belly. If needed, revive the fish by slowly moving it forward in the water until it swims away. An alternative to this method is cupping your hand and splashing water into the fish’s mouth and out the gills while holding the fish on the surface of the water. Harvest a fish that can be legally kept if it is bleeding extensively or cannot right itself in the water.