Anglers ready for fishing opener.

Who says a slow economy is a bad thing? For local bait shops preparing for Wisconsin’s inland fishing opener this Saturday, it has been a very good thing.

“A lot of people aren’t working, so a lot of people are fishing,” said Steve Dinda, who owns the Bait Box in Superior. “Sales aren’t slow.”

Most years, Dinda sees a lull in customers and has to shut down the minnow tanks in his shop. This year, the tanks have remained in operation constantly, and the customers keep coming.

“It’s been just rolling along,” Dinda said.

With many looking for ways to save money, this year’s fishing opener is sure to be busy. Fishing provides an inexpensive opportunity to get outside and relax, and at the end of the day, successful anglers can also bring home dinner. For the cash-strapped masses, it’s the perfect combination.

Last season, the new viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) rules were a concern for some anglers and bait shop owners. At the start of this season, Dinda hasn’t heard much conversation about VHS. After abiding by the new rules for more than a year, Dinda thinks most anglers know how to prevent the spread of diseases and invasive species and are as anxious to protect the fishing resource as the Department of Natural Resources.

DNR officials have been testing Wisconsin waters extensively for VHS, and no new instances of infection were found last year. It’s good news for Wisconsin, but fisheries biologist Scott Toshner wanted to remind boaters and anglers that VHS isn’t the only threat facing the state’s lakes and rivers. A number of aquatic invasive species are present in the state and can be spread if boats are not cleaned properly.

Only one significant change to Wisconsin’s fishing rules will impact northern anglers this year. Gov. Jim Doyle recently approved a measure to overturn the rule that required artificial lures and barbless hooks to be used for bass during the catch-and-release bass fishing season in the northern zone. The change is in effect for Saturday’s opener, but current fishing rule books do not reflect it.

“The rule books were printed before the rules were changed,” Toshner said.

As for what to expect for the opener, Toshner was optimistic.

Every spring, the DNR makes walleye estimates at various lakes. Last week, when the weather was fairly warm, Toshner noticed some walleye had already begun spawning as the DNR was conducting its survey. In the week after they finish spawning, walleye go into a period of recovery and tend to be sluggish. Immediately afterward, though, the walleye are looking for food.

“The best time a lot of fishermen has is right after that period,” Toshner said.

For this year’s opener, Toshner thinks the outlooks is “pretty darn good” for walleye. Trout action also has been strong on the Brule River so far.

Overall, Toshner feel it should be a good inland fishing opener for Wisconsin anglers. Water temperatures are from the high 40s to low 50s, which is warm enough for many fish to begin moving out of the shallows.

Some lakes and rivers are still fairly cold, but Toshner expects fish to be active even where the water is cool in areas.

Best bets for walleye

Anglers looking to land a walleye have a number of local choices. Namekagon Lake in Bayfield County and Upper St. Croix Lake near Solon Springs have high walleye populations, but not too many trophy fish. For big fish, Toshner recommends Whitefish Lake in Douglas County and Lake Owen and Upper Eau Claire Lake in Bayfield County.

Dinda said he’s had a few fishermen flip open their cell phones to show him pictures of fishing hot spots, but they won’t reveal the location.

“It’s the sort of thing where they say they’d have to kill you if they tell you where it is,” Dinda said, laughing.

Smelt run

Word in the bait shops is that the smelt have begun to run. The big Lake Superior smelt run around usually begins near the end of April, but this spring’s warm and then cool temperatures have made it difficult to predict.

Dinda said he’s heard reports of fishers bringing in five-gallon buckets of smelt since Monday night.

Great info Mike.