A Crash Course On Walleye Fishing

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Gov. Mark Dayton was up early Saturday morning to take part in Minnesota's 68th annual walleye fishing opener.

He's on Lake Vermilion in northeast Minnesota. Last year he got skunked, so hopefully he will have better luck this year.

About half a million anglers are expected to head out on the lakes Saturday.

Fishing contributes to more than $2 billion each year to the state's economy.

Every fishing opener is different, depending on the weather, what the winter was like and how the fish are acting.

Information on fishing regulations, purchasing licenses and finding lakes to fish at is available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' website.

In the video above, Mike Augustyniak and Natalie Nyhus went out with a pro to get some tips for this weekend and beyond. WARNING: Contains graphic fish kissing!