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Minnesotans Get Out On The Water For Fishing Opener

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Nearly a half million people are out on Minnesota's lakes this weekend for the state fishing opener.

Governor Dayton was in the Brainerd Lakes area, trying his luck on Gull Lake.

The governor was among thousands of Minnesotans who got out on the water at the stroke of midnight.

WCCO was told he got "shut out," which means he didn't catch a single fish.

However, Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon seemed to have better luck.

She reeled in her first walleye around 1 a.m. and at least one more a few minutes later, getting a total of four before she was through.

Young and old were out on Lake Minnetonka waiting for anything to bite.

One young fisherman said it was pretty cold when he got started at 7 a.m. Saturday, but both the temperatures, and fish, warmed up when he moved to Tanager Bay.

Fishing is big business in Minnesota, with one-and-a half million licensed anglers.

The DNR reports the industry supports more than 35,000 jobs.

The fish of choice, of course, is walleye.

Explore Minnesota announced Saturday night that the 2014 Governor's Fishing Opener will be held in the Lake Vermillion area near Ely, Minn.

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