Casting Off: Anglers fill the lakes for the Fishing Opener

(KMSP) - Saturday turned out to be the perfect conditions to cast off for Minnesota's fishing opener.

All around the state, anglers flocked to the lakes and rivers. For many Minnesotans, fishing is a family tradition that goes back decades.

Fox 9 was able to go out on Lake Minnetonka with anglers that had a long history of fishing the 10,000 lakes.

"I've been fishing Lake Minnetonka for 65 years," one angler told us. "Some openers we've had to break the ice to get out, or hail that was so hard. But, this is definitely one of the nicest openings."

Governor Dayton and other Minnesota leaders were at the annual Governor's Fishing Opener in St. Cloud. The governor caught a bass, but female political leaders brought home 35 of the 40 fish caught total.