# Fishing before opener?

**URL:** <https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-before-opener/201386>\
**Category:** Minnesota Fishing General\
**Created:** [March 17, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-before-opener/201386 "2012-03-17T16:44:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JohnnyP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8edcca/32.png) [@JohnnyP](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/JohnnyP)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-before-opener/201386/1 "2012-03-17T16:44:48Z")

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Are you allowed to fish in MN before the opener once the lakes thaw if you catch & release? With such an early spring this year & the lakes just about there I can’t wait much longer!

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**Author:** ![Erawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Erawk](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/Erawk)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-before-opener/201386/2 "2012-03-19T19:43:10Z")

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My buddy from Minnesota says no. You can’t fish before the opener. He said to check for each lake because their opening dates will be different.