Photo by Sam Thiel Kyle Brunick (foreground) and Eric Honetschlager (background) fish alongside the Currie Dam during the state opener on Saturday.

MARSHALL — Dick Mills prepared his fishing rod with his bait and hook and with a quick flick of the wrist, cast his line into the water. As the patience began to settle in, he looked around and soaked in the peaceful atmosphere.

“It’s nice to finally get out a little bit because of this COVID stuff going on, just get some fresh air and breathe a little bit,” Mills said. “We’re still taking precautions I guess, a little bit of social distancing but fresh air is always good.”

The Hardwick resident had driven roughly 45 minutes to the Currie Dam in Murray County to participate in the opening weekend festivities for fishing in Minnesota on Saturday, as hundreds of anglers around the state had similar ideas.

Mills said this has become a popular spot for him in recent years.

“I come here quite often; probably about six or seven years now,” Mills said. “A lot of times I’ll go boating with another friend of mine on the main lake but it’s a little breezy, too much bouncing around, so we figured we would give this a try. And it’s usually pretty good.”

This year’s opener of course has a different feel to it. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Gov. Tim Walz urged to only have people from the same household in the same boat, continue to maintain six feet of social distancing and stay close to home. They also encouraged to bring all supplies that are necessary with them and go out as far as they can and still be able to return on a single tank of fuel or electric charge.

Along the Currie Dam, social distancing wasn’t an issue, with anglers safely spread out up and down the edge of the water. Mills said he will fish for pretty much any type but of course was after walleye and northern on this particular day. He added he did catch a northern earlier on.

“I go for anything but walleye is what I’m after (Saturday). Hopefully I’ll get one, but I’ll keep trying for whatever,” Mills said. “The pike was just a small one, probably about two-and-a-half pounds, not bad. Fun fighting. And it beats nothing.”

Local bait shops were also busy during the opener. Joyce Bloemendaal said Pete’s Corner, the grocery, gas and bait store in Slayton that has been in business for 51 years, saw a number of avid fishers in the early morning buying leeches, nightcrawlers, tackle and more.

The weather was once again unpredictable. While the majority of the rain didn’t arrive until the afternoon/evening, the conditions weren’t entirely favorable during the day. Cooler temps and strong winds in the morning kept some people off of the lakes entirely or forced them to a different location early on.

Bloemendaal said she wasn’t surprised much by the weather.

“A typical opener; windy, rainy, cold,” Bloemendaal said. “We’ve had it many times. Wind and water don’t mix.”

Mills added as long as the fish are biting, it makes it fulfilling.

“With this wind, it makes it tough on a guy,” Mills said. “But if the fish cooperate, it makes it worth it.”