MARSHALL — The outlook for this weekend’s fishing opener is good in southwest Minnesota, according to the Windom area fisheries. But fair weather and a chance to get outside could be the real driving force for people headed to area lakes.

“The weather’s going to be nice, so people are going to go,” said Rick Konold. Konold said customers had been coming into Borch’s Sporting Goods in Marshall for fishing licenses, bait and supplies.

“It’s been pretty steady this whole week,” Konold said. In addition to the forecast looking good, many area farmers had a lot of their field work done, and had time to do some fishing this weekend, he said.

Konold said some area anglers have already been to Lake Hendricks this spring. Located on the border of Minnesota and South Dakota, Lake Hendricks doesn’t close for fishing, he said.

In southwest Minnesota, conditions and fish populations could be good for the open water season, according to a fishing outlook report from the Minnesota DNR’s Windom area fisheries. The Windom area fisheries covers an area including Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock and Watonwan counties.

Over the winter, ice fishing was limited due to mild weather and spotty ice conditions. At the same time that there was less winter fishing, there was also little winterkill affecting fish populations in the region, the outlook report said.

Konold said the recent warm weather meant water temperatures should be good for walleye and northern pike bites. At the same time, water levels are lower on local lakes, so anglers will need to watch out for obstacles like submerged rocks, he said.

The fishing outlook said Lake Sarah in Murray County was still “the premiere lake for walleye” in the area. The report said angling should be very good for young walleye measuring less than 16 inches, as well as older walleye in the 20 to 25-inch range.

“Regionally, the 2023 year-class of walleye was excellent with many fish in Lake Shetek, Lake Benton, Okabena Lake, Talcot Lake, Big Twin Lake and other lakes throughout southwest Minnesota,” the report said.

The Windom area fishing outlook said northern pike angling was also picking up in area lakes including Lake Shetek in Murray County and Lake Shaokotan in Lincoln County.

Area lakes tend to be “somewhat limited” for largemouth bass angling, because the water is less clear, the report said. However, several lakes had good options for bass fishing, including West Twin Lake, Fulda Lakes, and the Fairmont Chain of Lakes. Catch and release season for largemouth bass is from May 10-23. From May 24 – Feb. 22, anglers can harvest a six-fish combination with smallmouth bass when smallmouth season is open.