MARSHALL — Minnesota’s fishing opener is this weekend, and anglers across the state will have some good opportunities to try and catch walleye and other fish species, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“The fishing outlook is really good for 2026,” said DNR fisheries section manager Brad Parsons in a DNR media release. “We had a nice average ice-out, which is very helpful in terms of fish behavior. The water is still chilly out there, so you might want to look for shallower lakes. Oftentimes, some of our big iconic deep lakes, it can be kind of tricky if the water’s still cold.”

Locally, there was a fairly steady amount of people buying fishing licenses, said staff at Borch’s Sporting Goods in Marshall.

Area fishing outlook reports said there are some positive factors when it comes to southwest Minnesota lakes. A mild winter, with limited time for ice fishing and no winterkill, could mean good fishing activity this spring, said the Windom Area Fisheries.

Parsons said there were “excellent” fishing opportunities in southern Minnesota. With shallower and warmer lakes in the region, fish like walleye were more likely to be active.

“We’ve done a lot of work with our walleye management in southern Minnesota,” he said. “Some of the genetic strains that we have now are performing wonderfully.”

Parsons said bodies of water like the Minnesota River were also good fisheries for multiple species of fish.

According to the Windom Area fishing outlook, Lake Sarah in Murray County continues to be a major lake for walleye in the area. Angling should be very good for walleye 15 to 17 inches in length, the report said. There were also good walleye populations in area lakes like Lake Shetek, Lake Shaokotan and East Twin Lake.

There are also prospects for other species of fish in area lakes. Lakes like Shetek and Shaokotan seem to be reacting well to zone regulations for northern pike the Windom Area Fisheries report said. Opportunities for northern pike angling with fish over 24 inches is becoming more common.

In southern Minnesota, northern pike fishing has been limited to a two-fish daily bag limit, with a minimum size restriction of 24 inches.

Other fish species present in area lakes include crappies, sunfish and yellow perch.