The lesser-known opener in Minnesota, which now parallels the traditional start to walleye and pike season in early May involves the catch-and-release seasons dedicated to two of my favorite fish — largemouth and smallmouth bass. And along the sleepy shorelines of clear spring waters, I patrolled two of my preferred lakes for those species this weekend, watching the aquatic world start to wake up from its winter slumber as the feel of the new season took hold. The next two weeks — where these aggressive fish are required to be set back into the water to complete their spawn — will be telling as to whether this warm spring continues at its quickly increasing pace.

In the moments allotted to me during the opening weekend, I cruised along in my kayak with a unique angle and observed the world below the surface. Bluegills were beginning to move up into the shallows and often followed my drift curiously, the red-and-green stems and young leaves of lily pads were unfurling and reaching their way toward the surface, and yes, even the bass that I sought were making their moves toward the spawning grounds which they’d soon be staking out for the final stretch of spring and the territorial defense they’d make against rival suitors, invasive panfish, and hopefully the same tubes I was offering up.

For me, even after the traditional bass opener on Memorial Day weekend, the season doesn’t change much from the early option requiring the release of bronzebacks and bucketmouths, as I’ve always been staunchly about sustaining the species as a sport fishery wherever I’ve encountered them. Nor does the gear I go after them with, which includes a stout spinning rod, a 4-inch tube on a 2/0 wide gap hook, and a spool full of superline to feel the sometimes-subtle take of an inhaled bait. There’s a level of consistency I enjoy, picking apart shoreline structure including downed trees, sunken timber, dock complexes, all to do it again the following day, or week, or month to see if anything has changed. With the home-bodied nature of both fish, it doesn’t shift dramatically until things cool down again in fall.

It’s a great opportunity for action, it’s good for a bend in the rod, and with plenty of time to troll for walleyes or jig for crappies in the near future, it’s a good sensation to start the season off with some catch and release of these hard-fighting fish. Through it, I get a feel for what bass will be about in their usual haunts under that one blue dock, the worn silver pontoon, the old, overhanging willow, or any of the dozens of other shoreline landmarks which have held them in the past. Like the watery world in which they live, my memories wake up too and my journal reflects the connections made in the past with what I’m seeing in the present.

While the two-week stretch of C&R angling doesn’t change my bass season much, it does provide a welcome early start to some of my favorite fishing. Coming from the lobbying of guides in the far northeastern corner of the state to have some steady action for clients in the early goings, about a decade ago, to match that region’s early bass season start, a catch-and-release season was set across the land of 10,000 lakes, giving all anglers a jump on the fast action the fish can provide as they make their spring moves. For that opportunity, I remain grateful, and with the recently concluded traditional opener weekend, and the next one, ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, you’ll likely find me utilizing those chances to the fullest … in our outdoors.