MN Fishing License Sales Down 30%

  • lonewolf
    La Crosse, WI
    Posts: 292
    May 17, 2011 at 7:54 pm #1272288

    ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Sales of Minnesota fishing licenses before this year’s opener were down nearly 30% compared with the same time last year.

    The Department of Natural Resources says license sales are the lowest they’ve been in 12 years. DNR fisheries chief Dirk Peterson told the Duluth News Tribune ( http://bit.ly/ig7Cui) he’s not concerned. Peterson says it’s probably just the result of a cooler than usual spring, and that people will want to fish when the weather warms up.

    People in the fishing industry blame poor weather on Saturday’s season opener, high gas prices and the state of the economy.

    More than 257,000 licenses had been sold on the Friday before the opener, down from nearly 367,000 at the same time in 2010, and from the 12-year average of 364,000 on that date.

    Any Ideas Why?

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    May 17, 2011 at 7:56 pm #966638

    Pro two line fishermen are boycotting.

    skeeter20
    Winnie/Grand Rapids,MN
    Posts: 902
    May 17, 2011 at 8:09 pm #966644

    I can believe it. Winnie didnt seem to have near as many boats on it this opener. Didnt bother me none! But I feel this number is due to HIGH gas prices.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    May 17, 2011 at 8:13 pm #966645

    I’m sure most bait shop owners will say “if the weather is good early spring, the number of folks fishing goes up”.

    Seems it’s pretty predictable, cold wet weather slows sales not only of fishing licenses but everything else in the bait shops.

    Gas prices haven’t help none either of course.

    walleyebuster5
    Central MN
    Posts: 3916
    May 17, 2011 at 8:28 pm #966651

    I was going to say the exact same thing BK. High gas prices and crappy opener weather kept a lot of people at home. I firmly believe that. For many the opener may be the only time they get out,,or one of a few times. Now those people will simply buy their license at a different time, maybe. It would be interesting to see what the final numbers look like.

    smackem
    Iowa Marshall Co
    Posts: 956
    May 17, 2011 at 8:35 pm #966653

    I’ll be getting another out of State this year. Haven’t yet, no need too.

    mplspug
    Palmetto, Florida
    Posts: 25026
    May 17, 2011 at 8:53 pm #966657

    Quote:

    Pro two line fishermen are boycotting.


    Were. I lasted about 1 day.

    cat dude
    Arlington, MN
    Posts: 1389
    May 17, 2011 at 8:58 pm #966660

    I would guess that with some nice weather for Memorial weekend, those license numbers will climb back up. Maybe not to a real high number but they will rebound.

    mbenson
    Minocqua, Wisconsin
    Posts: 3842
    May 17, 2011 at 9:37 pm #966666

    WI numbers were down around a 100,000 with the same types of reasons. I think if I read right they were down to start the year last year and made a comeback to within 1%-2% at the end…

    Mark

    John Peterson
    Woodbury, Minnesota
    Posts: 349
    May 17, 2011 at 9:59 pm #966669

    2010 was a banner year weather-wise; gas was more reasonable thus a lot of people substituted fishing for other activities. Maybe, just maybe some of the people will return as the weather warms! Additionally it looks like a ton of people who historically buy licenses and fish early in the season stayed home opening weekend.

    joshbjork
    Center of Iowa
    Posts: 727
    May 17, 2011 at 10:34 pm #966673

    Quote:

    Pro two line fishermen are boycotting.

    I make this statement true

    huskerdu
    Posts: 592
    May 18, 2011 at 5:28 am #966746

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Pro two line fishermen are boycotting.

    I make this statement true


    I always fish 2lines!

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