Economy that bad that people skipped the opener?

Went out yesterday on my favorite little lake, cold, didn’t do all that well, (couple northerns, about what I expected).
Today, Sunday, I took a short drive with my family around the area lakes (Ottertail, West and East Battle, Clitheral) and there was a distinct lake of activity. Ottertail had maybe 15 truck/trailers, very few visible boats on the lake. West Battle, wow, I couldn’t even see a boat out there. The access on the east side was completetly empty. Economy that bad that people are skipping the opener? Mothers Day conflict? It seems to me that here in Otter Tail County opener is getting to be less and less of a zoo every year. Don’t know what’s causing it though?

maybe they were turkey hunting???

Economy may be a factor. Mothers day, cold weather yesterday. I think there are many factors that contribute. I also don’t believe the “million anglers” that the DNR reports out for the opener. I think maybe a million license have been sold, but a million people don’t go on opener. I know a lot of people who don’t do the opener.

All the more room for those who do!

I think it is a matter of people simply staying closer to home.

I know for me it was cold weather. I’ve had about enough of amature hour at alot of these lakes too,But the cold weather was the deciding factor with me. There are to many 70-80 degree day’s coming……Where as I don’t need to do the openner if it’s cold!

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Economy may be a factor. Mothers day, cold weather yesterday. I think there are many factors that contribute. I also don’t believe the “million anglers” that the DNR reports out for the opener. I think maybe a million license have been sold, but a million people don’t go on opener. I know a lot of people who don’t do the opener.

All the more room for those who do!

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First opener on Mille Lacs for me but sure seemed like it was extremely busy, every resort booked/almost overbooked, and rigs parked up and down the highways along the shoulder to get into the water…

Without question…………………………………..MOTHERS DAY. Every year there is a small fraction of the boats on the Sunday of the opener. My brother had to cut his Sat fishing short because he had to go get a mothers day gift.. HIs fault I know but it’s stuff like that…IMO.

Mille Lacs was as busy as I’ve ever seen it.

I had the opporutnity to get out for a few hours on opener, but I chose to pass it up and spend time and make some points with the wife by passin the opener by and spending some family time with her. so now whne my real opener shows up in 2 weeks, I am golden for being around on mothers day.

reverse physcology.

shane

As Kooty said, Mille Lacs was as busy as I have ever seen it. Traveling up to the North end of the lake found every resort parking cars on the shoulder of HWY 47, and public accesses overflowing.