How Different will the Opener Be 2024???

For obvious reasons it’s looking like this year’s fishing opener will be far different than most.

My question is how different do you think it will be???

I was really looking forward to hitting the St. Louis River for my first ever opener there, but wonder if the fish will be well into their post-spawn routine father downstream.

Normally I fish Superior that weekend and have the lake to myself, but even with the weird spring I still want to try the river instead.

Also curious to see how it’s going to effect other spring bites and their timing, Rainy River for example. Parts of the river are already opening up, which is easily a month ahead of the norm.

Water temp will dictate everything.

Dutchboy wrote:

Water temp will dictate everything.

100%

Dutchboy wrote:

Water temp will dictate everything.

Thanks Captain Obvious

I guess my question to everyone is what is your speculation as to how far ahead (warmer) we will be?

I would say about 10 degrees? Just a random guess tho.

I hope there’s an actual “spring” rather than going directly from the fake winter to the heat of summer. And our annual drought.

B-man wrote:

I guess my question to everyone is what is your speculation as to how far ahead (warmer) we will be?

I wouldnt be shocked if it wasnt much different than a normal year. Lots can happen between now and then. I still am convinced we are going to get hammered with snow. Cold no, but snow I do think we will get.

Well we could use it. I am worried about lake levels come spring.
I think opener could be great as fish could be well past the spawn and putting the feed bag on. Could open up a few more spots so people can spread out as well, but still have a ways to go.

Rivers can be a beast to figure out but also why they have such high rewards.

Even in a normal year it’s amazing how quick spawned out fish will travel back downstream.

Being new water I’d still start high and work your way down looking for males which will typically hold out longer in spawning areas. Then work according to what you’re finding. Spring and fall I do most all my eye hunting at night.

I fish mille lacs every opener my guess is it will fish like memorial day. Fish will be transitioned out to the flats and on the deeper gravel will still be fish in traditional early spots but I believe they will be more spread out

The only constant is that Mother Nature can be a b!tch.

Normally with a early ice out it turns cold again and come opener water temps do not vary more than 2 weeks from season to season. However, this year……

Adapt and overcome would be my plan.

The spawn will probably be earlier than normal if water temperatures are warmer than usual but photoperiod also plays a part in when walleyes spawn.

I feel like we are going to have a wet spring and keep temps within somewhat normal range. Still think fish will be shallow but more spread out. Only if I could predict everything I prolly wouldnt be on here trying to predict everything!

I’ll have some crawlers and blades in the boat.