Fishing for stories Share your favorite fish story Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

	E-mail this page			Print this page

Fishing facts and figures
May 9, 2004

Minnesota is home to more anglers and more fishing opportunities than just about any other place in the country. The state Department of Natural Resources has the numbers to back up the claim.

—

Minnesota is first in the nation in the sales of fishing licenses per capita.

Where to fish

Fish species: 158
Fishing waters: 3,800,000 acres
Fishable lakes: 5,493
Fishable streams (cold and warm water): 15,000 miles
Trout streams: 1,900 miles
Trout stream improvements: 410 miles
Trout lakes rehabilitated: 134
Warm water lakes rehabilitated: 79
Fish hatcheries: 5 coldwater ( trout and salmon), 12 cool and warm water (walleye, muskie, catfish, etc.)

What is caught

Sport fish:
Walleye - 35 million pounds
Northern Pike - 3.2 million pounds
Panfish - 64 million pounds

The most caught fish:
1st: Panfish
2nd: Walleye
3rd: Northern

Commercial fish:
4.5 million pounds

Minnow industry:
Minnow dealers: 386
Minnow retailers: 920

Who fishes

Licenses sold in 2002:

Annual special angling: 6,086
Permanent angling: 658
24-hour angling: 54,353
Resident individual angling: 392,238
Resident combination angling (husband and wife): 192,404
Resident senior citizen angling: 96,528
Resident individual sports (Includes small game and angling): 105,881
Resident combination sports (Includes small game and 2 angling): 81,878
Resident lifetime angling: 878
Resident lifetime sports (Includes small game and angling): 991
Nonresident individual angling: 55,591
Nonresident family angling: 30,213
Nonresident 14-day couple angling: 29,350
Nonresident 7-day angling: 74,731
Nonresident 72-hour angling: 46,615
Nonresident lifetime angling: 11
Trout stamp: 88,086

How much is spent on fishing

Sport fishing expenditures in Minnesota: $1.58 billion

News Headlines

Related Subjects