Minn. lawmakers pass on early fishing opener

State lawmakers have decided not to move up the start of this year's fishing season by a week.

House and Senate negotiators removed the one-time, early fishing provision from the final version of the game and fish bill, which could return for a floor vote in the House as early as Friday night.

Opponents argued that there was no longer enough time to change the start of the fishing season from May 12 to May 5. But Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, the amendment sponsor, said timing was not a problem.

"The earliest that bill would be signed would be Monday, and that would only be a few days before the proposed earlier first day to fishing," Dill said. "That would take care of most people who said they were going to change their plans. This would just benefit people in Minnesota, essentially people who went to their cabin and cleaned their gutters, raked their yard and said, 'hey, let's go fishing tonight.' "

The broader game and fish bill includes increased fees for hunting, fishing and trapping, as well as authorization for a new wolf hunt.

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