For early-season fishing plans, consider ice-out timing

It’s extremely rare for there to be ice on any of the state’s lakes during a May opener, even in the extreme northern portions of Minnesota. Yet, there are still additional considerations when ice-out is just days before we float the lakes it once covered. We’ve all adjusted to what fishing cold water can mean: Shiners will be sold (where available), and jigs will be pitched. But other plans can work wonders.