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Al Lindner: Anglers located and caught a lot of lunker fish during open water 2025

Al Lindner says the 2025 open-water season saw an unprecedented surge in trophy fish catches. Advances in sonar, gear, and shared information fueled record hauls across species. While anglers celebrate, concerns are growing over sustainability and future fisheries management. (Photos courtesy of Lindner Media Productions)

I’ve been fortunate to fish across the Upper Midwest for decades. With every season, there are some common themes, general observations, and lessons learned. While some years are on the good end of the spectrum, others tend to be less than ideal.
As this open-water season of 2025 draws to a close, I’m reflecting on what went well, on what didn’t, and everything in between. There’s no doubt in my mind that the theme for this season was big fish.

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