But this year, that wasn’t the case, as temperatures in the mid-70s with no rain created great conditions for a good season opener.

“It was a great weekend,” Christopherson’s Bait and Tackle Shop co-owner Dana Freese said. “With the early ice out and even though we had a little bit of cold weather, it seems like we’re a couple of weeks ahead here. With water temps in the upper 50s and low 60s, that's traditionally when the walleye bite kicks in, and it seems like that proved true.”