Fishing outlook favorable across northwest Minnesota going into May 15 walleye opener Minnesota statute sets the fishing opener as two Saturdays before the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, which this year is Saturday, May 29. This year's fishing opener is the latest it can be, and the opening weekend doesn't coincide with Mother’s Day, as it does most years. 7:45 am, May 11, 2021 × Lake of the Woods again will be a popular destination for this year's Minnesota Fishing Opener, but the Rainy River may still come into play, as well, depending on how many of walleyes that spawn in the river have trickled back to the lake. Saturday, May 15, is opening day. (Photo/ Brad Dokken, Grand Forks Herald)