According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the state is actually home to 11,842 lakes with a surface area of at least 10 acres. And we’re talking legendary fishing destinations such as Mille Lacs, Lake Minnetonka, Leech Lake and many others. Regardless of the exact number, Minnesota offers lots of places for anglers to wet their lines.

You've probably heard about Minnesota's legendary walleye fishing, but the state is just as incredible for fishing largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, sauger, crappie, bluegill, perch, sturgeon, catfish, lake trout, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, steelhead, splake, salmon, burbot and whitefish, just to name a few.

A quick glance at the list of Minnesota state record fish is proof of the state’s trophy potential. Some exceptional catches include a 45-pound-12-ounce northern pike, a 54-pound muskie, a 3-pound-4-ounce perch, a 38-pound channel catfish, a 70-pound flathead catfish, a 43-pound-8-ounce lake trout, and a 17-pound-8-ounce walleye.

Minnesota offers an abundance of shore fishing opportunities in lakes, rivers, state and regional parks. In Staples, wet a line along its 612-foot fishing pier into Dower Lake or participate in one of the I Can Fish programs the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers throughout the year.

Minnesota also boasts countless drive-to fishing ops, many with quality comparable to fly-in destinations in northern Canada. And the DNR maintains an extensive number of public access sites with hard-surface ramps to make launching and loading large boats a breeze.

There are currently 155 fishing guides and charters listed in the Explore Minnesota database. These people make their living by providing anglers with a safe, comfortable and enjoyable Minnesota fishing experience, and they do a great job at it. Check them out.

Fish don’t hibernate in the winter, so why should anglers? With all of the high-tech equipment and creature comforts available for ice fishing today, there’s no reason to not head out on one of Minnesota’s countless frozen waterways in winter. Try it once and you'll agree; it's easy to get hooked on Minnesota ice fishing!

Minnesota plays host to hundreds of fishing tournaments every year. These events range from small-scale local fishing derbies all the way up to professional touring walleye and bass circuits. With that many options, a competitive angler can’t go wrong.

Minnesota spans more than 400 miles north to south. The result is that one person can be hauling in trophy lakers and pike on a remote shield lake while another is simultaneously battling monster catfish on the Mississippi.

Whether your idea of getting away involves a multi-day excursion to the Boundary Waters or an after-work fishing outing near the Twin Cities, Minnesota has you covered. Get out there for some drag-screaming R&R.

Ever hear the term “Minnesota Nice”? If not, Google might help clear things up a bit. But the only way to truly find out what it means to be Minnesota nice is to experience it firsthand. Go ahead, start planning your fishing trip today!

Learn more about fishing in Minnesota and find lots more places to cast a line.