Governor's Fishing Openers
| Date | City | Lake | Governor |
| 5/10/2008 | Breezy Point | Pelican Lake | Tim Pawlenty |
| 5/12/2007 | Walker | Leech Lake | Tim Pawlenty |
| 5/13/2006 | International Falls | Rainy Lake | Tim Pawlenty |
| 5/14/2005 | Tower | Lake Vermillion | Tim Pawlenty |
| 5/15/2004 | Baudette | Lake of the Woods | Tim Pawlenty |
| 5/10/2003 | Detroit Lakes | Big Detroit Lake | Tim Pawlenty |
| 5/11/2002 | International Falls | Rainy Lake | Jesse Ventura |
| 5/12/2001 | Breezy Point | Pelican Lake | Jesse Ventura |
| 5/13/2000 | Crane Lake | Crane Lake | Jesse Ventura |
| 5/15/1999 | Grand Rapids | Pokegama Lake | Jesse Ventura |
| 5/9/1998 | Red Wing | Mississippi River | Arne Carlson |
| 5/10/1997 | Fergus Falls | Otter Tail Lake | Arne Carlson |
| 5/11/1996 | Bemidji | Lake Bemidji | Arne Carlson |
| 5/13/1995 | Willmar | Green Lake | Arne Carlson |
| 5/14/1994 | International Falls | Rainy Lake | Arne Carlson |
| 5/15/1993 | Brainerd | Gull Lake | Arne Carlson |
| 5/9/1992 | Alexandria | Lake Darling | Arne Carlson |
| 5/11/1991 | Isle | Lake Mille Lacs | Arne Carlson |
| 5/12/1990 | Hill City | Hill Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/13/1989 | Breezy Point | Pelican Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/14/1988 | Detroit Lakes | Pelican Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/16/1987 | Fairmont | Hall Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/17/1986 | Bemidji | Lake Bemidji | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/18/1985 | Faribault | French Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/12/1984 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/14/1983 | Ely | Shagawa Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/15/1982 | Lake Kabetogama | Lake Kabetogama | Al Quie |
| 5/16/1981 | Lake City | Lake Pepin | Al Quie |
| 5/17/1980 | Fergus Falls | Otter Tail Lake | Al Quie |
| 5/12/1979 | Park Rapids | Island Lake | Al Quie |
| 5/13/1978 | Crane Lake | Crane Lake | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/14/1977 | Alexandria | Lake Darling | Rudy Perpich |
| 5/15/1976 | Brainerd | Gull Lake | Wendell Anderson |
| 5/17/1975 | Willmar | Lake Andrew, Green Lake | Wendell Anderson* |
| 5/18/1974 | Hill City | Hill Lake | Wendell Anderson |
| 5/12/1973 | Winona | Mississippi River | Wendell Anderson |
| 5/13/1972 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | Wendell Anderson* |
| 5/15/1971 | Detroit Lakes | Pelican Lake | Wendell Anderson |
| 5/16/1970 | Breezy Point | Pelican Lake | Harold LeVander |
| 5/17/1969 | Ely | Snowbank Lake | Harold LeVander |
| 5/18/1968 | Walker | Leech Lake | Harold LeVander |
| 5/13/1967 | Alexandria | Lake Mary | Harold LeVander† |
| 5/14/1966 | Ely | Moose Lake, Fall Lake | Karl Rolvaag |
| 5/15/1965 | Grand Marais | Gunflint Lake | Karl Rolvaag |
| 5/16/1964 | Alexandria | Lake Darling | Karl Rolvaag |
| 5/18/1963 | Crane Lake | Crane Lake | Karl Rolvaag |
| 5/12/1962 | Detroit Lakes | Detroit Lake, Island Lake | Elmer Andersen |
| 5/13/1961 | Walker | Leech Lake | Elmer Andersen |
| 5/14/1960 | Waskish | Upper Red Lake | Orville Freeman |
| 5/16/1959 | Waskish | Upper Red Lake | Orville Freeman* |
| 5/17/1958 | Waskish | Upper Red Lake | Orville Freeman* |
| 5/18/1957 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | Orville Freeman |
| 5/12/1956 | Wahkon | Lake Mille Lacs | Orville Freeman |
| 5/14/1955 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | Orville Freeman* |
| 5/15/1954 | Isle | Lake Mille Lacs | C. Elmer Anderson* |
| 5/16/1953 | Garrison | Lake Mille Lacs | C. Elmer Anderson* |
| 5/17/1952 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | C. Elmer Anderson* |
| 5/12/1951 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | Luther Youngdahl |
| 5/13/1950 | Isle | Lake Mille Lacs | Luther Youngdahl* |
| 5/14/1949 | Onamia | Lake Mille Lacs | Luther Youngdahl* |
| 5/15/1948 | Isle | Lake Mille Lacs | Luther Youngdahl* |
* Did not attend.
† Arrived too late to fish.