ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon are now licensed for Saturday’s fishing opener.

The first-term governor picked up his fishing license at the Department of Natural Resources headquarters in St. Paul on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr.

The lieutenant governor bought her license at a Duluth bait shop.

Dayton and Solon will host this year’s fishing opener on Pokegama Lake near Grand Rapids. The event starts Friday, with the fishing season beginning on Saturday.

The tradition of Minnesota governors hosting fishing openers goes back to 1948 as a way to promote recreation in the state.