An early Minnesota Fishing Opener for 2012 was a good idea that should have been brought forth much sooner than two weeks ago.

But it could have still worked well at that time if those making the proposals had all their walleyes in line. They did not, including the lunker of state elected officials — Gov. Mark Dayton.

It’s really unfortunate that now, about two weeks into the issue, Minnesotans are still left wondering whether perhaps the biggest non-holiday days of each year will be May 5 or May 12. If it is moved up to May 5 off of the currently scheduled opener on Mother’s Day, then it would be just two weeks from Saturday.

Talk about legislative uncertainty, which, unfortunately, is nothing new on far too many issues in St. Paul.

But this one could have been so simple and so cut-and-dried. If only …

If only Range DFL lawmakers Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook and David Dill of Crane Lake had proposed it a couple weeks before the first week of April.

After all, it was already clear at that time that there would be a very early spawn that would allow a movement of a week for the Fishing Opener. The mild winter was already in the books. The lakes, even in northern Minnesota, were ice-free by about mid-March.

And if only they had done some groundwork to make sure the governor and legislators of both political parties were on board.

Yet that does not appear to have been done. Yes, Senate Minority Leader Bakk and the governor did exchange e-mails that the senator said seemed to indicate Dayton was open to the idea. But, especially considering that the annual Governor’s Opener was already set for May 12 and not to be moved because of all the advance work done, the plan needed much more than a governor’s indifference.

Meanwhile, the Legislature took a recess of more than a week when absolutely no legislative work was done.

A Senate committee on Monday, the first day legislators returned from their extended time off, provided plenty of pushback to an amendment to be attached to the omnibus Game and Fish Bill that would move the opener from May 12 to May 5. Range DFL Sen. Tom Saxhaug of Grand Rapids, who is on the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, said it’s now too late for the move.

We agree.

A proposal with some good upside just didn’t have the hook set soon enough. It should now be cut loose.

— Mesabi Daily News, April 16