On a per capita basis, Minnesotans participate in fishing at two times the national average and license sales receipts continue to prove the state's love of the hook and line.

According to a licensing snapshot taken by the DNR on July 11, the state had sold 862,817 fishing licenses of all kinds, up 2.2 percent from the same time last year and 4 percent higher than the five-year average.

"We've got really loyal customers," said Jenifer Wical, DNR Fish and Wildlife marketing coordinator.

But Wical said it's wise to wait for year-end licensing numbers when analyzing fishing participation. That's because weather always affects when people buy a permit. This year, she said, first-half sales have been boosted by good weather around popular fishing weekends (with the exception of the opener May 14.)

Over the past five years, she said, the DNR has sold an average of 1.14 million fishing licenses per year. Wical said 2016 sales could finish right in line with the average, but it's too early to tell.

"There are fluctuations as to when people buy their licenses," she said.

Fishing's popularity will be scrutinized in greater detail later this month when the DNR holds its Minnesota Angler and Hunter Recruitment and Retention Summit in Minneapolis. Important to the discussion is how many young people are joining the activity and to what degree is fishing fading on a per capita basis.

Wical said the DNR has been doing more promotions and outreach work to combat a decline in fishing interest on a per capita basis. "We have a growing population, but not necessarily a growing number of anglers," she said.

Especially noteworthy, she said, is a decline in fishing participation by young people between the ages of 16 and 24.

This year through July 11, the DNR sold 26,914 fishing licenses to resident youths ages 16 and 17. That was almost even with the same period last year. It's a category that began just four years ago.

Fishing license sales so far this year have been up almost across the board in 22 categories, including fishing by nonresidents. Wical said the DNR has stepped up its out-of-state marketing of fishing under a formal arrangement with the state tourism office.

Tony Kennedy • 612-673-4213