ST. PAUL (AP) — Next year's Governor's Fishing Opener will be held in the Park Rapids area in northwest Minnesota.

The Explore Minnesota Tourism office made the announcement late Saturday. Tourism office Director John Edman says the area has excellent fishing and has a long history as a family vacation area.

The area is also home to Itasca State Park, the Heartland Trail, the Lake County Scenic Byway and the Chippewa National Forest.

Next year's opener is the weekend of May 10, 2013. The Governor's Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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