It's almost that time again to get fish houses off the ice all across Minnesota.
With only a few days left in the season, WCCO Outdoors host Rob Drieslein says its still prime time to get in some last-minute fishing.
"Panfish, crappies, perch, this is really some of the best ice fishing of the year for those species," Drieslein says. "And then, of course, you got places like Lake of the Woods. That's an important border water where the walleye season is open till like mid-April."
However, Drieslein says fisherman need to be careful as temperatures rise.
"There's no shortage of ice that can support trucks and wheelhouses right now," he says. "But yeah, it's getting messy out there quickly. No one wants to stand around in inches of water."
This coming Monday, March 3, is the deadline to get all ice houses off the ice in the southern two-thirds of the state. That includes dark houses, fish houses and portables. The deadline for getting off the ice on northern Minnesota lakes is March 17. That two-thirds line is formed by U.S. Hwy. 10, east along Hwy. 34 to Minnesota Hwy. 200, east along Hwy. 200 to U.S. Hwy. 2, and east along Hwy. 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border according to the DNR.
Drieslein tells Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News while the ice is still thick in much of the state, it likely won't stay that way for long with our warmer-than-average temps lately.
"There's no snow, so the area around the lakes, the edges start to warm up and you get melting," Drieslein explains. "And that ice can pull away from shore. So you're gonna have a lot of ice in the middle of the lake, but it doesn't do anybody any good if you can't get to it. That's what we're maybe a little worried about if this warming trend, you know, holds up."
The DNR also notes that ice should never be assumed as "safe." The DNR does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes which means your safety is your responsibility. They recommend checking ice thickness at least every 150 feet.
Just as importantly, the DNR is reminding those that have been on lakes to clean up trash as part of hauling their shelter off the ice.
“After this recent cold snap, we know people will want to take advantage of every day they can to use their ice shelters,” said Capt. Cory Palmer, DNR Enforcement Southern Region manager. “However, current conditions don’t change the statutory deadlines. That said, people can still use their shelters after the deadline so long as the shelter has the proper identification and licensing and, if it’s on the ice between midnight and an hour before sunrise, is occupied or attended.”
If shelters aren’t removed by the deadline, owners may be prosecuted, and structures may be confiscated and removed or destroyed by a conservation officer.
Inland waters
South of line - March 3, 2025
North of line - March 17, 2025
Border waters
Minnesota-Iowa - Feb. 20
Minnesota–Wisconsin - March 1
Minnesota–North and South Dakota - March 5
Minnesota–Canada - March 31