Minnesota Ice Fishing… It’s Like No Other

Minnesota Ice Fishing… It’s Like No Other

By Joe Henry

What happens when you combine over 10,000 lakes loaded with fish in a state that produces consistent below freezing temps? You have the recipe for ice fishing of epic proportion. Throw in a myriad of full service resorts, outfitters and sleeper fish house businesses that cater to ice anglers, providing heated rental fish houses, transportation to the fish house, fish cleaning and even cooking up your fresh catch. It’s ice fishing in Minnesota and it’s like no other.

Minnesota lakes are rich with a variety of fish species anglers target through the ice. Walleyes, saugers, pike, yellow perch, bass, sunfish and crappies will be the most sought after. Other species that don’t receive as much attention, but are also available are lake trout, eelpout, tulibees, whitefish and lake sturgeon.

The state is known for some of its famous larger walleye lakes such as Lake of the Woods, Upper Red, Mille Lacs, Winnibigoshish, Leech and Vermillion. These bodies of water are famous to anglers for good reason, they produce a lot of fish year in and year out.

There are literally thousands of small and mid-sized lakes in the state as well that are super productive for ice fishing, but maybe don’t receive the attention of the big lakes. So many opportunities.

Anglers have the option on many bodies of water to make life easy and use a resort or outfitter. Simply show up with your ice fishing gear. Have a nice dinner the night before you fish and the next morning, your fish house will be waiting. Fish houses are placed where the fish are, the heat is set at about 70 degrees, and the ice holes have been drilled and cleaned. It’s time to go ice fishing.

This kind of ice fishing is very conducive to just about everyone. Families, groups of friends, and many companies looking to entertain clients or show appreciation to employees take advantage of the nice accommodations and ambience of today’s ice fishing.

Ice fishing with the many conveniences and improvements isn’t cold. In fact, the temperature is actually more controlled than during the warmer months. Most ice anglers literally have to walk just a few steps from the vehicle into the heated comfort of a fish house.

Ice fishing is as much social for some as it is fishing. Fishing in a warm, cozy fish house out on a frozen lake creates an atmosphere of wellness and camaraderie. Anglers bring out good food, their favorite beverages and maybe even a portable speaker to play their favorite music. That is if the fish house they are renting doesn’t have a flat screen TV and generator. The times, they are a changing!

One of the decisions to consider is whether to sleep on shore or on the ice! Believe it or not, sleeper fish houses are popular to many. Bring your sleeping bag, pillow, food and drink and get away from it all. With well insulated houses, strong propane heaters and cell phones to stay in contact, sleeper fish houses are a fun option for many.

Some anglers have their own equipment and prefer to go out on their own. On many lakes, outfitters will plow ice roads out to fishing grounds and charge a small fee for access. This enables anglers to set up their wheelhouse or collapsible fish house and enjoy the day. For those who have four wheelers and snowmobiles, many more options exist.

If you haven’t experienced ice fishing in Minnesota, it’s time. It has been said, human beings achieve much more enjoyment through experiences than they do things. Ice fishing in Minnesota is one experience you don’t want to miss out on.