If you’re looking for fun and new to try in Minnesota this winter, why not try your hand at ice fishing? It is, without a doubt, cold outside. Cold and snowy weather outside doesn’t mean you have to stay inside, though. Ice fishing can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. All you really need to do is wear plenty of warm clothing, borrow or rent an auger to break through the ice, grab a fishing pole and something to sit on and get outside for a fantastic ice-fishing adventure.
There’s something special about getting outside and experiencing one of our favorite summer pastimes during winter. Add to your ice fishing adventures a stay at one of our romantic Bed and Breakfasts, and you have the perfect Minnesota getaway. When it’s time to come inside after a day fishing on the frozen lakes, our exceptional accommodations await. Experience the best of Minnesota this winter, and book a room at one of our member Bed and Breakfasts.
5 Perfect Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota
It’s true that Minnesota is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts during the spring and summer months. That means there is plenty of cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fat tire biking, and downhill skiing and snowboarding. But winter is also a popular time to go ice fishing!
As soon as January and February roll around in Minnesota, you’ll start to see shanty’s popping up on frozen lakes around the state. Fishermen and women head out to brave the cold in search of a variety of fish, including walleye, panfish, northern pike, and more. In fact, at least 10% of Minnesota’s licensed anglers participate in ice fishing at some point in the winter.
Luckily for you, we have member Inns located near some of the best ice fishing locations in Minnesota. Keep reading below to see a few of our recommendations, and then get outside and enjoy the incredible state of Minnesota this winter!
- Leech Lake is the perfect low-key ice fishing destination in northern Minnesota. It’s home to one of the world’s top walleye fisheries, and also has plenty of large perch. You can fish at night too, which makes for a fun adventure on the ice!
- Gull Lake is the largest lake in the Brainerd Lakes region of Minnesota. It’s best known for walleye and northern pike, but there are other fish to find as well. Head to Gull Lake in January, where they host the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza. It’s the largest charitable ice fishing event in the world, and it attracts more than 10,000 anglers from around the world.
- If you’re looking for an urban lake that is suitable for ice fishing, head to Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocks the lake with walleye each year. It’s also been known to produce quite a few crappies. It is close to other small urban lakes, so if one looks too busy you can always choose another.
- Mille Lacs Lake, the second-largest lake in the state, is relatively shallow and perfect for ice fishing. Anglers here can find walleye, rock bass, jumbo perch, and tullibee, among other diverse fish species. The local businesses in the area cater to ice fishers, too, making this an easy choice for beginners.
- Experience Minnesota’s beautiful winter solitude on Lake Vermillion, a wonderful place to go ice fishing for walleye, perch, northern pike, crappie, and more.
Warm-up at a Minnesota Bed and Breakfast
No matter how warm and toasty you keep your shanty, we know you’ll be ready for warm, comfortable accommodations at the end of a long day on the ice. You’ll find exactly that from our extraordinary collection of Inns, where you’ll find a wide variety of accommodations. Let us extend to you our award-winning hospitality. One night at our member properties, and you’ll never want to leave.
When it’s time to head back outside for another day of ice fishing or other fun in the snow, our exceptional breakfasts made fresh by your Innkeeper will hit the spot and keep you fueled for the adventure ahead. There are more things to do in Minnesota this winter than we can count. Come experience a small piece of winter in Minnesota, and book a room at one of our Minnesota Bed and Breakfasts today!
