CENTRAL MINNESOTA Good fi shing lakes in the Brainerd Lakes area are Gull , Pelican , Whitefi sh , North Long and Round . Cuyuna Iron Range’s spring water lakes harbor trout, monster pike and smallmouth bass. And Mille Lacs Lake offers great fi shing for smallmouth bass, muskies, walleyes, perch and northern pike. In the Aitkin-McGregor area, smaller lakes, including Big Sandy , Round and Minnewawa , are popular spots for walleyes, pike, largemouth bass and panfi sh. Cedar Lake is known for muskies. Rice , Koronis , Clearwater , Cedar , Sylvia and Pleasant are popular lakes, as are Big Kandiyohi and Green Lake , which are good for walleyes, northern pike, bass and panfi sh. Otter Tail County has more than 1,000 lakes, including well-known Otter Tail and Clitherall . West Battle Lake is a muskie hotspot. Lake of the Woods ice fi shing Credit: Rikki Pardun SOUTHERN MINNESOTA Many of the large lakes in the rolling farmland of the south are stocked with walleyes. Most also have northern pike, largemouth bass and panfi sh. Some offer up channel cats, and nearly every lake and pond has bullheads. In the rural landscape between Mankato and Faribault try Tetonka , Madison , Washington , Mazaska , Shields and Roberds . The best prairie lakes include Benton , Shaokotan , Okabena , Lake Hanska , Budd , Sisseton , Hall and Albert Lea Lake . 5 Things to Know About Ice Fishing Never tried ice fi shing? Don’t let the winter weather or the array of gear intimidate you. 1. You Can Hire an Expert – Minnesota has hundreds of fi shing guides who can take you to the best lakes, give you pointers and even cook your catch. Most resort or guide services provide the gear and other essentials. 2. Layer Up Wisely – Dress in layers, including a base layer, warm fl eece and a shell that can block the wind. Consider pocketing a few air-activated hand and foot warmers. 3. You Can Ice Fish in a Heated Fish House – Sit comfortably on the edge of a bunk inside your heated fi sh house, sipping schnapps and playing cards with your fi shing buddies. 4. You Can Sleep on the Lake, Too – With modern amenities, renting an ice house with family or friends can be as homey as a warm, well-appointed cabin – that just happens to have strategic holes in the fl oor. 5. MN Residents Can Try Ice Fishing for Free – Every January, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hosts Take a Kid Ice Fishing weekend, when residents can fi sh without a license when accompanied by a child age 15 or under. Visit the DNR website for details. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AREA Smallmouth bass, walleyes and catfi sh swim in the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Angling for walleye and sauger is popular on the St. Croix River in the eastern part of the metro area. And the Minnesota River south of Minneapolis-St. Paul is another good bet. In the area’s lakes – Minnetonka and Waconia , for instance – you can catch muskies, walleye and largemouth bass over fi ve pounds. About 30 lakes within the metro area are stocked with pure-strain muskies or hybrid tiger muskies. Among the best are White Bear , Bald Eagle and Independence . Popular lakes with walleyes, northern pike, bass and panfi sh like Green , Chisago , North Center and South Lindstrom Lake can be found in Chisago County, at the northeast edge of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Bde Maka Ska fl y fi shing Credit: Meet Minneapolis Get more tips, including a list of essentials to bring, and fi nd great places to ice fi sh at exploreminnesota.com/article/ ice-fi shing-minnesota #ONLYIN MN | 67
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 67
