Free Fishing Weekend is here

Each year the Department of Natural Resources holds two Free Fishing Weekends. One takes place in June and the other is January. This year’s winter Free Fishing Weekend is Jan. 20-21.

This means residents can head out to fish without a license — once per year during the open water season and one during the ice fishing season. While children 16 and younger do not need a fishing license, anyone over that age would normally need a license to try their luck at fishing. Free Fishing Weekend was created in an attempt to get more people into fishing as well as to encourage those who had given up the pursuit to try their hand at it once again.

During Free Fishing Weekend, no licenses are needed on inland waters. The only exception is a trout stamp, which will still be needed this weekend for those anglers looking to target trout. All bag and size limits will still apply. Anglers should consult the 2023-2024 fishing regulations put out by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Alternatively, local bait and tackle shops are a great resource for new anglers in many ways and will also be able to help anglers better understand the size and bag limit for the lake they intend to fish.

Getting into to fishing

Much as with any other pursuit, anglers can spend as much, or as little, as they would like getting into ice fishing. In reality, it does not take a lot of fancy gear to get out and have a fun weekend on the ice with friends or family. Anglers can pick up an inexpensive jig pole set up at the tackle shop or even a big box store. Friends who fish may even be willing to loan one to a new or returning angler. Live bait can be a good option for newer anglers who are unsure what to drop down a hole to entice fish to bite. Again, the staff at local bait and tackle shops can give a new angler a better idea of what to use for bait and if certain artificial baits are working better than live bait on a given lake.

There are a variety of ice augers on the market today, but there is no need for an angler trying the sport out to purchase a fancy, gas- powered one. A hand auger is likely fine for someone unsure whether they will spend much more time fishing other than over this weekend. There are even augers meant to fashion to a cordless hand drill that can work well as long as the ice is not too thick.

Knowing where to fish

When looking across a frozen lake, it can be difficult to know where to fish. Unlike summer fishing, where anglers can pick out emergent vegetation or brush piles more easily, in the winter, most of the lake may look exactly the same.

For anglers who fish open water in the summer, knowing where to fish can be a bit easier. Waypoints from electronics on a boat can be downloaded to a handheld unit and used while walking along the ice.

A lake map can also be useful. When looking for crappies in deep water bowls, for instance, knowing where those deep water haunts are, through the use of a lake map, can give anglers a starting spot, if nothing else.

Ice thickness

When it comes to ice thickness, the Minnesota DNR has a graphic which many have seen over the years, highlighting activities that can or be done at certain ice depths. It is not recommended for anglers to walk out onto ice that is less than four inches thick. A snowmobile should not be used on a lake when ice is less than five inches thick. They typical passenger car needs eight to 12 inches of ice to be supported and a pick-up truck 12-15 inches. However, anglers should also keep in mind that these ice thicknesses are meant for new, solid ice. Ice covered with a good deal of snow cover or ice that has layers of snow or a “honey comb” effect will not be as strong and it may take much thicker ice to support the same activities. 

Also, anglers should be aware that ice thickness will not be the same in all areas of the lake. Ice over moving water in a river will also be less safe than ice over a lake where the water is not moving. Even on a lake, ice thicknesses may be different from one spot to another. Anglers should use caution at all times when traveling on the ice.

Safety

There is some safety gear every ice angler should have, some of which is very inexpensive. A pair of ice spuds is the top recommended safety gear for ice anglers. Many ice fishing suits come with them already attached. These spuds are connected by a cord or some other material that allows them to be hung around an angler’s neck. Should an angler fall through the ice, the ice picks can be used to help them gain purchase back onto the ice. 

An ice spud is also a good idea, and relatively inexpensive. Anglers use an ice spud to prod the ice in front of them as they walk out, testing the depth.

As for footwear, cleats can be a good idea, but are not a necessity. If the ice is not covered with snow, or the snow is hard packed, it can be difficult for an angler who may slip and fall. Cleats can help to prevent that. 

A fully charged cellphone is always a good idea, and leaving behind a plan with someone who will not be on the ice that day is also recommended. Should an angler not return when planned, having someone else know where the person went and when they expected to be back can expedite a rescue, if needed.

Wearing a personal floatation device, or life jacket, is a good idea when ice fishing as well. Should an angler go through the ice, this will provide them with floatation and time to adjust to the shock of the cold water without going under. They are much more apt to then be able to get themselves out of the water, or to be more easily rescued.

Fishing with family and friends, especially for newer anglers or those returning to the sport after a long hiatus, is good idea for many reasons, including in the event someone falls through.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].