19 Best Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota for Winter
Are you looking for the best ice fishing lakes in Minnesota? When our lakes freeze, it doesn’t stop us Minnesotans from getting out and enjoying them.
I live in Minnesota and my family spent a lot of time on the ice growing up. We would go out for a full day and spend it fishing on lakes near our home.
There’s not a lake that I’ve driven by in Minnesota during winter that doesn’t have its own little ice-fishing village.
In this post, I’ll tell you all about the best places that you can go ice fishing here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, including some of my and my family’s favorites!
Best Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota
1. Leech Lake
Leech Lake is in northern Minnesota, in between Grand Rapids and Bemidji. It’s great for northern pike and walleye, so if that’s what you’re seeking, you’re in luck.
The perch are also really tasty out of Leech Lake, so if you’re looking for a good meal after a day of fishing, try to catch some perch.
The ice road that leads you onto the frozen lake typically opens in late December and then stays open until around March.
One thing that I love about Leech Lake is that there are lots of lodges and resorts open year-round, so you can stay at one and then find corners of the lake that are much less crowded than if you visit just for one day.
2. Lake of the Woods
If you’re looking for some of the best walleye fishing in the state, then heading to Lake of the Woods is going to be your best bet! It’s actually known as the Walleye Capital of the World.
This giant, 1,679 square mile lake sits on the border of the United States and Canada, with about half of it being in each country.
Next to the Great Lakes and the Great Salt Lake in Utah, Lake of the Woods is the largest inland freshwater lake in the United States and the second-largest lake in Minnesota!
I’ve ice-fished on Lake of the Woods many times because I lived just an hour away in Roseau. And of course, I’ve stopped to see Willie Walleye, who is the massive fish statue next to the lake.
3. Red Lake
Red Lake covers over 200,000 acres of land and offers some great ice fishing in the winter months. It’s the third largest lake in Minnesota behind Superior and Lake of the Woods.
It’s split into two sections known as Upper and Lower Red Lakes. Upper is known for crappie catching while Lower is best for walleye.
One of the best parts about Upper Red Lake is that it freezes pretty early in comparison to others, so you can get the ice fishing season started early!
Since I lived in Roseau recently, I drove by Red Lake several weekends a month and would always see dozens of ice houses on the lake. I always wonder what they’re out there catching!
4. Mille Lacs Lake
If you’ve ever driven down Highway 169 from northern Minnesota to the Twin Cities, then you’ve definitely seen Mille Lacs Lake.
It’s hard to miss it anytime of year, but even harder in the winter when there is almost like an entire town sitting out on the lake. Sometimes there are over 5,000 ice houses on the lake at once.
When I was younger, I would hold my breath driving past Mille Lacs to see if I could make it, but it was always way too big and I ran out of air. That just means that there is plenty of space to spread out from other fishermen.
Ice fishing season typically starts in late November on Mille Lacs Lake and runs into March. It’s best known for walleye and pike.
5. Lake Winnibigoshish
At Lake Winnibigoshish, or Lake Winnie, as it’s known by us local Minnesotans, you’ll quickly understand why it has a reputation for great jumbo perch fishing.
And with over 67,000 acres of frozen water to choose from, you’ll really have no problem finding somewhere to set up camp for the day.
Besides their famously large perch, you’ll also have the opportunity to catch northern pike, crappie, and walleye through the ice.
Being just 30 minutes from my hometown of Grand Rapids made Lake Winnie my family’s ice fishing lake of choice growing up. It was where I spent a lot of time every winter,
6. Lake Bemidji
When we look at this list of Minnesota ice fishing lakes, we can see that the area around Bemidji is a hot spot for them! And Lake Bemidji is another one to add to the list.
Being located right in the middle of Bemidji makes it one of the easiest places to get on the lake. You really don’t have to drive far to get there.
In it, you’ll find walleye, northern pike, perch, and muskie, although the walleye and pike are what are most commonly caught in the winter months.
My mom went to college at Bemidji State University and told me that in the winter, her and her friends would park their cars on Lake Bemidji to save on parking fees. And she would always see lots of fishermen out on the frozen lake.
7. Lake Elmo
If you’re looking for somewhere to go ice fishing near Minneapolis, then Lake Elmo is the perfect place to go.
Since the Minnesota Department of Health has issued a ‘do not eat’ advisory for the lake, it’s best if you’re just wanting to get out and enjoy the sport and not bring any fish home.
You’ll find an abundance of northern pike in the lake, and possibly other fish including crappies and muskies.
The state record for the largest Tiger Muskie, weighing in at 34 pounds, 12 ounces, was caught on Lake Elmo!
8. Lake Vermillion
Ely is one of the most beautiful places in Minnesota, and in the winter, the people here really thrive. My family spent a lot of time up there for hockey growing up, but lots of people also go for ice fishing.
Lake Vermillion sits on the borders of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, meaning that it’s definitely one of the more remote lakes.
It’s still a popular location, just not as popular as Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Winnie. So if you want more solitude, Lake Vermillion might be for you.
During your time fishing, you have the opportunity to catch walleye, perch, northern, crappie, and more. Lake Vermillion produces a lot of panfish.
9. Gull Lake
The Brainerd Lakes region is another great place to drop a line this winter when the lakes are frozen. Gull Lake in specific is the place to be!
Each year since 1991, the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza takes place on Gull Lake, bringing in over 10,000 fishermen!
This is the world’s largest charitable ice fishing contest and features over 100 great prizes to be taken home by the winners.
But you can still fish on the lake for the rest of the year even if you don’t want to participate in the competition. Gull Lake is regularly stocked with walleye, so you’ll find plenty of them here!
10. Lake Minnetonka
If you’re looking for something to do this winter in the Twin Cities, check out Lake Minnetonka for some pretty epic ice fishing.
Lake Minnetonka is over 14,000 acres large and provides some great fishing for northern pike in the winter months.
Because of its close proximity to Minneapolis, you can definitely expect this lake to be busy, especially on the weekends. But if you get there early in the morning, you can snag a great place to drop a line.
11. Lake Pepin
Located right on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border is Lake Pepin, which the Mississippi River runs through. It’s a pretty unique location for ice fishing in Minnesota.
Northern pike, walleye, and perch are usually found within the lake, but perch are typically the most common type of fish caught.
Because it’s on the river, there are some spots that may have running water and thinner ice, so it’s important to use caution when fishing on Lake Pepin.
The area near the Pepin Marina on the Wisconsin side of the border is a popular location that typically has thicker ice.
12. Lake Phalen
Another place to go ice fishing without having to leave the Twin Cities is Lake Phalen, which is found right in northern St. Paul.
I tend to see most fishermen head north for a weekend (trust me, we pass all of the ice houses as we drive home to Roseau!), so this lake sees fewer crowds.
The lake provides some of the city’s drinking water so there aren’t any motors allowed. This means you have to drag your stuff out without a car, but again, this deters crowds!
You can find lots of northern pike and large-mouth bass in Lake Phalen. I’ve seen people catch some pretty nice-sized pikes, so if they’re what you’re after, you can find them!
13. Rainy Lake
Right on the Canadian border, you’ll find Rainy Lake which is a destination where you’ll find hundreds of fishermen heading out after their catch!
There are quite a few ice roads that lead you onto the frozen lake so you can drive out and set up whatever you need in a spot that you choose.
One of the best parts is that you can usually find later-season ice fishing here. Since it’s so far north, the snow and ice take longer to melt, and you can fish for longer on the Canadian border.
14. Zippel Bay
This epic spot for ice fishing is just a shoot off of Lake of the Woods, so you already know that it’s going to produce some pretty amazing fish!
You’ll usually find fewer people in Zippel Bay than you will on the rest of Lake of the Woods, so it’s a great spot to escape some of the crowds.
I love visiting Zippel Bay State Park, and recommend this spot to anyone. Plus, you can catch some of those world-class walleye here!
15. Pokegama Lake
Located in the heart of my hometown of Grand Rapids, Pokegama Lake is one of the best places to go ice fishing in central Minnesota.
If you aren’t wanting to drive all the way north to Lake of the Woods or all the way south to Lake Minnetonka, Pokegama is a great in-between.
The lake has a healthy population of walleye, northern pike, bass, crappie, and panfish. So you might catch just about anything in there.
I’ve never seen this lake without someone either fishing in a boat or out in an ice house, so that really says something about it!
16. Lake of the Isles
Another of the best places for Minnesota ice fishing trips is Lake of the Isles, which is situated right in southern Minneapolis.
It’s perfect for a weekend visit or if you live in the Twin Cities area and don’t want to drive too far.
You’ll be able to catch fish like bluegill, crappie, walleye, northern pike, and more. Plus, it’s close to Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet, which are also great places for ice fishing.
17. Kabetogama Lake
I love visiting Voyageurs National Park, and Kabetogama Lake is another great place to get out for some ice fishing this winter in Minnesota. It’s my favorite place because of how quiet and peaceful it is up there.
The lake is pretty remote compared to others and is located up on the Canadian border, sort of near Rainy Lake.
It’s home to some of the best resorts for fishing and the lake is packed with walleye, northern pike, and more.
18. Caribou Lake
If you’re visiting up by Duluth or the North Shore, then you might find there to be a lack of ice fishing lakes. There aren’t as many as other places, but there are a few.
Caribou Lake in Lutsen is a great place to get out and try to catch a few fish on the North Shore.
It’s a smaller lake when compared to other bodies of water like Leech and Mille Lacs Lakes, but it’s still worthwhile, thanks to its population of bass, northern pike, walleye, and perch.
19. Lake Harriet
Close to Lake of the Isles is Lake Harriet, found in southern Minneapolis. It’s the perfect place for Minneapolis locals to visit if you want to fish but don’t want to go all the way north.
Lake Harriet is really popular in summer for kayaking and paddle boarding, but after it’s frozen in winter, you can head out to fish for walleye, northern pike, and crappies.
Minnesota Ice Fishing Map
What is Ice Fishing Season in Minnesota?
Because the winter season starts early and ends late in my home state of Minnesota, we tend to see a pretty long ice-fishing season.
In some locations, the lakes are frozen as early as mid-November, and ATVs and people can get out onto the lake. Others take longer and aren’t frozen until late December.
The season typically ends around March, but it really depends on the winter and how thick the ice stays on the lake.
Always follow guidelines laid out by the Minnesota DNR to stay safe on the ice and make sure that you make it back home!
Wrap-Up: Minnesota Ice Fishing Lakes
If you’re a fisherman looking for the best ice fishing lakes in Minnesota, you’re in luck, because there are so many great choices!
From the massive walleye in Lake of the Woods to the abundance of perch in Lake Winnie, you’ll be able to find any sort of fish that you’re hoping for.
Now bundle up, get ready for a cold Minnesota winter, and enjoy the season by getting out and doing some ice fishing.
