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Ice house removal deadline for MN lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging people to use extreme caution when they remove ice houses due to warm weather.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A stretch of weather that saw record-high temperatures in February has the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urging anglers to plan ahead for ice house removals as deadlines approach.
Minnesota ice house removal deadlines
What we know:
The DNR says the following deadlines must be adhered to for removal of ice houses by all anglers:
- March 2 for southern inland waters
- March 16 for northern inland waters
- March 31 for Minnesota-Canada border waters
The DNR says anglers can continue fishing after the deadlines, but any shelters on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise must be occupied.
The department also warns anglers that shelters cannot be left at public access sites.
As warmer weather approaches, concerns about both people and shelters falling through the ice continue to rise, department officials warn.
What they're saying:
"It’s been a good, long season for many anglers," said Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki, assistant director of the DNR Enforcement Division, said in a statement. "We’d like to see that continue and have this part of the season end on a high note, which means shelters off by the deadlines and the ice free of litter."
What's next:
Fish house owners are reminded by the department to clean up and properly dispose of trash, which includes removing wooden blocking materials that might have become frozen.
The Source: Information provided by the Department of Natural Resources.