12 Minnesota Ice Fishing Lakes Where You Can Rent a Fish House (2026–27)
You don’t need to own a single piece of gear to go ice fishing in Minnesota. Resorts and outfitters on our biggest lakes rent heated fish houses with the holes already drilled, and some will even drive you out and set you up for the night.
I love trying new hobbies, but the cost of gear can add up fast. That’s why I appreciate having so many Minnesota outfitters that let you try ice fishing without buying a whole new setup.
Below are 12 Minnesota lakes where you can rent a fish house this winter, from overnight sleeper houses on Lake of the Woods to quick day trips just outside the Twin Cities. First, the safety rules and key dates you’ll want before you head out.
Before You Go: Ice Safety, Licenses and Key Dates
How thick does the ice need to be?
The Minnesota DNR’s guidelines for new, clear ice:
- Walking or ice fishing: 4 inches
- Snowmobile or small ATV: 5–7 inches
- Side-by-side ATV: 7–8 inches
- Small car or SUV: 9–10 inches
- Medium SUV or small truck: 11–12 inches
- Medium truck: 13 inches
- Heavy-duty truck: 16–17 inches
White or cloudy ice is weaker, so double these numbers. Ice can be two feet thick in one spot and an inch thick a few yards away, so check it as you go, or let a resort or outfitter handle it.
Licenses and shelters
Anyone 16 or older needs a Minnesota fishing license. If you rent a fish house, the resort’s shelter license covers the house. If you bring your own shelter and leave it out unattended, it needs a shelter license ($15 for residents, $37 for nonresidents).
All shelters have to be off the ice by the deadline. In 2026, the deadline was March 2 for lakes south of the Hwy. 10/34/200/2 line and March 16 for lakes north of it. Border waters like Lake of the Woods have their own dates.
Fish free with your kids
During Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend, Minnesota residents can fish without a license when they bring a child 15 or younger. It’s held on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, so in 2027 look for it Jan. 16–18. The Monday is also a Free Park Day at Minnesota state parks.
Quick Picks
- Best for an overnight trip: Lake of the Woods (sleeper houses, longest season in Minnesota)
- Best for walleye limits: Upper Red Lake
- Best for a big event: Gull Lake (Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza)
- Best classic walleye lake: Mille Lacs
- Best near the Twin Cities: Lake Minnetonka
The Best Lakes for Ice Fishing in Minnesota
Lake of the Woods
If you want the full Minnesota ice fishing experience, this is it. Lake of the Woods has the longest ice fishing season in the state: fish houses can stay out overnight through March 31, and walleye and sauger stay open through April 14.
More than 50 resorts run full-service trips. Day-house packages include a heated house (around 70°F) with the holes already drilled and a ride out on a track vehicle. Want to stay out overnight? Sleeper houses have bunks for up to eight people, plus a furnace and a place to cook.
What you’ll catch: walleye and sauger (the main event), jumbo perch, northern pike and eelpout.
Where to stay: Zippel Bay State Park or one of the resorts near Baudette. I recommend River Bend Resort.
Upper Red Lake
Upper Red is one of the most popular winter walleye lakes in the state, and the fish are there: the DNR’s fall 2025 survey caught more walleye per net than any year since 2014.
The lake is managed jointly by the Red Lake Nation and the Minnesota DNR, and the winter rules change each year. For the 2025–26 season, the limit was four walleye, with only one longer than 17 inches. Check the DNR’s announcement each fall (usually late October) for the new rules.
What you’ll catch: walleye, northern pike and perch.
Resorts on the east shore near Waskish rent day houses and sleepers and plow ice roads out to the fish.
Lake Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs is Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake and its most famous walleye lake. In winter, it turns into a small city of fish houses.
Mille Lacs walleye rules are some of the strictest in the state and change every year, so check the DNR’s Mille Lacs page before you go. Plenty of anglers come for the perch, northern pike and the experience as much as for walleye to take home.
What you’ll catch: walleye (check the rules), perch, northern pike and tullibee.
Rentals: Lyback’s Ice Fishing and Wilderness Warmth Ice Fishing Rentals both run fish house rentals on the lake.
More to do nearby: Mille Lacs Lake: From Fishing to Fun Things to do in 2024.
Gull Lake
Gull Lake is the headliner of the Brainerd Lakes Area, at almost 10,000 acres with spots as deep as 80 feet. It’s also home to one of the biggest ice fishing events in the world: the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, held each January on Hole-in-the-Day Bay. Thousands of anglers drill in for three hours of fishing for big prizes. The 2026 contest was January 31, and 2027 tickets go on sale at icefishing.org.
What you’ll catch: walleye, northern pike and panfish.
Rentals: Cragun’s Resort can set you up with a fish house.
Make a weekend of it: 38 Things to do in Brainerd MN
Leech Lake
Walker Bay and the big main basin make Leech one of the best-known walleye and jumbo perch lakes in northern Minnesota, and the town of Walker makes an easy base for a winter weekend.
Leech Lake is 110 thousand acres in size with a max depth of 150 feet. It averages out at 18 feet in most places. There are 232.6 miles of shoreline.
If you are in need of gear, make sure to check out Big Rock Resort. They’ll take care of all your outfitting needs.
What you’ll catch: walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and crappie.
Lake Winnibigoshish
Lake Winnibigoshish, known to the locals as Lake Winni, is one of the largest lakes in Minnesota and is known for its walleye, jumbo perch and northern pike. Located in the north-central part of the state, this large lake is a popular destination for anglers of all levels of experience.
Lake Winnibigoshish’s 56 thousand acres and has a max depth of 69 ft, but it averages out at 15 ft. There is 69.8 miles of shoreline.
Lake Winnibigoshish outfitters and resorts can supply you with ice fishing gear, including an ice house. Make sure to check out Becker’s Resort or High Banks Resort on Lake Winnie.
What you’ll catch: walleye, yellow perch and northern pike.
Make a weekend of it: Things to do in Grand Rapids Minnesota
Lake Vermilion
Lake Vermilion is one of the largest lakes in Minnesota, best known for walleye and muskie, with plenty of northern pike and perch through the ice. Read more in my guide to Lake Vermilion.
This beautiful lake is located in the heart of Minnesota’s North Woods and is known for its clear waters and abundant fish population. Lake Vermilion is a favorite spot for ice fishermen and is known for its excellent fishing.
Lake Vermilion is 39,271 acres in size with a max depth of 76 feet. There are 120 miles of shoreline.
Some of the most popular fish to target on Lake Vermilion are Northern Pike, but there are also bullhead, Largemouth bass, and yellow perch.
If you are in need of ice fish rentals, check out Everett Bay Resort.
Lake Bemidji
Lake Bemidji, located near the town of Bemidji is another popular lake in Minnesota. This lake is known for its excellent ice fishing, and it’s no wonder why.
You’ll find a large population of walleye, northern pike, and bluegill.
Lake Bemidji is 6,420 acres in size with a max depth of 76 feet. It averages out at 18 feet in most places. There is six public access points to the lake.
There are also plenty of ice fishing lodges and guides in the area, so you can get all the help and information you need to make your ice fishing in Minnesota trip a success.
Check out Northern Walleye Adventures for great outfitting, guides, and more.
Big Stone Lake
Big Stone Lake is another large lake in Minnesota and is known for its high-quality population of walleye, and yellow perch. This lake is known for its excellent fishing, and it’s a great place to spend a day out on the ice.
Big Stone Lake sits right on the Minnesota–South Dakota border. It’s almost 12,000 acres but shallow, about 16 feet at its deepest. Because it’s a border water, its shelter removal date can differ from inland lakes, so check the DNR’s shelter page.
Some of the most popular fish to target on Big Stone Lake are Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill.
If you’re new to ice fishing, don’t worry – the lake is very user-friendly. There are plenty of ice fishing guides and rentals available, so you can easily get started. If you are in need of bait, or ice fishing equipment even an ice house, check out Artie’s Bait and Tackle.
And, if you’re looking for a challenge, there are also plenty of big fish to be caught in Big Stone Lake.
Ice Fishing Day Trips Near the Twin Cities
Don’t have time to drive north? These three lakes are less than an hour from Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is one of the most popular lakes in Minnesota and is known for its large population of walleye, northern pike, and muskie. Located just west of Minneapolis, it’s close to a lot of great amenities, making it a great lake for a quick trip.
Lake Minnetonka is 14,528 acres in size with a max depth of 113 feet. The average depth is only about 30 feet. There are 133.31 miles of shoreline.
Some of the most popular fish to target on Lake Minnetonka are Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch.
For city folks, there are some great Ice House rentals available on the lake. REL Fishing offers All Inclusive House Rentals services.
Lake Phalen
Lake Phalen is another popular lake in Minnesota and is known for its large population of walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass.
Lake Phalen is 197 acres in size with a max depth of 91 feet. There are 3 miles of shoreline making it one of the smaller lakes on the list. But its proximity to the Twin Cities makes it a popular spot.
Some of the most popular fish to target on Lake Phalen are Walleye and hybrid Muskellunge, with White Bass and Channel Catfish.
Lake Waconia
Lake Waconia is another great ice-fishing lake in Minnesota and is known for its large population of walleye, largemouth bass, and bluegill.
It’s just west of Minneapolis near Waconia, making it easy to get to. There is plenty of structure to the lake making it a great one for fishing!
Lake Waconia is 3,080 acres in size with a max depth of 37 feet. There are 10.9 miles of shoreline.
Minnesota Ice Fishing FAQ
How thick does ice need to be to walk on?
The Minnesota DNR recommends at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for walking or ice fishing. Double that for white or cloudy ice.
Can I go ice fishing without my own gear?
Yes. Resorts on lakes like Lake of the Woods, Upper Red and Mille Lacs rent heated fish houses with the holes already drilled, and some include rods, bait and a ride out on the ice.
What is a sleeper fish house?
It’s a heated fish house with bunks, so you can fish and spend the night on the ice. Lake of the Woods sleepers sleep up to eight.
When do fish houses have to come off the ice?
In 2026, the deadline was March 2 for southern Minnesota and March 16 for northern Minnesota. Lake of the Woods allows overnight fish houses through March 31.
Are you ready for Ice Fishing Season?
Whether you book a sleeper house on Lake of the Woods or spend an afternoon on Lake Minnetonka, a rented fish house is the easiest way to try ice fishing. Check the ice, check the rules, and bring snacks. Have a favorite lake I missed? Tell me in the comments.
