A Guide to Family Ice Fishing Fun – No Equipment Necessary

Ice Fishing

Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend is January 13- January 15, 2024 (Saturday through Monday of Martin Luther King weekend)

A 2024 Safety Note from the DNR: The Minnesota DNR reminds us that:

Ice is unsafe in much of the state, including in the metro area where there is still open water on some lakes. Other areas especially in northern Minnesota have more ice and some ice fishing opportunities there.

Learn More Here.


What better defines Minnesota in January and February than ice? After all, we are the Land of 10,000 [Frozen] Lakes! Make this the coolest winter yet, by taking your kids on a family ice fishing adventure during the winter months at one of these kid-friendly events. Rather curl up with a good book? We have some ideas for seasonally appropriate family reading, too.

Note: These events that rely on the cooperation of frozen lakes and are weather dependent. Many of these events are for ages 10+, if you want to take younger children ice fishing, the DNR’s “Take A Kid Ice Fishing Weekend” is for kids of all ages.

Winter 2024 Family Ice Fishing Events

Spend a beautiful day of Minnesota ice fishing without the commitment. You don’t need to take an ice fishing vacation in Northern Minnesota;  there is no need to buy or rent an ice fishing house; ice fishing equipment is provided and no experience is necessary at these events:

Snowtime Saturday

Family & Friends Ice Fishing

Time/Date: Sun Jan 7, 2024; 12:30-3:30pm
Location: Fish Lake Regional Park, 14900 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311
Details: Participants will be provided with a sled, shelter, auger, bait and rods and instruction. • $50/Group (2-6 people). Register Here.

Family & Friends Ice Fishing

Time/Date: Sat Jan 13, 2024; 9am-12pm 
Location: French Regional Park, 12605 Rockford Rd, Plymouth, MN 55441
Details: Participants will be provided with a sled, shelter, auger, bait and rods and instruction. • $50/Group (2-6 people)(Register Here)

Intro to Ice Fishing

Time/Date: January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 3, 2024.
Location: Bush Lake Beach, 9140 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN 55438
Details: Part of Bloomington’s Winter Fete. Participants will learn how to use equipment and find fish and have a chance to practice reeling. Equipment provided. • $20/pp. Registration required.

Intro to Ice Fishing

Time/Date: Monday, January 15, 2023 • Session 1: 1pm-2pm • Session 2: 2pm-3pm.
Location: Moore Lake Park, 5872 Central Avenue Northeast, Fridley, MN 55432
Details: Join an ice fishing class to learn how to use the equipment, find fish in live water and practice reeling in fish. All equipment provided. Ages 8+ with a parent. • $5/pp (Register Here)

2. Ice Fishing by Laura Purdie Salas

Another local author who has written about Ice Fishing is Laura Purdie Salas. This is a non-fiction book that could fill out your ice fishing collection, nicely. Read more about the author here.

3. Kitchen Science Lab by Liz Heinecke

This book by one of our favorite local science authors, features a fun experiment kids can try while Ice Fishing – Lifting an Ice Cube Using Salt and a String. This experiment requires ice cubes, sprinkle salt and a piece of string. (You can do this in the comfort of your kitchen with a bowl of water and a cube from your freezer, too.)

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