The deadline to remove unoccupied fish houses from lakes is a couple of weeks away.
Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Manager Ryan Doorenbos stated that the deadline to remove fish houses from inland lakes in Southern Minnesota is March 6. The deadline to remove fish houses from lakes bordering both Minnesota and Iowa is Feb. 20.
Additionally, Doorenbos said that the recent warmer weather could have an impact on ice quality on lakes in the region. However, he added that the warm stretch likely reduced the snow pack on area lakes, which could improve the ability to move around on lakes.
He added that low levels of dissolved oxygen have been seen in some area lakes, but not to the point the DNR is concerned about a significant fish kill. Doorenbos said that dissolved oxygen levels can be found on the DNR Windom Fisheries website.
Finally, Doorenbos reminds anglers that fishing licenses are valid through Feb. 28, so anglers heading out onto area lakes during the last few days of official ice fishing season will need an updated license.
