Ice Fishing in Minnesota: Storing Your Gear
December 3, 2024 | Lifestyle
Snowflakes drift from the sky, bodies of water freeze over, and the ground is softly covered with a fresh layer of snow. Winter’s arrival in Minnesota signifies more than just a winter wonderland. It marks the start of ice fishing season. The Land of 1,000 Lakes is renowned for its vast frozen lakes, passionate anglers, and some of the best ice fishing opportunities in the United States.
The key to making the most of your icy adventure, however, lies in the preparation and adequate care of your gear. With fluctuating temperatures during the offseason, it’s essential to properly care for your equipment to maintain its functionality and prolong its life span. From our Metro Self Storage blog, we’ll discuss Minnesota’s top ice fishing lakes, the best equipment, and tips on storing your fishing gear!
The Best Minnesota Ice Fishing Lakes
Mille Lacs Lake
Located an hour and a half north of Minneapolis, Mille Lacs Lake is Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake, covering 207 square miles. From the first ice to the end of the season, this lake offers ice fishing opportunities to catch walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, black crappie, muskie, bass, and bluegill. Read up on any updated fishing regulations at Mille Lacs Lake before heading out to set up your shanty.
Leech Lake
Leech Lake is in Chippewa National Forest, two hours north of Mille Lacs Lake and two hours west of Duluth, MN, near Paul Bunyan State Forest. During the ice fishing season, you can catch walleye, northern pike, muskie, bass, perch, crappie, sunfish, cisco, and whitefish. Check out the Leech Lake map and the latest fishing report while packing your gear!
Lake of the Woods
This lake is a winter paradise for ice fishermen and fisherwomen—and it’s actually closer to Winnipeg, MB, in Canada than to Minneapolis by two hours. Located in the northernmost county of Minnesota, near Zippel Bay State Park, Lake of the Woods is the walleye capital of the world and also home to a variety of fish species, including lake sturgeon, muskellunge, lake trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and northern pike.
Lake Winnibigoshish
Also located in Chippewa National Forest, just 20 minutes northeast of Leech Lake, this lake is lovingly referred to as Lake Winnie. Ice fishing is widespread across Lake Winnibigoshish and offers walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, and lake whitefish. There is an abundance of resorts, cabins, and lodges lining Lake Winnie if you need somewhere cozy and charming to stay after the day’s haul.
Lake Minnetonka
Just under 45 minutes southwest of Minneapolis, Lake Minnetonka is Minnesota’s ninth-largest lake at 14,528 acres. This lake is brimming with a wide variety of fish species, including walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, rock bass, bowfin, yellow perch, black bullhead, green sunfish, and white sucker.
Checklist for the Best Ice Fishing Gear and Ice Fishing Safety Equipment
The last thing you want to experience after setting up your shanty and preparing your fishing site is realizing you’ve forgotten your ice auger. Careful preparation is essential, and having a detailed checklist of necessary ice fishing equipment can help make your experience stress-free. This checklist should include:
- Fishing equipment. Rod, reel, tip-ups, fishing line, bait, and lures
- Shelter and warmth. Ice shelter, portable heaters, and blankets
- Drilling and hole maintenance. Ice auger and ice scoop or skimmer
- Safety items. Ice picks, throw ropes, life jacket, first aid kit, and ice chisel
- Mobility gear. Sled and ice cleats
- Electronics or tools. Fish finder, buckets, or foldable chairs
- Clothing and accessories. Waterproof and insulated gloves, hats, boots, and outerwear
Why Proper Storage Matters for Ice Fishing Gear
Ice fishing gear and safety equipment can be quite a chunk of change—ice augers, tools, and shanties can add up quickly, and knowing how to care for your items can prolong their use. Proper preparation and storage of your ice fishing gear can prevent mildew and rust formation. Minnesota’s fluctuating offseason temperatures can cause irreparable damage, like rusted hooks or mildewed tents, if the gear is stored haphazardly in a garage.
Organizing all your gear means you’re good to go from the first ice! If all your equipment is prepped and ready, you won’t have to worry about forgetting your buckets or running out of lures before tip-up.
Preparing and Cleaning Your Ice Fishing Gear Before Storage
Even your shelters, foldable chairs, and fishing gear need a thorough cleaning now and again. This helps maintain their condition and life span, so you won’t have to stress about rust on your rods. Here’s how to clean and prep your gear before storage:
- Clothing. Wash and dry items thoroughly, and check for wear and tear before packing.
- Ice augers. Remove any fuel, clean the blades, and apply a rust protectant.
- Rods and reels. Wipe down thoroughly, checking for rust or damage.
- Shelters and shanties. Wipe down with a wet cloth and dry completely to prevent mildew.
Choosing the Right Storage Solution for Your Gear for Ice Fishing
Finding a storage unit for your ice fishing gear involves a few steps, including determining the right size and type for your needs. If you plan on storing just your recreational gear, a medium storage unit is an excellent size. Medium self storage unit sizes come in 10×10 and 10×15 and offer the equivalent of a small or large bedroom, respectively, of additional space.
Self storage facilities usually offer various types of storage units to choose from, like climate control. Climate-controlled storage units are specially designed to maintain a steady internal atmosphere between 55° F and 85° F, preventing damage from fluctuating external temperatures. These storage units shield your ice fishing equipment from the moisture of spring, the heat of summer, and the chill of autumn.
Organizing Gear and Best Practices for Storing Ice Fishing Equipment
When heading out to the ice, having your gear organized and ready feels like a dream. Store your ice augers and fishing rods upright in your storage unit, ideally in a corner to keep them away from delicate items. This arrangement helps prevent snags and accidental damage. Don’t forget to loosen the rods and reel lines to avoid unnecessary strain.
Using shelving in your storage unit can help organize your items while maximizing space. Heavy-duty plastic totes are ideal for stacking shelters and tents and placing them on the bottom shelves. For smaller items, use clearly labeled plastic bins in small and medium sizes. Pack your tools, safety equipment, and clothing in medium-sized bins. Utilize small containers for reels, accessories, and any other compact gear.
Gearing Up for the Next Ice Fishing Season in Minnesota With Metro
From the beginner ice fisherman to the highly skilled ice fisherwoman, Minnesotans and traveling anglers alike understand the importance of properly caring for their equipment. Storing your ice fishing gear in a self storage unit during the offseason will help extend its life span and ensure a stress-free start to the Minnesota ice fishing season.
Metro Self Storage is here to help streamline your ice fishing season with our variety of affordable and flexible storage units. We have numerous storage facilities in Minnesota, so explore our options and rent a storage unit online today! You can also call us or complete a contact form for more details.
