Fines Await Fish House Owners in Violation of State's Ice Shelter Removal Date

All fish houses and other forms of ice shelters must be off local lakes by midnight, March 4. Shelters may remain on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise only when occupied or attended.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Aaron Kahre, who spends about 90 percent of his time on Lake Minnetonka, said fines north of $100 could be levied by the DNR against the owners of fish houses violating state statute.

Kahre went on to remind all recreational lake users to also take their garbage and other refuse with them when they leave the lake. Litter, he said, spikes around lakes at this time of year as ice shelters are removed.

Related posts:

• Think Twice Before Going Out on the Ice
• Fishermen Reminded of Lake Minnetonka's Upcoming Ice House and Shelter Removal Date
• Early Ice Out: What Does it Mean for the Walleye Opener? (2012)

It's not uncommon for the DNR to have to remove ice houses from lakes after the March 4 deadline. In fact, Kahre said he went through the ice several years ago while removing an ice shelter from Lake Minnetonka. Additional fines could apply fish house owners if the DNR has to remove their shelter.

It is also unlawful to store or leave a shelter at a public access.

Structures must be off lakes in the southern two-thirds of the state by midnight on Monday, March 4. The deadline is midnight on March 18 for the northern third of the state.