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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources kicks off its Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend on Saturday.

Throughout the holiday weekend, Minnesota residents can fish without a license if accompanied by a child 15 or younger. Kids in that age group never need a license to fish in the state but anyone older does. 

Organizers say that makes the event an ample opportunity to try the sport or introduce it to the next generation of anglers. Spear fishing is also included.  

Benji Kohn is the DNR's mentoring and volunteer coordinator for the fish and wildlife division. He said the bi-annual event has been held since the 1980s.

“Ice fishing has been ingrained in Minnesota for hundreds of years. It's just a great activity,” Kohn said. “It’s a great way to get outside, enjoy the weather, enjoy some company of other people, and maybe play some games or just visit and have some fun.”

Kohn said people in the metro area can use the DNR’s 

“Those lakes are in the seven-county metro area,” he said. “They’re specifically stocked with sunfish, crappie, kind of your highly or easily catchable fish, and they’re a lot of fun.”

And for anyone in greater Minnesota, Kohn recommends using the state’s 

“Wherever you are in the state, search that county, or you can search a specific lake on there,” he said. “They’ll talk about the stocking history, surveys of the lake, if there’s any special regulations on that lake, all the important information that you need to know.”     

Kohn urges anglers taking part in the event to be mindful of ice conditions anytime they venture on or near any ice.

“It is always highly recommended to have some kind of flotation device, either wearing a life jacket or a float coat,” he said. “Just because somebody else has been out there before doesn't mean that the ice is 100 percent safe.”

The final day of Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend is Monday. The DNR is also waiving vehicle permit fees at all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Monday as part of its 

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Mathew Holding Eagle III

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Throughout the holiday weekend, Minnesota residents can fish without a license if accompanied by a child 15 or younger. Kids in that age group never need a license to fish in the state but anyone older does.

A car and ice fishing houses on Lake Winnibigoshish.

Minnesota DNR hosts Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend statewide

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