Minnesota Free Fishing Weekends
Take a Kid Ice Fishing, Take a Mom Fishing and Take a Kid Fishing weekend dates through 2028.
Photo of International Falls: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Minnesota has three license-free fishing weekends each year for Minnesota residents: Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend (January), Take a Mom Fishing Weekend (Mother’s Day weekend) and Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (early June). All other fishing season regulations and limits apply.
2028-2030 dates come from the DNR seasons page schedule and may change.
- Minnesota residents 16 and older may fish without a license if they’re with children younger than 16.Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend
- Minnesota resident moms may fish without a license.Take a Mom Fishing Weekend
- Minnesota residents 16 and older may fish without a license if they’re with children younger than 16.Take a Kid Fishing Weekend
Free fishing weekend dates, 2026 to 2028
| Weekend | Year | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend | 2026 | January 17, 2026 to January 19, 2026 |
| Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend | 2027 | January 16, 2027 to January 18, 2027 |
| Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend | 2028 | January 15, 2028 to January 17, 2028 |
| Take a Mom Fishing Weekend | 2026 | May 9, 2026 to May 10, 2026 |
| Take a Mom Fishing Weekend | 2027 | May 8, 2027 to May 9, 2027 |
| Take a Mom Fishing Weekend | 2028 | May 13, 2028 to May 14, 2028 |
| Take a Kid Fishing Weekend | 2026 | June 5, 2026 to June 7, 2026 |
| Take a Kid Fishing Weekend | 2027 | June 4, 2027 to June 6, 2027 |
| Take a Kid Fishing Weekend | 2028 | June 2, 2028 to June 4, 2028 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations, page 26, and the DNR seasons page.
Fishing without a license in Minnesota
Minnesota residents may fish without a license for any species except trout when shore fishing or wading on state-owned land within a state park, or fishing from a boat or on the ice on water bodies completely inside state park boundaries. To fish a designated trout stream or lake or harvest trout in a state park you must have a fishing license and a trout/salmon stamp validation.
Minnesota waters, pictured
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
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Photo: Jimmy Dreger, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Free fishing weekend questions
When is Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend in 2027?
January 16, 2027 to January 18, 2027.
When is Take a Mom Fishing Weekend in 2027?
May 8, 2027 to May 9, 2027.
When is Take a Kid Fishing Weekend in 2027?
June 4, 2027 to June 6, 2027.
Do nonresidents fish free on these weekends?
No; the license-free weekends are for Minnesota residents.
Do limits still apply on free weekends?
Yes; every season, limit and rule stays in force.
Who fishes free on Take a Kid weekends?
Residents 16 and older fishing with a child under 16.
Can residents fish free in state parks?
Yes, from shore or wading on state park land, except for trout.
Was there a free week in 2026?
Yes, June 2 to 8, 2026, while the DNR switched licensing systems.