NC Minnesota News

Weather hasn’t been kind to the people of northern Minnesota, and ice fishing has been hit the hardest. 

Accessing ice fishing houses has been impossible, which has put a dent on winter fishing, particularly Lake Winnibigoshish. By this time of the year, the lake is often covered by ice fishing houses, but this year is a different story.

Rick and Kim Leonhardt, owners of High Bank Resorts, said the lack of sufficient ice has made many people look for better ice fishing spots, which has dented their business.

Anglers are relocating to Devil’s Lake in North Dakota or Lake of the Woods. With the ice currently at one-third its usual width in Minnesota, the Leonhardts have expressed the impact it has had on their business.

“Welcome to our frozen wastelands,” Leonhardt told Waseca County News. “Some people in the cities might look at this and think, ‘Man, it’s just beautiful up here. All this open snow without people.' I look at it, and I see hell frozen over. I see the money we’re all losing.”

The Leonhardts have appealed to the state to offer a solution, terming the current state a natural disaster. Kim, with a group of 40 business owners, called for disaster relief funds from the lawmakers to try and keep their businesses afloat.

Resort owners are not the only ones affected as the local port-a-potty supplier has experienced a 30% drop this winter due to the cancellation of ice fishing festivals, according to Walker Minnesota.

Sen. Justin Eichorn and Rep. John Persell have listened to their cries and have vowed to introduce a bill that will provide low-interest loan to affected businesses. Persell is the most vocal and has offered support from the beginning.

“Last time I checked tourism was a $14 billion industry in Minnesota, and we have to protect it,” he said.