Minnesota is a top fishing destination, and for good reason! Our beloved state offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the country. From lakes to streams to rivers, we have abundant opportunity to catch a wide variety of fish. (My personal favorite for eating is perch, but I won’t turn down a nice walleye, either.)

A regular angling license is relatively inexpensive (just $25/year as of 2019), but there are several opportunities to fish for free in Minnesota, as well. Here’s a list of current Free Fishing Days in Minnesota:

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Free Fishing Days in Minnesota

Take a Mom Fishing Weekend – May 11 – 12, 2019
Minnesota resident moms fish free.

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend – June 7 – 9, 2019
Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16.

Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend – January 18 – 20, 2020
Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Fish for Free in Most MN State Parks

Minnesota residents can fish for free (a.k.a. without a fishing license) in most Minnesota state parks, including ice fishing. A Minnesota resident may fish in a state park without a fishing license when:

• the body of water does not require a trout stamp
• fishing from shore or wading in water within the state park
• fishing through the ice, from a boat or a float on a designated lake that is completely encompassed within a Minnesota state park

All park rules must be followed as usual, along with any rules and regulations relating to the taking of game and fish. You will still need a vehicle permit to enter a Minnesota state park.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Plus, many Minnesota state parks have loaner equipment available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Fishing kits include a rod, a reel, and a stocked tackle box. Check out this map of all the state parks with free fishing opportunities, including some parks with free loaner equipment.

I know it’s crazy to think about summer right now…just looking out the window makes me wonder if summer will ever come. Well, time marches on and soon enough we’ll be looking for ways to keep the kids occupied during summer break.

One option is Kids Bowl Free in which registered kids receive two free games of bowling each day at participating centers, all summer long! You may need to pay for shoe rental, and every location has different hours for this promotion.

As for adults, there is a Family Pass you can purchase for $29.95 that allows up to 4 adult family members to bowl with your kids all summer long, too.

There’s a HUGE list of participating centers in Minnesota, so hopefully, you can find one that’s within driving distance for you:

• Andover – Andover Lanes
• Apple Valley – Bogart’s Entertainment Center
• Arden Hills – Flaherty’s Arden Bowl
• Belle Plaine – Borough Bowl
• Bemidji – Bemidji Bowl
• Big Lake – McPete’s Sports Bar & Lanes
• Buffalo – Huikko’s Bowling Center
• Cold Spring – Cold Spring Lanes
• Coon Rapids – Classic Bowl Lanes & Lounge
• Grand Rapids – Thunder Alley XL
• Ham Lake – Ham Lake Lanes
• Hopkins – Tuttle’s Eat Bowl Play
• International Falls – Timber Pins
• Inver Grove Heights – Drkula’s Bowl
• Isle – Isle Bowl & Pizza
• Mankato – Wow Zone Family Entertainment Center
• Medina – Medina Lanes
• Milaca – Back Alley Bowl
• Monticello – River City Extreme
• Mora – Victory Lanes
• Mounds View – Mermaid Lanes
• New Ulm – Concordia Lanes
• Northfield – Jesse James Lanes
• Oakdale – PINZ
• Ramsey – Super Bowl
• Rochester – Bowlocity Entertainment Center, Colonial Lanes Inc
• Sartell – Great River Bowl
• Shakopee – Shakopee Bowl
• South St. Paul – Concord Lanes
• St. Paul – Sun Ray Lanes
• St. Paul Park – Park Grove Bowl
• Thief River Falls – Family Bowl Thief River Falls
• Tonka Bay – Country Club Lanes
• Wabasha – Riverboat Lanes
• Winona – Westgate Bowl
• Wyoming – Splitrocks Entertainment Center