Staff photo by Fritz Busch Aiden Horner, left, and Trevor Bassett, both of New Ulm, ice fish at Sleepy Eye Lake Friday. Basset said he caught and released a couple bluegill fish.

NEW ULM — R & R Bait & Tackle bait shop owner Francis Rieger of New Ulm said ice fishing demand is growing as the temperatures drop this winter.

“A lot of people are going to Sleepy Eye Lake. I’m hearing fishing is pretty good for sunfish, walleyes and northerns that are bigger than they were in past years,” said Rieger. “I’m hearing more about fish up to a foot long or so. Guys are using wax worms for sunfish.”

Cool weather on Friday morning didn’t stop a couple New Ulm anglers — Aiden Horner and Trevor Bassett, from ice fishing on Sleepy Eye Lake without shelter.

“I caught a couple smaller bluegills and released them,” said Bassett.

Reports from other area lakes and rivers are becoming more and more common, Rieger said.

“Fishing on German and Jefferson Lakes near Mankato is going pretty well for sunfish. I’ve received good reports from St. James, Kansas, Loon and Mills Lakes near Lake Crystal. I’ve heard minnows are working pretty well,” he said. “More and more guys want to get out now and fish. I wouldn’t drive on the ice with anything other than all-terrain vehicles. People need to be careful.”

Rieger said he recently sold bait for a group driving to Red Lake.

“I heard the fishing is really good up there,” he said.

The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. It’s website states safety is an ice fisherman’s responsibility, ice thickness should be checked frequently, and ice seldom freezes uniformly.

Ice fishing enthusiasts are urged to let someone know where they are going and when they expect to return before traveling on ice.

Recommendations include waiting for at least 4 inches of solid, clear ice. Wearing a foam life jacket or other buoyant gear. Carry ice picks and ensure they are always accessible.

This season, the DNR changed the rule surrounding ice anglers’ use of automatic hook-setting devices and has clarified rules about multiple hook configurations and length. The fishing rule changes are in effect this season.

Non-motorized devices that set the hook using the force of a spring device or the force of a bent fishing pole are now legal for Minnesota ice fishing. Motorized jigging devices that are not designed to set the hook are considered legal. The device must not be capable of automatically reeling the fishing line or retrieving fish.

The devices are triggered automatically when a set bait is hit by a fish. They are typically used with a “tip-up” type angling device and may reduce the number of swallowed hooks, reducing hooking mortality.

All other fishing regulations still apply while using automatic hook setting devices and automatic jigging devices. As it required with all tip-up use, anglers must be within 200 feet of the tip-up and not leave them unattended.

The new rule clarifies a single configuration for a line cannot have more than three hooks and the total distance between hooks cannot exceed 18 inches measured along the line. Previously, the length could not exceed 9 inches.

The increase to an 18-inch maximum length is better suited for larger game fish and is anticipated to reduce the number of swallowed hooks and hooks that are otherwise deeply set into the fish, thereby decreasing hooking mortality. This configuration is not specific to ice fishing and could be used either by ice or open water anglers.

Fishing regulations are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing) and in print and wherever DNR licenses are sold. For more information, visit https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/travel.html.