When you combine the cold winters and the thousands of lakes in Minnesota, you get plenty of ice fishing opportunities to keep you busy all winter. Ice fishing is very popular in Minnesota. There are many good lakes for walleye, northern pike, perch, crappie and sunfish. These are the species most anglers target through the ice because they will continue to feed throughout the winter. When ice fishing in Minnesota, you are going to target the same popular fishing destinations that you would throughout the open water season. Shallow lakes will freeze first, so you should start with your best shallow water lakes, then move to the deeper lakes as they freeze over.