Time is running out for anglers to take down their fish houses in Minnesota.

Ice will be getting thinner and disappearing with the warmer weather expected this week – temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper-40s all week, with a slight dip on Saturday before bouncing back on Sunday. CLICK HERE for the latest forecast.

The Department of Natural Resources has sent out a reminder that anglers in the southern two-thirds of the state have until next Monday, March 3 at 11:59 p.m., to remove fish houses. In the northern third of the state, anglers have until March 17 at 11:59 p.m. to do so.

State officials designate the boundary between north and south as Highways 10/34/200/2, stretching from the border of Wisconsin to the border with North Dakota. A map can be found at the bottom of this article.

The DNR also wants to remind people to pick up and throw any trash from their fish houses as they take them off the lake. Additionally, anglers should be cautious and check ice thickness and conditions.

However, local bait shop owners want more time due to business, which may struggle. Kashif Mahmood, owner of White Bear Bait, says 60-70% of sales drop when the ice fishing season ends and the DNR orders shelters to be removed.

However, the DNR notes that while there is a fish house removal deadline, the ice fishing season is not done, as there is no start and end to it. People are allowed to fish as long as it’s open season for the type of species they are catching.

Mahmood says he and his customers wish the DNR would push back the deadline, as long as it meets ice thickness guidelines.

“The customer traffic will be reduced, and it will also affect local tourism and local spending. So, we believe that as long as the weather is good and there is ice on the lake, the DNR should support and not ask people to remove it,” says Mahmood.

The DNR says that fish removal deadline dates are part of state statue and not based on weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the removal deadlines for waters on the border are as follows:

• Minnesota-Wisconsin: March 1
• Minnesota-North and South Dakota- March 5
• Minnesota-Canada – March 31

The removal deadline for Minnesota-Iowa border waters was Feb. 20.

Owners of ice shelters may be cited if the structures aren’t removed. In addition, the DNR says any structure and its contents may be confiscated, removed or destroyed if it isn’t removed from the ice by the removal deadline.

After the deadline, shelters can’t be on any remaining ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise unless they are occupied or attended. Outside of those hours, people can use and remove their ice houses as the weather allows.