Minnesota Mixed Bag: Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is June 5-7

St. Paul — Each year in early June, Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is an opportunity for adults to share the fun of fishing with kids.

“This is a great time of year to take kids fishing. The weather is usually pleasant, and the fish are often near shores and piers,” said Benji Kohn, Minnesota DNR volunteer mentor program coordinator. “Try heading out to a nearby lake and cast out with a hook, bait and bobber. Kids will be all smiles when they catch fish.”

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is from Friday, June 5, to Sunday, June 7, and this year, the weekend coincides with a pause in fishing license sales as the DNR transitions data to Minnesota’s new electronic license system. During the pause in license sales, anglers may fish without a license from 12 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 8. All other fishing season regulations and bag limits will remain in effect. At 12 a.m. June 9, the new electronic license system will open for anglers and hunters.

Youth 15 and younger do not require fishing licenses at any time of the year, though they must observe all fishing seasons and rules.

MORE COVERAGE FROM MINNESOTA OUTDOOR NEWS:

How many pounds of fish are kept by Minnesota anglers? New research sheds light

Free fishing begins this week with Minnesota’s new licensing system going live next Tuesday

Smallmouth are a signature species in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, but didn’t swim there a century ago

BENEFIT TO SUPPORT TOM KATT ON JUNE 28

Little Canada, Minn. — Friends and family of Tom Katt, the original rowdy cowboy, are holding a benefit for him at the Hoggsbreath Bar and Grill, on Sunday, June 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. Katt, a longtime music promoter and frequent Outdoor News booth staffer at regional sportshows, is battling throat cancer.

All proceeds will benefit Tom and his family to help cover medical expenses during his fight.

The Hoggsbreath is located at 2504 Rice St., Little Canada. Tickets are available for $10 in advance or $15 at the event. For more information on the benefit or to support Katt, visit Katt’s GoFundMe page, or contact Shayne at 651-335-6607 or Corrina at 612-601-5776.

MINNESOTA BHA HOSTS KAWISHIWI STEWARDSHIP CAMPOUT AND BWCA MINE SITE VISIT

Ely, Minn. — The Minnesota Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is hosting a stewardship and campout weekend in the Superior National Forest June 12 to 14. Members will be setting up camp Friday, June 12 at a U.S. Forest Service campground. Starting Saturday morning, they will caravan to the work site and be clearing and maintaining a hunter walker trail near the St. Louis River in need of maintenance thanks to recent fires, funding cuts, and personnel shortages. The trails are non-motorized dedicated for foot-traffic and managed primarily for hunting.

Participants will work Saturday for six hours, then return to camp, where organizers will facilitate a visit to a proposed copper-nickel mine site near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and look and the effects of modern forestry practices on game populations and habitat.

For sign-up details, visit www.backcountryhunters.org/events.

MEATEATER TO OPEN RETAIL STORE IN MINNESOTA

Edina, Minn. — MeatEater announced last week that it is opening a branded retail store, its third in the nation, at the 50th and France shopping area in Edina. The store will open in August 2026, with a grand opening date and associated events to be announced.

MeatEater launched its flagship store in its headquarters of Bozeman, Mont., in 2024 and its second location at The Corners of Brookfield outside Milwaukee, Wis., in 2025. The company said the Edina location will host in-store events, conservation-focused programming, gear demonstrations, and appearances from MeatEater personalities throughout the year.

NEW WISCONSIN ATV/UTV LAW NOW IN EFFECT

Madison, Wis. — The Wisconsin DNR urges ATV and UTV riders to review recent law changes that took effect June 1. Numerous law changes and updates pertaining to ATV and UTV operation are detailed in the 2026 ATV/UTV regulations.

Updates include: Operators and passengers are all required to wear a seatbelt in a UTV. Intentionally causing damage with an ATV or UTV can cost you more than a fine – up to three times the cost to repair the damage. ATV or UTV operators may not tow objects bearing any person on a trail or route. Towing persons on ice is limited to 10 mph. UTVs now have window tint restrictions.

For questions or clarification regarding these new rules, contact your local WDNR conservation warden or WDNR Customer Service at 888-936-7463 (888-WDNRINFO).

“As always ride safe by wearing your helmets and seatbelts, knowing the rules and riding sober,” said Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, WDNR off-highway vehicle administrator.

Learn more about riding safely in Wisconsin and sign up for a safety course on the DNR’s website.

DU AWARDED $9 MILLION IN NAWCA GRANTS FOR GREAT LAKES PROJECTS

Dexter, Mich. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently granted Ducks Unlimited and numerous partners $9 million in North American Wetlands Conservation Act funds to continue three programs in the Great Lakes Region. $3 million was awarded for Phase Two of DU’s Great Lakes Mallards Project. This grant funding will be used to protect, restore and improve 3,689 acres of wetland and upland habitat in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio that are vital to mallards’ breeding success in the region.

The Upper Midwest has suffered dramatic wetland losses, with declines of up to 90% in Ohio, 87% in Indiana, 85% in Illinois, 50% in Michigan, and 46% in Wisconsin. Much of the project area is threatened by urbanization and the conversion of vulnerable habitats such as small wetlands and grasslands.

About 52% of the 3,689 acres in the project are on public lands managed by DNRs in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan and will support various forms of outdoor recreation, including hunting.