Ice fishing is going full-throttle throughout much of Minnesota, jump-started by early, unseasonably cold temperatures.

That's good news for the folks behind the St. Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show, which runs Friday through Sunday at St. Paul RiverCentre.

"It's the biggest ice fishing show in the nation,'' said Vilma Fraguada, president of the consumer show division of GS Media & Events of Lincolnshire, Ill., which runs the show. Interest in ice fishing continues to grow, she said. About 11,000 attended the St. Paul show in 2005.

"Last year, we had 21,000 people, and we're expecting 25,000 this year,'' Fraguada said. "For us, it's the Black Friday of ice fishing.''

About 175 vendors will display and sell their wares. One reason for the growth, she said, is that more families are ice fishing. This year's show will focus on that next generation of anglers, offering seminars for kids and an area exclusively for them, as well as a trout pond covered in plexiglass with holes to simulate an ice-fishing experience.

"The show is all about the fun of the sport,'' Fraguada said.

Among those giving seminars: "Tackle" Terry Tuma, Dave Genz, Jason Mitchell, Nate Zelinsky, Matt Breuer and Chris Granrud.

Hours are 1-9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $9 for ages 13 and up; $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and under. For information: www.StPaulIceFishingShow.com

Duck stamp hike likely

Conservation groups and duck hunters have tried for years to boost the price of the federal duck stamp, which hasn't been raised since 1991.

They finally have succeeded. Legislation to increase the cost of the stamp, now $15, to $25, passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday and the House last month, and is expected to be signed by President Obama.

The increase will raise an additional $12 million yearly for habitat restoration. But there is a caveat: The new dollars cannot be used to buy land for habitat and public hunting; it can only be used to purchase conservation easements on private land.

"It's a bad precedent,'' said Brad Nylin of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, which opposed the bill for that reason.

Ducks Unlimited supported it. "I didn't think politically we had a chance of getting it passed without that provision,'' said Kellis Moss, DU director of public policy.

Doug Smith • 612-673-7667