Ice conditions

[buck_slayer]

Anybody have any idea of how thick the ice is on any of the smaller lakes in the area? Rabideau? Blackduck?

[sparkydm]

i don't know but i was wondering about moose and pimushe. a good place to find out is drake motel's website. they have a message board but they haven't posted a message in 2 weeks.(i just checked)

[Drake]

Well, doing the last trip to get the house in Forest Lake remodeled and it is ready to put on the market so hopefully we can get back to normal around here again (and getting the message center on our site updated every couple of days:))

The other half is on his way home and before I head down for my final trip we will go check out the area lakes. I just made a couple of calls to some friends regarding ice conditions since I haven't had the truck to to check it out the last week. We've had some strong winds and snow but Blackduck Lake held up well, the ice didn't break up and the winds blew the the majority of snow off the lake. Karl figured the ice was around 5" thick.

Talked to Patsy with Jon & Kelly in the background:) and they said that there was about 3-4" of ice on Upper Red but it was sinking under the weight of the snow so best to hold off a couple of days and then call and check with Hillmans.

[sparkydm]

thank you drake! hope your house sells!

[Drake]

Thanks! Us Too! Wanna buy a house

Just talked to Todd (Morts Dock) on the southshore of Upper Red Lake, and he said his area of the lake was pretty lucky with the winds and snow. He said that with the wind direction a good share of the ice was blown clean. He's been out to the 7' depths (walleyes) and found about 6.5" of ice and will try to take the wheeler out to 1.5-2 miles tomorrow (soft bottom 14' depths-crappie and walleye) to check it out as well. Should be getting the waypoint markers out fairly soon too.

[Dale08]

Hey there Drake, just wondering how the fishing is coming up there on red Lake? Also is it true that they are going to drop the walleye limit to 2 again for the ice fishing season?

[Drake]

Haven't talked to anyone that has ventured out on the ice to go fishing at Upper Red, the guests we had over the weekend were doing a little hunting and some were up fishing but they were mostly hitting the smaller lakes in the area and finding 4-7" of ice. Obviously had some snow up here over the weekend, but a quick check showed anglers set up on Blackduck Lake fishing the bars close to the shorelines around the lake. Have not talked to anyone at Upper Red, and since it is so early in the season I would give each access owner a call directly to see what the conditions are like out of their access, they are out there every day and will let you know what their current restrictions are for their particular access.

Yes, the walleye limit went back to two walleye on December 1st. Here is a copy of the July news release DNR announces change to a four fish bag limit for Upper Red Lake (2007-07-10)

Anglers who fish the State waters of Upper Red Lake will be able to keep four walleye starting 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 14.

The higher bag limit is an increase of two fish from the regulation that began in May of 2006 when the lake was reopened to walleye fishing. The regulation will afford anglers more opportunity to keep fish while still limiting the take to within the safe harvest level.

"The citizen advisory group up here had recommended we relax regulations for the remainder of this open water season if possible," said Gary Barnard, Bemidji area fisheries supervisor. "That possibility is now a reality because anglers caught fewer fish than anticipated during May and June, primarily due to less-than-expected fishing pressure because of windy weather."

The current protected size limit will remain in effect requiring all walleye from 17-26 inches to be immediately released. Only one walleye larger than 26 inches may be kept. The four fish bag limit will be in effect through Nov. 30, 2007, with regulations reverting back to a two fish bag on Dec. 1 for the 2007-2008 winter season.

Red Lake was closed to walleye fishing from May 1999 through February 2006 after the population collapsed from over-harvest. The regulation that went into affect last spring has been successful in managing angler harvest under the target level of 3.5 pounds per acre, or 168,000 pounds. A local citizen advisory group recommended that, if possible, the DNR should try to allocate the harvest equally between winter and open-water angling seasons, or 84,000 pounds per season.

Barnard said the winter harvest estimate was 70,000 pounds for 2006-07 season, very near the seasonal target level. However, fishing pressure and harvest rates this spring have been lower than anticipated, resulting in a total harvest of 24,000 pounds through the May-June period. The DNR, through its rule-making process, is able change to a four fish bag limit if total winter harvest plus May and June harvest are less than 134,000 pounds.

"We had the ability to make the change and we were glad to do it," said Barnard. He said winter angling pressure on Upper Red has been much more predictable than the open water angling. This reflects how ice fishing, which now features overnight rental houses, large portable wheeled houses, and a thriving winter ice road business, allows anglers to access to the lake and to fish in comfort through all kinds of weather conditions. The same isn't true for open water fishing.

Harvest projections under a four fish bag limit for the winter season indicate a high probability of exceeding target harvest levels. Therefore, reverting to a two fish bag limit on Dec. 1 will be necessary to manage winter harvest and minimize the risk of an early season closure. Barnard said the DNR will continue to monitor harvest and work with local citizens and businesses to maximize angling opportunities on State waters of Upper Red Lake."

[woodman]

Hopefully with this -20 it will help the lakes freeze up good and solid. Man is it cold out there, went out to get the paper at 5:30 am and forgot to put on my sweats.

We are going to be adding another fisher person to the Hanson family on Tuesday, that is way I have not been out on the lake. Been busy getting the house ready for the new arrival. Have to build a bigger fish house now or by some tip ups for two additional lines in the winter!

Good luck out there and BE SAFE!

[Craig_S]

I just did an ice check on Island. First hole - 150 feet out - 7". Second hole 250' out - 9". Third hole 450 feet out - 4".

I returned to shore.

And to think I saw trucks out on Ball Club yesterday.......

Craig

[Drake]

Scott~Congrats on the impending new fishing partner! Let us know!

Had anglers out on some of the smaller lakes Friday and Saturday and they were measuring 6-9", checking the lake with every step! Wet from the snow out there. Some decent size sunnies and gills came through over the weekend. Some houses are out on the Duck, which is being reported around 8-9", little thicker in spots where the snow had blown clear, with some jumbo perch being caught and the walleye bite being better in the am hours.

[woodman]

Thanks, I will post on Tuesday night with details. A few guys from work were on the duck on Sat and caught some small eyes and some northerns. One 8 lbs eye was caught also. No perch were even spotted due to the northern and big eye. They measured 8-9 inches with lots of snow and some slush. I will be busy for awhile so will post updates as I get them from friends. Maybe when we get all settled in with the new baby and mommy is better I can sneak out!