West Red River Lake ????

[wally-eye]

Anyone ever ice fished this lake? I'm heading to my brother in-laws this weekend and he lives on the lake but is not a fisherman. I'm planning to bring the portable and snowmobile but don't know much about the lake. I was on it once in the summer and saw some nice panfish caught, but I didn't have my fishing gear with. Any help would be appreciated. They live on the east end of the lake. Thanks

[Gissert]

I am assuming you are talking about the impoundment behind the Friberd dam?

I dont know what would be in there, but be careful as it is an impoundment with the resulting current areas, plus rising and falling water levels.

Good luck!

[wally-eye]

I know there is a dam at the far western end of the lake. The brother in-law lives on the east end. He said there has been houses out on the lake. That's about all I know.

[Gissert]

Let us know how you do, this is not a lake that gets talked about much.

[poutpro]

How far east of the dam does he live? East or West of the bridge on hwy 3? One thing that you do want to be careful of is all of the slush. The river is bad every year, and with all the snow I would imagine that it is really bad there now.

[bigbluepirahna]

Red River Lake is interesting because since it's essentially just the Otter Tail River, you have a chance to catch almost anything from panfish to smallmouth, sturgeon and gar. I think your best bet on the lake is sunfish and northerns. There is usually a group of houses just out from the narrows on the western end. I believe the lake has special regulations on sunfish so check that before you go.

Good Luck!

[wally-eye]

He lives on the far eastern end just before it narrows back up into the river channel. I'll check the dnr website on the regulations.

[wally-eye]

The only thing I found on the dnr website is catch & release all smallmouth on the Otter Tail River. I didn't see anything for Red River lake.

[poutpro]

I have never been up to the East side from the access, but think it would be good. I get too nervous going under the bridge and up towards the narrows. It should be really good fishing for pike and sunfish there though. If you can get right up to where it looks actually like the river channel, you should be able to find ~ 10' weedline that is usually decent fishing in summer.

[wally-eye]

That's what I was thinking of trying poutpro. I'll let you know if it turns out any positive.

[tacklebox7FF]

if your heading out.. there is a point on the northwest side of the west lake.. stay away from that.. the ice is thin there and just out from the narrows before you head around the corner to the dam.. ice is not very safe there.. good luck

[wally-eye]

I fished for a couple hours on Sunday afternoon but with not much luck. I stayed on the east end of the lake. Saw a couple northerns & walleyes on the camera but wasn't really setup for catching them. I was hoping for some panfish, but all I saw was a few really small perch. Now I know for next time and we'll see what happens.