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Upper Red Lake Fishing Reports by Outdoors with JonnyP


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Amen. Dredging cost them money. It is no differnt than paying the ice road fees. The roads don't plow themselves...

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  • 4 weeks later...

It’s official; you need hip boots to fish Upper Red. This morning with the calm weather the lake was settled at a stable level and I had to get out and pull the Alaskan across the sandbars to get out. Smaller boats with lighter loads can get out but it is nip and tuck. Now a good east wind will make it almost impossible.

Fishing was not very good but the water has already cleared up big time. Looking at the forecast the winds are going to stay down until Thursday so we may have a few good days coming up. Then it is north west winds of 22 mph…again.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I seen it with my own eyes...the water level actually came up a smidge. Backwaters and flowages actually have water in them! Not much water but at least it is not dust; I even got my wheeler stuck yesterday for the first time all year. Luckily the low water will not impact ice fishing very much other then we will be working farther out. If it is a clear ice year that will make a big difference in the night bite with the shallow water...there will be little sleep.

Now we just wait for ice. I pushed the boat to the side and put the Otters in line at the front of the pole barn hitched and ready. The entire fleet of new Marcum digital flashers and cameras for guided clients to use are in route and should arrive tomorrow. Best of all I fired up the snowmobiles yesterday to smell that sweet smell of two stroke smoke that triggers anticipation of big pike and aggressive walleye.

As for the rental houses they are lined up at the water’s edge and ready to go, and of course the plow trucks have been just looking for an excuse to crash into something.

The Petrowske clan is ready for our 107th year on Upper Red Lake! Of course things are a bit easier to prep now verses when we first started his bit. wink

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Well boar all you have to do is drive this direction a little ways...you even have a great pike spot lined up with your headlights as you pull in. wink

Better hurry up although. I hear there is a race or a pillaging or some other big occurrence going on right away. I would just park on the shore and wait for the ice to make sure you don't miss out. grin

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  • 2 weeks later...

I know its too early to tell right now but me and a buddy of mine are trying to come up from the cities for early ice. With the work schedule kind of need to know a rough time we can shoot up there, and with the drop in temps hopeing it will be in the next month. Any idea of when ice will be good to be out there? I know alot of stuff comes into play (snow, wind, temps, etc) but maybe the first couple weeks in Dec maybe? Any input would be great. Thanks

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It's always a huge guess, but by the 10th of December we are normaly on foot and sometimes ATVs/sleds by then. Now I have seen years where it was Christmass before we got out on foot and I have seen years where deer hunters where lined up on the ice in orange ice fishing second week of November.

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So does this make me the first guy on the ice? grin I can tell you it was the last place I wanted to be but still good to see ice forming.

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I believe you would qualify for 1st ice. Probably no need for the auger yet 'eh. Won't be long. Trying to set up January date with a couple of guys, will shoot Patsy an Email when I can get them locked in....

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Who needs and ice auger when you have an ice boat to make the hole for you smile

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I don't think "through" ice counts! wink What were you doing out there other then burning up a motor and denting up a prop? confused

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River froze faster then I thought it would with no current and the trapline had to be pulled.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
River froze faster then I thought it would with no current and the trapline had to be pulled.
Ah, sometimes you have to pay the pipper! frown
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Every year I push it as long as I can and every year I am chopping traps out of the ice.

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Doc just booked a trip for one of his sons and friends with Patsy toward the end of January. We will be up there also. Maybe we can hook up this time.

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You sound like the mountain men of old, chopping traps out of the ice. Next thing will be spreading castoreum on willow sticks and hanging them over the traps for bait and weaving willow hide stretchers. If that beard gets longer we can start calling you Jeremiah. Watch your top-knot Jonny! eek

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chopping traps out of the ice. Next thing will be spreading castoreum on willow sticks and hanging them over the traps for bait and weaving willow hide stretchers.

Um...ya did all that today actaully. blush

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Well maybe not Grizz, but Black Bear! He could be Jeremiah! wink

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It's all part of making a living and surviving in a very rural area as a guide/ professional outdoorsman. You have to utilize what the area will let you and never stop moving or rust will settle in. Many claim to be ultimate north woods guides or outfitters while they spend a couple months in the area. It takes more than a fancy web page and a seasonal beard to survive here year round as an outfitter/guide; many have tried and just as many have failed. They come and go like geese.

For example today I returned form a promotions event, once the sun comes up I will run the 42 miles of local trap line replacing the traps that had to be removed due to being gone for two days. Then I need to finish putting up the deer meat for winter, once that is done furs need to be prepped for sale. Then I need to turn all the venison scraps and trimmings into trapping bait and of course ice fishing equipment needs to be prepped. Today I also need to fix the brakes in one truck and weld the ATV trailer before resetting the long line sets tomorrow and it looks like one of the big six man houses better have a new roof put on before it heads out to the wind swept lake. As I have always said "It's a great life but a horrible living." although I wouldn't have it any other way.

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Talked to Buddy Hillman today. Said the ice was looking good, not great but good before the heat wave. Now it is under a skim of water but if it holds through this warm spell it is going to be smooth as glass and feeze down at a quick pace.

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So if the forecast stays true, are you thinking maybe a week from saturday would be a safe bet for getting out on URL?

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Well after this years weather pattern who really knows but with a good steady cold snap for a few days we will be walking. I am still going to keep my feet on shore until December unless I am sure it has locked down.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

It's all part of making a living and surviving in a very rural area as a guide/ professional outdoorsman. You have to utilize what the area will let you and never stop moving or rust will settle in. Many claim to be ultimate north woods guides or outfitters while they spend a couple months in the area. It takes more than a fancy web page and a seasonal beard to survive here year round as an outfitter/guide; many have tried and just as many have failed. They come and go like geese.

For example today I returned form a promotions event, once the sun comes up I will run the 42 miles of local trap line replacing the traps that had to be removed due to being gone for two days. Then I need to finish putting up the deer meat for winter, once that is done furs need to be prepped for sale. Then I need to turn all the venison scraps and trimmings into trapping bait and of course ice fishing equipment needs to be prepped. Today I also need to fix the brakes in one truck and weld the ATV trailer before resetting the long line sets tomorrow and it looks like one of the big six man houses better have a new roof put on before it heads out to the wind swept lake. As I have always said "It's a great life but a horrible living." although I wouldn't have it any other way.

Man it sounds like you need to hire some help and create some jobs up there! Maybe start an OutDoorsman "Internship" program and get some young guys to help for free! grin
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Looks like we might have a do-over with the ice. Hopefully it holds but I'm not sure it wil make this. My guess is the ice sheet is goig to be piled up on the south and south eastern shore; hope I am wrong.

Thanksgiving Day A chance of rain and snow before noon, then snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 28 by 5pm. North northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. West northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 21. West northwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Rick G
      St Cloud has a good access at Wilson park,  Sartell has a nice access off NE River Rd,  another access above Blanchard dam on East side off Hilton Rd  and at Lindbergh state park...Little Falls  has a access right above the dam.   Water is pretty high and dirty.  Crayfish colors have been good again this week.  Smallies have been using anything available that breaks the current so finding them most days has been pretty easy
    • Brianf.
      Interesting...   You're doing better than most.  The biggest bass weighed-in during the recent MN Bass Federation tourney was only 4.33lbs.   The winning bag was less then 20lbs.  To have several over 5lbs during your trip is pretty special.   Congrats!  
    • Jetsky
      Question.  I have guests coming who may want to fish for muskies.  I've cast for them in August along shorelines and at rock piles.   Do I fish for them that way in June?   Should I troll shorelines or drop offs for them?  Thanks.
    • partyonpine
      Yeah was up for a week.   As other alluded to the weather was brutal.  Did catch some larger walleyes on slip bobbers on windy points in under 5 feet of water.  As for minnows they were at Lucky seven in Virginia and Grubens has some nice minnows as well.  Smallmouth fishing was terrific given the circumstances.  
    • partyonpine
      Brian   That is funny and shows how things are anecdotal.  Just got back from a week we caught as many fish as we wanted, however our average size was 16.5-17 inches.  While no 6 pounders we did score several 5 pounders.  We did not catch any or very few fish under 14  inches all week.  I was just commenting that the average size has increased substantially.  We were throwing larger artificial and live bait but again did not really catch any small smallmouth.  Fished smallies for 5-6 hours each day and walleyes at night.  Overall was slow but the weather was horrendous.  Did go home with enough walleye to satisfy me.  
    • Brianf.
      I haven't been up to fish smallmouth  in a couple weeks.  My partner and I caught about 300 over the  course of those two days.  That sounds great - and it is if you like numbers. However, few of those fish were over 3 pounds and even fewer were over 4 pounds.  Most of our catch comprised fish between one and a half to 2 1/2 pounds.   I've been fishing the lake for 20+ years and feel that the size structure of the smallmouth in the lake has changed quite a bit during that time.  When I first started targeting smallmouth 20 years ago, half our bag seemed to be comprised of four pounders - and five pounders were in the mix with an occasional six pounder here and there. I haven't caught a 5 pound smallmouth bass in five years on Lake Vermilion!   They are a daily occurrence on places like Mille Lacs and in Door Co.   What has changed on Lake Vermilion?     I have some theories about why the size structure has changed, though curious what others are seeing.  Anyone have thoughts about the state of the smallmouth fishery on Lake V? 
    • SkunkedAgain
      Don't forget about the times that they unwittingly fly into your fishing line.   Normally I would say that ebbs and flows in food source would be a good sign. However, even with this bountiful mosquito population available there just really aren't enough bats around for the natural cycle to capitalize on it to any noticeable degree. The DNR says that roughly 90% of the bat population in the Soudan mine has died off. If that 90% is representative of the entire area, even a mosquito all-you-can-eat-buffet will not bring the bats back for many years.   Hopefully the little guys can make a comeback.
    • Dash 1
      Made it back to the chain today. Sunfish are spawning but finding them in the thick weeds is nearly impossible. My main reason to get out was to test my minnkota after rewiring it. It definitely made the difference. Never shut down once and I ran it for several hours.  Now I just need to relearn how to catch fish.😂
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   A good week of walleye fishing with some big fish caught along with good eaters.  All of that despite some fronts that came through and lots of wind.  Being in a charter boat a few days this week was an advantage for sure.     Wherever you fish, there are days the wind will blow.  Here are some good options for anglers when the wind blows on LOW.   -Fish on a big charter boat -Fish the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River -Bays such as Four Mile, Bostic and Zippel Bay -Slide behind one of the thousands of islands that being up at the NW Angle -Trailer your boat to a leeward boat ramp and fish that shoreline A jig and frozen emerald shiner was the go to presentation for walleyes.  Most boats are anchored up and vertically jigging.  Some are starting to use spinners and minnows or crawlers with success.  This pattern will pick up steam as the walleyes are starting to transition with warming waters. Walleyes have been caught this week in various depths.  As a rule, 21 - 32 feet of water was still the range.  Again, various areas across the lake are holding fish.   Various rock reefs have been good.  Fish are transitioning to mud as the season progresses. On the Rainy River...  The river is flowing strong right now as water is being released from the dam which controls its flow.  With the heavier current, fish are being found in areas with a current break.  Even a slight break that still has current is a fish attractor when the water is moving.   Jigging with a minnow, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits along shoreline breaks against the current in 6 - 12' of water is producing a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass and an occasional crappie.   Casting to shoreline structure and even docks is also an effective method.   For those who like fishing for dinosaurs, the sturgeon season opens July 1st. Up at the NW Angle...  A great week of fishing amongst the island area of Lake of the Woods.  Guides fishing the Canada side of LOW reported big numbers of walleyes along with a mixed bag.   Minnesota waters also produced good fish.  Many of the walleyes are being found in deeper than normal water for this time of year, in that 22 - 28 feet.  As hatches begin and shiners begin to spawn, there will be some shallow water opportunities as well. The goto presentation continues to be a jig and minnow.  Pulling spinners with shiners or crawlers and trolling crankbaits also putting walleyes in the fry pan.     As is common in these parts, a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, pike, jumbo perch, crappies, pike and smallmouth bass being caught.   Muskie anglers, the season opens on both sides of the lake Saturday, June 15th.  A glorious day for those who target the almighty predators!  
    • leech~~
      Over the years the only sure time I have been able to see bats or know their around.  Is sitting by a fire or down by a dock at sun down when there's just a bit of light left when looking up, and seeing them diving in and out.  
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