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Upper Red Lake Fishing Reports by Portavilla


Portavilla

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Just like last time the action was spotty. We did pretty good on them the 6 man a lil ways away didnt do as good but still caught fish. #36 Taj mahal pounded em tho. Thanks once again guys wonderful trip.

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With the fishing slowing down it was like someone hit a switch it's been some work to try to find a good bite. Bill switched it up and has a couple of houses doing a lot better. We now have to try to get all the houses back to producing here in the next couple of days.

The guys that he put on spots today have been getting a mixed bag of Perch and Walleyes.

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Be on the lookout for a big yellow banana horning on your space Saturday. It is being towed by a pumpkin mobile with mama dog, papa dog and baby huey.

grin

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Chris, Can't wait to get up there tommorow to try out one of your 4 man wheelhouses! We'll definately be fishing, not partyin so hopefully we can run into some fish. Brought the portables with as well to do some exploring during the day to try to find the currently elusive walleye. Looking to have a blast! -Nick

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Chris we will be up Monday has anyone been having 20-30 walleye days recently? We are bringing portables. How deep is the snow?

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The last week and a half has been tough, we have covered a lot of water with not seeing much change in the bite. We have had a few guys do well and quite few guys taking to the beer to self medicate. Last weekend I had some guys try an area and we have been doing better there. We packed up the camps and headed back and seem to be doing better 2-3 miles out out of Rogers and have been making the shifts for the weekend.

The perms have been getting a few fish and the guys with portables have been doing well. It has been drop down and catch a few active fish, move and repeat the process. They have been real touchy, they pull the bobber down 3" and let go once they feell the resistance. I have been pushing the bobber down with the eye of the rod and giving it a second and setting the hook and picking up more by doing so. Jigging with spoons sends them in the opposite direction.

If fish are like women they have been real touchy or just not in the mood. Right now you have to do some bar hoping if you want to get lucky and changing up up the jewelry and colors more than normal.

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Hey all,

I just got back from my reunion to Red Lake after about a three year absence. I thought I would do a little picture chronicle of the trip (although just the one's I took from my cellphone).

Overall, we had a great trip! My dad, brother and I booked a PortAvilla 4 man wheelhouse sleeper for Saturday and Sunday night. Chris met us out on the ice Saturday morning, showed us our shack, and got us settled in. He mentioned that the bite was pretty rough, but were on a decent perch bite. I had a 10 inch perch in the 1st 3 minutes of the lines down. It was a little slower after that, and Chris stopped in a couple hours later with a spot we could try with the portables. We headed off to some broken ice, and the tip proved to be valid!

Between landed walleyes, and walleyes up to the hole, we hooked into about 50 walleyes. The reason I put it that way is due a healthy amount of fish battled and lost near the hole, but still plenty of them were landed. We had a big fish fry in the house, went home with our limit on Monday, and had 10 eyes over the slot go back. Only 3 small eyes (<14in). Day 1 was tough, and we spent most of the day humblily learning what didn't work. We worked our tails off, spread out the portables, covered about 500 yards of territory, and went through a tank of auger gas, but our hard work payed off. Day 2 really payed off from the hard work, as we literally had eyes on every 15-30 minutes. We found some active fish, and plenty of lethargic fish as well. Total, we ended up with a very nice bag of fish and the satisfaction that we were able to overcome a tough bite.

It was a beautiful drive up with all the frost covered trees

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They're starting to pile up on Day 1 (yes, they are all under 17in):

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I had this happen at least 5 times, they were biting short, but wouldn't bite anything else we threw at em, so just had to deal with it.

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Great Sunset on Red!

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Fish Fry in PortAvilla's great sleeper house:

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Day II midday bounty, great URL eaters!:

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Even got into some crappies!

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OK, I'm JUST KIDDING about the Crappies, they we're from a little lake X from earlier in the year, haha. ( I do want to make it up there late season for some URL slabs though!) Overall, I couldn't be happier with our trip to URL. The size structure on the lake is excellent, and I don't know of many other lakes anywhere where a guy can catch that many quality fish. A huge thanks to Chris at Portavilla for great houses, and great hospitality. We will definately be back! -Nick

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GLad to see you had success! Sorry I never texted you back. We were pretty busy with everything that went on.

Our success was similar, but from totally different means. Far and away, deadsticks outproduced jigging for walleyes. My first eye was Friday night shortly after we got to Battle River's house. Caught it on a rattle reel at about 10 p.m. on a plain hook and shiner. Right around the 16.5-inch mark.

Next morning, I caught another 16 on a gold Rattling Flyer spoon tipped with a minnow head. This was in a spot about 100 yards from the house along a pressure ridge. Bit died pretty quick, so after breakfast I went out solo to find the fish.

Found the mother lode right on top of the pressure ridge waaaay out from any house. Caught two 14-inch walters right off the bat on the dead stick, then played with jumbo perch until about an hour before sunset. Must have caught close to 50 perch. Only kept 15.

Couldn't contain the spot to myself, so I invited a couple of the guys out there. Two of them caught four walleyes and a couple perch.

Next morning I had six total people on the spot. Fishing was much slower. Had lots of sniffers, but not many takers. Caught two more eyes and one perch before we called her quits and headed for home.

Some of the guys who stuck to the big shacks also had luck, but seemed like the action was slower.

Anyway, the guys at Battle River Rentals were top notch. Came out and checked on us frequently to make sure all was right. Jerry really didn't like my worn-out baseball cap, and offered a trade for a brand-new red Battle River cap. I was a wee-bit on the happy side after a few cocktails, and couldn't come to terms with forfeiting one of my favorite caps. Wish I would have now after such a great experience!

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The bite has improved the last couple of days and has been better than the last couple of weeks. Everybody had fish in the bucket in the perms and Mike and I headed to some broken ice in a portable and had our limits in short order. Mike has Down Syndrome and has never caught on to jigging so I put a buckshot on a bigger rainbow to rattle for him and a dead stick with a green perch eye with a fat head and he put us both to watching movies and frying fish.

The Center Bar has been putting fish in the bucket also. We are starting to see more houses on the bar and an improvement to the bite.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Chris, Elk River guy here. Where are all of your regular great posts? Must mean the fishing is so good that you don't have time for it?

Was hoping to close the inland season out up there this weekend. Have 4 days to burn and fish to catch. How has the bite been? Can I setup with you guys Thursday afternoon? Talk soon.

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I hope it dosen't, Makin a trip up this weekend.. The pressure seems to be fairly consistant throughout the weekend. I believe that usually has a better effect on the fish!

Hope this drop in temps doesnt hurt the bite!!
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  • 8 months later...

We are looking forward to the hard water fishing this season and looks like we will need to get some more Otters so it looks like we are not the only ones looking forward to the season. The anticipation of this new slot is a complete distraction to the day job, like I tell everyone about outfitting the hours are long, the work is hard, the pay is so so, but the benefits are priceless. This year we are just going to keep it “simply fishing”

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We just added new 8x20 4 man sleepers into the line up. Theses units have bathrooms, sofas, stoves, ovens and much more. We have been looking for a great unit that would fit into our line up and these units have impressed us. For more information check out our website.

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  • 2 weeks later...

With the new units stacking up its time to head Upper Red. Bill just rolled into Rogers with one an hour ago and reinforcements are on the way.

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They are located on the Houses tab, then scroll down to the 4 Man Salem Ice Cabins to review this unit type. They are $240.00 Friday and Saturday, $130.00 Sunday- Thursday. These prices are for the house we do not charge by the person. If you bring extra kids or others and feel that you can make that work we do not charge extra as the same goes if you come with less people the price is the same.

If you go to our Reservation tab and see none available and you have followed the date entry instructions on the top of the page if the calander does not pop up, then the units are be booked for the days selected.

The reservation system is open to everyone and guys are able to book multiple days or just a single day, you can book your trip on Upper Red for a day and Mille Lacs for a couple or however you want to do it. We have been seeing guys comming up an doing an overnight at Mille lacs then heading to Upper Red and some even take off from there to Lake of the Woods.

This year we do offer guide services and these trips have to be booked by phone so we can make adjustments depending on group size. We have made these arrangements with some of the best guides in the business that are committed to teaching all the tips and techniques so you can be successful.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

It was nice meeting you at the Hardwater Ice Expo Chris. Sounds like the fishing might be early ice and great for walleyes this season.

I talked Jerry & Joni of Roger's and sounds like they are pumped for a nice season as well.

Please keep us updated on the ice conditions as we go here.

Thanks sir.

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With more Otter on board and a new Salem Ice Cabin in tow we headed to Upper Red today. It appears we have 2-5 inches out of Rogers and we will do some exploring tomorrow. There is no doubt in my mind that we will see a lot of foot traffic by the weekend, with the current temps maybe even a little wheeling going on never the less we are good to go by 12/7.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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