Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Upper Red Lake Walleye Regulations Change For Winter Season


kelly-p

Recommended Posts

Bemidji Pioneer

RED LAKE -- Anglers fishing during the winter season on Upper Red Lake will have a four-walleye bag limit, with only one walleye longer than 17 inches allowed, officials said Thursday.

The regulations, which become effective Sunday, Dec. 1, are the same as those of last winter but more restrictive than during 2019 open water fishing.

“Anglers should remember to take a good measuring device along with them on their trip to Upper Red Lake as many walleye will measure just above, and just under, the 17-inch size restriction,” said Andy Thompson, Department of Natural Resources area fisheries supervisor, in a press release.

More restrictive winter regulations are necessary because of the amount of fishing pressure during the winter. Anglers spent 1.9 million hours fishing on Red Lake during the winter of 2018-19, significantly higher than the 178,000 hours they spent open water fishing in 2019. Those anglers harvested 293,000 pounds of walleye during the summer and winter of 2019 -- a record high for annual harvest since walleye fishing resumed on the lake in 2006.

The Red Lake Nation and the DNR manage walleye harvest on Red Lake under a joint harvest plan that was revised in 2015 by the Red Lakes Fisheries Technical Committee.

Next year’s open water harvest regulations will be determined following the conclusion of the winter fishing season. An Upper Red Lake Citizen Advisory Committee reviews walleye harvest totals and regulation options and provides recommendations for regulations for the state waters of Upper Red Lake.

Upper Red Lake fishing regulations are available at mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing.

Written By: Pioneer Staff Report | Nov 7th 2019 - 10am.

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great picture. Brings back a lot of very good memories. ? Patsy was bummed when I told her he was 17. She said too many years have passed by. 

  • Yayyyy 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reports of 3"-6" on Upper Red today.  A few places allowing foot traffic this week and possibly quads on next weekend.  I will hopefully be out next Sunday but I'll walk as exercise is good and wearing a life jacket and picks as one can never be too safe 

  • Wow, ❤ 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kelly, Junior and I will be up in Steve/Tylers 2 man sleeper shack for 2 nights right after Xmas (26-28th).

I'll definitely get ahold of you beforehand and stop by and see ya!

 

I see that Tyler has FB pics of him on the ice with a limit, from last Friday night out in front of their place. Game on very shortly?

Edited by Xplorer
  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buddy of mine hits Red all the time around Thanksgiving weekend for early eyes.  I'm debating on heading up in 2 weeks to walk out and try my luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doubt you will need to walk in two weeks, there will be a steady stream of quads, ATV's etc.  just stick your thumb out...lol

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Yayyyy 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Early ice and a strong off shore wind will almost always cause trouble. Not a real good plan to go out there with those conditions. I hope this does not become a repeat of a few years back when lake rescue was called out 14 times in 9 days.

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Wow, ❤ 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Red was good last weekend.   Limits of fish.  8 to 10 inches of ice out of jrs corner.  With the new regulations it's going to be alot harder keeping fish.  All of the fish, except a couple were over 17.  Still fun catching lots of fish.

20191129_152408.jpg

20191130_094239.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 2
  • l Love It 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seeing the open water in the background of your picture remined me of a picture I saw a while back about the open crack.

trolling.jpg

  • l Love It 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • 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.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.