Upper Red Lake Walleye Regulations Change For Winter Season

[kelly-p 420]

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.

[Xplorer 90]

Thanks Kelly!

Looking to get up over Xmas break with Junior this year again (whose now 17, can ya believe it), and if this weather keeps up, might be able to sneak up for a day right after Thanksgiving!!!   Stayed with Steve and Tyler last year over Xmas and did well.  Wish I had another couple guys to go with so I could give Jon's houses a try.

 

Hope this finds you and yours well, been too long since I seen ya.  Sure miss the "old" days on URL sometimes  

Chris

Edited November 8 by Xplorer

[kelly-p 420]

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. 

[Kettle 167]

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 

[Xplorer 90]

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 November 11 by Xplorer

[Harv 21]

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.

[Sculpin 167]

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

[Xplorer 90]

It looks like it could be another "2014" Thanksgiving weekend if this weather keeps up.    That was just incredible to see hundreds of full size pickups and icehouses driving on the lake (south side at least) the day after Thanksgiving!!

 

Junior and I took the ATV and otter house out for 4 hours that friday afternoon and 4 more hours on saturday morning, and caught 73 eyes.  We were only out in 8' of water but were able to keep away from most of the crowd, and just hammered the fish. Bobbers, spoons didnt matter.  Hope to have a repeat performance later this month

[Kettle 167]

Well my Sunday plans are gone, lake re opened and 11 had to be rescued. Guess I'll be fishing small water for panfish 

[kelly-p 420]

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.

[Parmer 33]

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.

[kelly-p 420]

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