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Slab Crappies, Bull Gills, Jumbo Perch, Nice Eyes


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I spent a day out of the Drake Motel in Blackduck, which is only 30 minutes from Upper Red Lake (Slab Crappie and Monster Pike lake).

First I have to give a big thanks to Mike and Diane, owners of the Drake Motel-Very nice accommodations and a nice trip for slab crappies on a local lake.

Not only do they provide lodging, but if you ask ever so nicely, Mike may even take you to one of the hotspots for Slab Crappies, Bull Gills, Jumbo Perch, or Nice Walleyes on a lake in the Blackduck area. Last year, Mike led many expeditions to tangle with 11"-13" Jumbo perch in the mornings and then up to URL for and afternoon-evening slab crappie hunt on URL.

Mike is getting to know a number of very good lakes in the area, so success is likely to be even better for those who lodge with them. If you're looking for a place to stay,

I highly recommend the Drake...
Can you say VALUE ADDED!!

Click here for more info on the Drake Motel.

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Thanks for the nice post Rick! Mike was able to put some folks onto some good panfish and some small northerns this weekend...even though it snowed lightly for an hour they loved it!

But he (me too, but he's the guide)loves heading out to the lakes with folks, and especially in the winter we go to one or two lakes nearly every day with folks here~~great fun for us. (As he says, it's part of his job to get to know the lakes and go fishing with folks..tough job smile.gif) Now we have to get you back up here to get you into some of those 12"-13" perch like in the pictures in the office!

Thanks again!

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Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Drake (edited 10-15-2002).]

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Rick,
I agree with you 100%,very nice accomodations and very friendly people. I was up there the last weekend in September with 5 other guys and had a great time. Even caught some nice fish. If anyone is looking for accomodations up there, the Drake motel is the place!!!!!!
Ode

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Thanks Ode! Hope you, Bob & the gang can make it up this way again! We have met so many really Great folks and have had so much fun talking, swapping fish (and hunting) stories (some are whoppers grin.gif), and fishing with folks...life is good!

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

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  • 2 weeks later...

we have also stayed at Drakes and really enjoyed it, great rooms, fish cleaning house, and down to earth prices ,we sure would recommend it, now all we have to do is find time to go fishing with those two.

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Hey Russ and Judy~We're going to have to get together and start out the day on Blackduck for the walleye and huge perch, then to URL for some crappies in the afternoon and then have a huge fish fry (a couple of snap fizzes too? grin.gif)

Can't believe it's almost time for ice~was over by Gull today and the edges looked a bit icy!

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

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  • 4 weeks later...

hope to see you this weekend, and to let others know they better get booked into your place soon, theres 5" of ice on red 1 mile out. Im sure the ice is getting good in your secret spots also around Black duck.

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smile.gif I am sitting here on lower Red lake looking out my classroom window and I am looking at open water. I would be a little leary about the ice on this big lake. If the wind comes up you could be swimming.

Woodman

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R & J~Hope you have time to pop in, always love visitin with you folks! We are getting some calls from folks planning their ice fishing trips ahead of time and that's always a good thing smile.gif

Was at Upper Red Tuesday and Jerry at Rogers said that he had measured the ice by his place and it was at 3", haven't had a chance to talk to Hudecs on the north shore yet. DNR says 4" of Solid ice before folks should go out walking on the lake, so not quite yet! Drove by Blackduck today and it looks to be totally frozen over, but haven't had the chance to get out there and check out the actual ice thickness there yet, hope to get some time this weekend to do that and will let everyone know!

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

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I was on the east side of Blackduck yesterday. I walked out about 20 feet. There was 2.5 to 3 inches out there. Did not venture out any farther.

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Thanks for the update Ben Trod, and welcome to the Forum smile.gif We were busy with the hunters over the weekend so weren't able to get out to the lake to check it out. Heard that a couple folks ventured out on Blackduck but that was all. On Upper Red the reports were 3" to nearly 5", but there were some thin spots of only 2". So not "quite" time yet, but with these temps (tonight down to zero, tomorrow's high as 16) hopefully it won't be too much longer. Thanks again for your update!

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

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Drake
when I noticed you had not posted ice conditions, I figured you did not venture out. I would have gone farther on the ice, but I went through the ice, up to my neck and over a mile from home, when I was 11 and have been ever so leary since then. I typically do not go out until the first of the year. However, many friend of mine will probably get me out there before then this year. smile.gif

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Just made reservation today for Dec 20,21,22
I'v never fished red lake before.Me and the 5 others are sooooo looking forward for this trip.Thanks rick for posting this on here chances are I would of looked some were else put after reading all the nice things wrote I new this was the place for me!! I must of talked to mike this morning when making the reservation what a real nice person he offer to show us the hot spot told me what jigs to consiter(ANGEL EYE) was one, that kinda stuff is greatly appreciated.

se ya in 23 more days

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Hey night eye, the other half of team Drake here, thanks for the nice post! Many hours have been spent on the lakes (open water & on the ice) with our guests and had a blast every time. As most folks who stay here know, it doesn't take much to get him out on the ice..usually when checking in they just ask "what time are we leaving for the lake"...what a tough job he has eh? grin.gif

For ice fishing it's usually Blackduck in the morning and Upper Red in the afternoon/evening, then it's a gathering of folks in the fish cleaning room to clean fish, take pictures and swapping stories! Look forward to seeing you next month!

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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