Red lake opener

[cookie]

Well the weather was not ideal but the fishing was still second to none. Waskish was not over run with fishermen but rather had a steady flow of traffic all day.With the cooler water temps the crappie fishing was poor.After catching 2 walleyes under the slot they were the fish to target?I expect with some nicer weather we could see a big crowd in the next few weeks. My prediction is Memorial weekend may be a mad house.Every one here at my place caught there limits and had fish for supper and now are trying to catch a few to take home.

[Spinach]

Thanks for the report Cookie, please keep us up to date in the future if you would'nt mind.

[Mr Harry]

We didn't see Cookie out on the lake but there were many boats on the lake.  We caught our walleyes in 7 to 11 feet of water.  Three guys caught our limit in less than an hour.  The biggest was 8 lbs, which went back in the lake.  We caught many in the slot size, but no crappies.  The little time we were out there we just about froze our hands with the wind.

[jigglestick]

being surprised to find any openings at the state campground last sunday, i quickly put my name on one for the week.
I came into town with the kids and my partner Joe early friday afternoon, greeted by rain and wind.
We brought the kids to West Wind, to have a basket of fries and let them play some video games.
 the rest of the afternoon was spent visiting with SnowShoe in the motor home.
there was alot of speculation as to what to expect as far as people and boats and I really hoped the weather would have been nice enough to invite people instead of the other way around, but as usual, the 2006 fishing opener was much like the ones in previous years.
i expected that the river would be chaos with the wind on the lake, but the traffic just was not there.

as you can see this is the way the public boat landing looked much of the day. the boat ramp volunteer helpers standing keeping their hands warm in their pockets.
even out in front of the mouth, i expected difficult navigation. such was not the case.
the walleyes were very cooperative.
Both the lake and the tamarac river produced walleyes willingly.
the slot limit had us fishing throwing back many that were too big to keep.
alot of fish in that 19-21 inch range. a few in that 23-24 inch range.
i would say that the walleye fishing is as good as it gets right now.

everybody caught their share.

the kids caught the first half dozen right off shore out of the back of the boat!

There was no shortage of law enforcement and their pressence was well known, as they made the rounds to check catches and licenses.

those who put up with the two fish limit, gas prices hovering around three dollars a gallon, and wind and rain were greatly rewarded.
the ones who took a beating were the local buisnesses who had been hoping for banner weather and large crowds.
i know i have seen it busier there for spring time open water crappie action.
lets hope the at least stay busy steadily, and hopefully the weather will be nice and the word of the great fishing will get out.
Cookie, i spun by your place sunday morning, but found nobody around. I assume you were fishing.
i will get back up there to bring my wife up there hopefully this week. i will try again to catch you :)
in all it was a great weekend and i highly recomend bringing your kids. they will not be bored.
good fishing all!

[labs4me]

I was lucky enough to fish the opener with Brad Dokken of the Grand Forks Herald and here is how he reported it.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/14575261.htm

We had a great time in my boat.? It was a very memorable day.

As Jiggle said the fishing was great and the crowds will probably grow as word gets out how good the fishing was and the weather warms.?

The sad part of the day was several tickets were written for over limits and out of slot fish.? If you witness any of this activity, please call TIP as it gives all of us sportsman on this side of the line a bad name!? I'm sure for many it would be tempting to keep extra fish, but in the end is it really worth it?? The potential ticket and the lowering of our image as conservationists?? It took 8 years to bring the lake back, let's not reverse all that time and work by being unethical.

Good Luck!

Ken