Fishing Report

[Tompton]

If you live in the Twin Cities it is not worth a trip to Red Lake anymore.  You can drive 2 hours to Mille Lacs and catch more and bigger fish, instead of driving almost 6 hours for small fish and CONSTANT DNR harassment.

[halad]

I love posts like that practically no competition up here. Just like the old days. So much for the Crappie boomers.

[JohnWester]

If you live in the Twin Cities it is not worth a trip to Red Lake anymore.? You can drive 2 hours to Mille Lacs and catch more and bigger fish, instead of driving almost 6 hours for small fish and CONSTANT DNR harassment.

A two fish limit is small, but you might catch 50 fish per day per person.? I'll take that over working hard for 3 or 4 on Mille Lacs.? ?

what changed?

[Tompton]

I was told that the fish scattered and the constant pressure has slowed the bite.  I talked to a dozen or so groups of fishermen and the average per day was about 3-4 per guy. 

Just my opinion

[Spinach]

I've witnessed and have been involved in many of these types of discussions in the past. This is probably the first time a post like this has appeared on this site.

My opinion on this subject is very simple:

Tompton stated his personal opinion on URL and the recent Walleye/Crappie bite, i believe he has every right in the world to express his opinion, whether we agree or disagree. That is why we consider this a public forum.

Whether the bite is slow or as good as it was a few years ago, you can bet that the URL locals, guides and business owners will get very upset at a topic like this on a public website. I dont think anyone in there right mind can honestly say that Red Lake Crappie fishing hasn't been anywhere as good as it was in the late 90's. Every year it has slowed down, keeping many of the visitors away from the lake, now this last May, the Walleye season re-opened on the lake, catching Walleyes on Upper Red Lake was as easy as it was to catch Crappies 5 years ago, everyone left the lake with limits.

Now things are calming down and getting closer to reality on the lake, the Walleye fishing is still 2nd to none in the state, but many anglers are considering the prices of gas at nearly $3 per gallon, the cost of lodging, bait, beer, food and realizing how hard it is to spend a weekend on a lake this far North in the state. Naturally these same anglers consider Mille Lacs as an equal fishery or a very close 2nd, so they opt to only drive half the distance for the same results.

I haven't made the open water trip to URL this year for the reasons mentioned above, but I have been to Mille Lacs 4 times since the opener. I feel terrible for the Waskish community and business owners because they are the ones suffering over the ridicoulous gas prices that are keeping many of us from making the 5 hour trip. At the same time these same businesses were fortunate enough over the last decade to have all of us city folks make this trip every other weekend for many years.

As far as "how many fish I can keep" on a given lake, this does not influence where I go fishing at all, I'll take a great weekend on URL over just about anything in life, its just not affordable for many of us at this time any longer. I could care less if i bring home a limit of Crappies or Eyes, as long as I have fun on the lake and get a chance to share a great weekend with family or friends.

These types of websites and boards were created for a reason, and that is for its members to express there feelings or opinions on a certain subject, not everyone will agree with the others opinion, thats just a fact of life.

Another fact of life is that URL is a different type of fishery than it was a few years ago, that along with the $3 price of gas stops a lot of anglers from making the long trip.

Now is the time to teach people the real meaning of the OUTDOORS, the local businesses should not be upset at the angler over this, but teach this same angler the true meaning of a weekend on URL, friendships, socializing and a few fish, theres nothing better in life!

[jigglestick]

first of all welcome to MNoutdoorsman Halad :)

I love posts like that practically no competition up here. Just like the old days. So much for the Crappie boomers.

Hal, are you being sarcastic?
if you are not and you are indeed serious, then you should be making those kinds of posts yourself.
just think, the people who spend hard earned dollars to drive up there and eat up there and fish up there and rent up there would no longer have to inconvienience you with the invasive crowds.

let me ask you, in reference to your statement about the crappie boomers, what did you expect to happen?
secondly would you have rather the crappie boom never happened?
thirdly, what would you have changed about it if you had the chance.

come on,I'm sure everybody would love to hear what you have to say as a representative of the community of waskish.
I know I would.

[Spinach]

What would your answer to this question be?

This is for everyone who reads this.

Would you of still went to URL as much as you did in the last 10 years if the price of gas was at $3 per gallon back then?

I started going to Red Lake in 1996, I think I made 2-3 trips the first year, 4-5 the second year and then in 1998, I was at the lake almost every weekend, about 3 years ago that started to change to close to every other weekend and last year i only made it up twice.

This had nothing to do with how many fish i caught or anything else, other than gas climbing from $1.50 to nearly $3 per gallon.

Don't get me wrong, I love catching fish and tried to time my trips along with a general good bite, but most of these trips were still taken no matter what the current report was.

[KATOMAN]

The cost never was a major consideration. I drive up from Southern Minnesota so it is a pretty good hike. I always come up at least three times a year and sometimes more. The majority of the locals have been very cordial and I can proudly say I was happy to make their acquaintance. I also know the ones that always bad mouth the hand that feeds them.

[jigglestick]

to answer your question,

Would you of still went to URL as much as you did in the last 10 years if the price of gas was at $3 per gallon back then?

No.
I would still have gone a lot though.
I wish i had just a dollar back for every gallon I bought driving the 71 miles one way in the last seven years. woo boy that would be a party.

before the crappie boom, I had only been to red lake twice in my life.
once I started going, I went a dozen times the first year, then twenty four times the second year, then to thirty some odd times the third year (I lost track), then I started to back off the last few years.
the first three years, I worked construction work. I had unemployment and life was good. time on my hands and plenty of money to blow.
then my unemployment was cut over a hundred dollars a week. that realy cut into my goofing off budget.
then I bought my truck, quit my job and started working seasonaly for myself. no more unemployment during the winters equaled only going up every other weekend.
it just got worse as the years progressed. last winter was a disaster. six weeks in the woods due to the lack of frost, the loggers had a tough time getting in the woods to cut the timber.
that boiled down to maybe a half dozen times on the lake.
so.... the reasons I went up or not, were probably not the same reasons that some one three hours or more farther away did  or did not go up to red lake.

so, you can be glad they came, or resentful they came. the fact remains with them, the community prospered.
now since the walleyes are on the rebound, I have been up there once this season on open water. exactly half the amount that I have been up there prior to the boom.
I will probably make it up there at least a couple more times before ice too.

others are doing the same. there are people just like me who have barely if every traveled to red who were introduced to upper red lake and the community of waskish and whether they were greeted by friendly people or less than hospitable members of the community, their experiences on the lake will dictate whether or not they return after the crappie boom subsides.

I will be back many times in the future, god willing.
I have met enough good people up there and had many good times, more than I can count. I have taken and I have given.
overall it has been a positive experience for me and my friends and family.

[shakey legs 2]

I first started fishing Red Lake in the late 50's early 60's and witnessed the walleye craze when people would be lined up elbow to elbow on the Tamarack river on the opener.  I moved out of state for a few years in the late 60's  - early 70's and never got back up to Red until the crappie boom of the late 90's.  I went to Red from the late 90's until now 8-10 times or more a year.  Yes, it isn't like it was in the late 90's or even a few years ago when you could set up anywhere and catch fish.  Having said that, I will still continue to go to Red for many of the same reasons Jigglestick and others have mentioned.  It isn't about the catching but more about the fishing and especially the experience of being up on Red, cooking, socializing with friends, sleeping out on the ice.  Yes, I could do that on Mille lacs or some other lakes closer to me but it is not the same experience.  I can't put it into words but those of you who go up there on a regular basis know what I am talking about.  I will continue to go to Red in search of the now more elusive crappie and if I can catch a couple of walleyes, I will look at it as a bonus as well as the experience which you can't put a price tag on.

[halad]

Just a reaction from what seemed like a negative comment about my favorite lake my comments were not ment to be an affront on anybody especially Jigglestick. I live on Red most of the time so I fish the lake a lot. I probably fished 3/4 of the fishable days this year and have done real well. Have? always caught the 2-fish limit keeping fish from 15 to 16 1/2 inches. As far as being checked by Wardens I have been checked once and they just looked at my license.? I have no fish in my freezer I eat them fresh or send them home with company. I encourage you to come up here and fish. Watch the wind! get a local forcast, ancoring was good earlier but the fish are more scattered now so i like to troll with a spinner, Minnows, leaches, gulp all work good. I bend all my barbs with a plyer.? ? ? Did I like the crappie boom? Yes it sure made the years of no walleye fishing pass. We got a new resort and a new gas convenience and the folks up here got a chance to make some money after some lean years. Some negative things, my real estate taxes doubled, the large # of fishermen in the winter could be depressing to me, the large amount of trash bothered me, and the people who came up here just to make a buck, one guy told me that if i set up to close to his rentals he would shoot me (no not Kelly) all told a good time.? ? ? ? ?Yes gas is a problem I put 20,000 a year on my truck.? ? Why didnt the IBOTs have there summer party here? This would have been a good year with walleyes.? ? ?Again didnt mean to offend.? ? ? This is really a nice site keep up the good work.

[WoodChuck]

 ??? there will be many questions and just as many answers or gripes to the new URL. But one has to remember the lake and its users are there for their own reasons. some come for solitude, and to make their visit a bonding time for family( witch most fisher people enjoy the most about fishing ). not the amount of fish caught  or how much they spent. there are just somethings you can not put a dollar value on . URL has seen hard times before and it will vary surely see it again thats just a part of life with economics.  :(

[labs4me]

Hey Halad, ?nice post! ? I think you explained very well how may of the local Waskish people feel and have viewed what's transpired over the last decade. ? It's always great to get input like that... plain and simple most of us who love the lake get to be up there only a fraction of the time that you are able to spend up there. ?

Unfortunatley the "boomers" were up there only to 'take' from the lake and the area. ?I akin their mentality to the gold rush days. ?"Get yours while the gettin's good". ?Eventually they too disappear just as the resource they are trying to take diminishes. ? Over time the people who really understand why they were attracted to the area in the first place will reveal themselves and continue the journey no matter what the outcome. ?I had my 'worst' year ever for 'catching' crappies this last winter, but it was equally as fun as the previous years. ? I'm pretty sure I ket the same amount as years past (usually 4 per trip X 10-12 trips), ?but what I kept may have well constituted the ones caught over the weekend. ? I, like many, was drawn to the lake and the area because of the bonanza, but have grown to respect and admire not only the lake, but those who call the area home. ?I have made friends with those who live in Waskish along with others who make the trek to Red over the past 7 years and as I told Mark Biganek, I will still be coming up no matter what is on the end of my line. ?I enjoy the time with the many friends I've made up there, and simply put it wouldn't have happened without the events that unfolded.

Your points on the trash are well taken, I think most guys on this sight as well as others, have no problem picking up after someone who obviously was dropped on their head as a child! ?The IBOT's in years past have made 1-2 trips on ATV's a year around the lake to pick up trash, the dent may be small, but a dent nonetheless. ?The property tax deal stinks... but with it comes increased value of your land.... hopefully they're still elevated for when you sell in the future... God only knows the taxes never go down!

I think the IBOTfest was moved to make it more centrally located for those from the cities. ?Waskish actually works better for me too as I am up to the cabin on Cass most weekends.... We really haven't seen a showing of the local residence the last 2 years and this was one of the reasons for hosting it in Waskish. ? Feel free to come down to Mille Lacs if you wish to partake in the festivities.

Thanks again for the post, it's was nice to see some points tht usually are not addressed!

Good Luck!

Ken

[KATOMAN]

I have my plans for next year. I believe the lake is in good hands and quality fishing will remain. The crappies may diminish but I think the perch are ready to fill that void. I can certainly fish closer to home and probably catch as many fish. I won't catch the quality on the crappies but it is more then catching. The trash thing is an unfortunate by product. The human race being what it is that will never change. I have a healthy respect for URL and the people who live there. I think we are all caretakers of the resource and must be ever vigilant of the ones who deny our children the opportunity to experience it. I grew up hearing about the good old days, well I think we can have them back. History can't repeat itself.

[Outdoors Junkie]

I have gone up to Red lake every year since I a baby.  It is my favorite place in the world!

[halad]

Thanks Lab I really appreciate that.   At this time of the year and with the water as dirty as it is I like to fish the East shore the water is cleaner and there is a real obvious line on your dept finder from 10' up to 5' this is the area that i fish.  My 40 on my 18' Alaskan trolls from 1.8 to 1 on turns and i continually work the 5 to 10 if you catch good fish byall means work that area. If I am alone i like to keep going as 2 isnt hard to get.  I like to go fast no trolling motor  the fish hit hard and i like to cover ground. Later in the summer i like to fish the North shore another story. Good luck I also like Blackduck Lake great evening lake bread and butter walleyes lots of struchure that is fun to fish. There are a lot of nice perch on Red now at 7-8 ft.  could be spawning.

[jigglestick]

Thank you all for a productive thread.
that's how we get it done 

[Mayfly]

If you are willing to drive to Red you might as well go the extra hour or so and fish LOW, and then hit Red on the way back of course.

I'm up at LOW right now and at 10:30 we had 21 fish in the boat. After that I stopped counting and threw a lot back. What a blast. Everywhere from 13 inches to 29 inches!

[jigglestick]

pictures  ???

[Mayfly]

Here is one from the day......

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Joe]

Your killing me! What is the reg up there for eyes?

[Mr Harry]

 I have also have been affected by the price of gas.  I am not making the trips up to Red that I would like too.  It just costs too much to drive the 130 miles.  I will wait till fall, then clean the trails again.  I will spend more days there at one time rather than going up several times.  One thing that people are missing out of is the four wheeling trails up there, and in the fall its great up there.  We will have too see how the economy continues to go, then make our plans.

[Russ-Judy]

there are atv trails right accross from the new gas station by Westwind- man theres miles of them through the forest, you can get lost in there, we have been on them several times, not sure how to get the maps but  some one will chime in with a site listing

[TNT]

well ,
now that the topic is red lake,
question,
i was looking at roger site and it says that they are closing the access for the rest of the summer due to declining revenues??????
is it that slow up there now???
at first i thought it was a joke but the note is still up, and says that they will open up for ice fishing.
threw me for a loop, ??? ??? ???
tnt
halad, any comments?

[cookie]

I think the fishing been a bit slow and has effected the traffic. The pike fishing should pick up and bring a few anglers to the area. If the fishing is great they do come as the crappie boom has proved.I would expect next year ?will be busier then this year. ?Gas prices affect us all. I know I've made some life time friends and look forward to meeting quite a few more fishermen in the future.The crappie fishing has put waskish ?on the map for good. As the crappie fishing ?declinded we did not see near the traffic or liter as in the past? I guess thats a good thing.When the fishing was that good guys find a way to get up here. In a few years we could have some spectacular trophy walleye fishing to go with the chance of landing a 20 lb pike. We will alway get some crappies but the days of everyone taking home limits are probaly gone :( If you never made it up for the crappie fishing you missed out at some of the best fishing minnnesota has ever had.I think we will still have some great winter crappie fishing if your lucky enough to stumble apon them or happen to rent a fish house that is on the mother load.The walleye fishing should just get better and better through out the next few years.

[Russ-Judy]

my guess is- a bunch of questions
how many of you have had to go to grad parties in June
how many of you have had to go to weddings in June
how many have had to go to anniversary's in June
how many have had to go to reunions in June
how many took a family trip in June or looking at July for- parades, the zoo, picnics, valley fair, wooing the girl friend in your speed-oo's at the beach and even the wife without the kids for a weekend, helping with yard work, remodling projects that were put off all winter, putting in extra OT at work to keep up with life, spending more quality time with relatives you like and putting up with some you dont- while smiling- ?Upper Red isnt the only lake that has felt the gas crunch, investment cost that took off with rising interest, Mille Lacs isnt being run over this time of the year either- summer cabins and camping is hanging in there around lakes like upper and lower South long, Round, farm island and will tapper off even more as July hits us in the butt, after the 4th you almost see dead city all over every state- its common knowledge--the fish are done spawning-, now you half to find them in your spare time- Im just saying the truth as a former guide on MilleLacs and a winter business person on Red that lives on the lake for almost 4 months-- this summer or spring as you may call it we had no trouble getting our limits of crappie and eyes with customers- There done spawning they move out to rest and feed deeper- there pooped after a romp in the weeds for over 30+ days and nights--Im a goner after my first tussel

this post is not directed to any one person so you get that out of your head first before posting naughty posts;; its just the facts

heres another fact-- naw I wont post that, --------SOME THINGS- take years to figure out

see you at the IBOT Feast

[halad]

From what i here they are pissed because the dnr has been watching the campers close for over limits the story i here is somebody had 6-walleye and claimed they caught 4 at Blackduck. I dont know the outcome.? Their? campground is full with seasonal renters I dont think they want to deal with the day weekend trippers. They want some time off.? ? ? ?Went out today at noon nothing for the first hour. Counted 14 boats on the S and E shore. Caught a 16 and then had 2 hit and drop it then caught a 15, dont know where the bigger fish are havent caught one out of the slot for a few trips out.? Didnt have live bait used Mimic Minnow tails they smack it so hard you would think you had a 10 lber but probably not as good as live bait. See nets from the other boats. I dont catch and release 2 is enough for me, still have beer batter from the other night.? ? ?Say hello to Russ and Judy hope they are doing well and i see them up here again. Good luck.

[Spinach]

This is a very interesting thread, nice job by everyone in keeping this somewhat positive.

Plus were getting some nice reports in from Halad now.

BTW, welcome to MNO Halad.

[Tompton]

Wow, I guess I got something going here.  Fishing aside, the DNR really was all over us.  In the first hour that we were there we anchored up with about 25 other boats out in front of the Tamarack.  A boat with 2 female DNR officers proceeded to check the fish and licenses of EVERY boat there.  They spent 10 minutes bothering an old man and his grandkids.  I think it was completely unwarranted and I think I should let others know so they can contemplate if it is worth the harassment.

Thanks

PS: I don't mean to speak ill of anyone's favorite place in the world.

[KATOMAN]

I sometimes think they get a tad over zealous. When I was there on opener we got checked twice in consecutive days. I can understand the checking of the livewell and stuff but redoing the license and stuff was a bit overkill. We were in the same boat and I know they do check quite a few but to be so redundant tends to lend one to think borderline harassment. I guess too much is better then too little.