Everyone's been asking for a brand new ice fishing report Red Lake MN style, and the word from the tough water is that will the bite will be finally starting to settle into the mid-winter groove. In the event that you've ever invested time on Upper Red, you understand how it goes—one day you're pulling in walleyes each ten minutes, as well as the next, you're wondering if the seafood moved to a different zip code. Right now, things are searching pretty solid, provided you're willing to do a little bit of searching and aren't afraid of a bit of wind.
The particular ice conditions are usually holding up nicely, though as always with this huge "bowl" of a lake, you've obtained to keep your eyes peeled regarding pressure ridges. Many of the popular resorts have their particular bridges out plus are maintaining obvious paths, but heading off-road still demands some common feeling and a good set of tires or tracks.
What's the Current Walleye Situation?
The walleye bite is the main reason anybody drives all the way up here, and currently, it's a bit of a game associated with "depth-hopping. " Many guys are finding success in that will 12 to 14-foot range, though some of the earlier morning flurries are usually still happening within shallower water, closer to 8 or nine feet.
It's not precisely a "drop your line and wait" kind of week. You've got in order to be a little proactive. The seafood are moving, so if you haven't seen a mark on your own flasher for forty-five minutes, it's probably time to pack upward the portable and move a few 100 yards. The bite seems to become most aggressive best at dawn plus then again within that magic windows about an hour before sunset. Once it gets pitch black, things have been tapering away, which is a bit different through the night bites we saw earlier in the season.
If you're seeing fish on the sonar but they aren't carrying out, try downsizing. Sometimes these Red Lake walleyes get a little finicky when the pressure increases on the week-ends. A smaller jig or perhaps a plain hook under a deadstick may sometimes outfish the flashy spoon when the fish have been in a mood.
The Best Lures and Bait Right Now
If you look at any ice fishing report Red Lake MN anglers are usually posting lately, you'll see one color mentioned over and over: Glow Red . It's almost a cliché at this point, but there's a reason for this. The stained, tea-colored water of Red Lake makes individuals bright, glowing grapefruits and reds be noticeable like a fluorescents sign.
- Jigging Spoons: Anything with a rattle will be a plus. The Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon in glow red or gold is a staple. Give it some aggressive loopholes to call them in, then negotiate down into little twitches possibly the fish approach.
- The Deadstick: Don't overlook the power of a basic set line. A plain colored lift (pink or chartreuse) with a live life minnow about six inches off the bottom is responsible for about half the fish arriving through the holes right now.
- Minnow Choice: Fatheads are working okay, but if you can obtain your hands on some medium-sized shiners, you'll likely visit a better hook-up rate. The extra adobe flash and movement of a shiner frequently trigger those bigger walleyes which are simply hovering.
Ice Safety and Journey Tips
The particular ice thickness is usually looking good across most of the particular southern and far eastern portions of the lake, with many places reporting 18 in order to 22 inches. That's plenty for many trucks and wheelhouses, but don't let that make you lazy. Red Lake is definitely notorious for shifting ice. A little bit of bit of breeze or a temperature golf swing can open up a crack or push a heave together within hours.
Always stick to the proclaimed resort roads if you're pulling a heavy house. The particular guys running the resorts like Rogers, West Wind, and JR's are around every day examining the ice and moving bridges since needed. It's worthy of the road charge just for the particular peace of mind. If a person decide to blaze your own personal trail, make sure you're checking out the ice yourself and carrying some picks.
Also, keep a good eye on the snow situation. We've had some drifting recently, which can create some unpleasant slush pockets beneath the snow. In case you see the dark patch in the snow, attempt to avoid it—it's usually a sign that water has pushed up by means of a crack plus created a mess that'll get a truck stuck in no time.
Beyond the Walleye: Crappies and Pike
While the "glory days" associated with the Red Lake crappie boom are technically over, there are still some absolute slabs out there in case you're lucky. They aren't nearly mainly because common as they were twenty years ago, but every now and then, someone pulls up the 14-inch monster that makes everyone's mouth drop. If you're targeting them particularly, you'll usually see them suspended a little bit higher in the water column over deeper areas, frequently mixed along with the perch.
Communicating of northern pike, they are definitely active. If you're bored during the particular midday lull, try putting out the tip-up using a huge frozen cisco or even a large sucker minnow. There are usually some genuine "gators" in this lake that will provide you a severe run for your own money. Keep in mind the regulations—Red Lake has specific rules regarding pike, so make sure you've got your ruler handy and know the particular current slot limitations before you decide what's going in the bucket.
Making the particular Most of Your own Trip
When you're heading upward this weekend, our biggest part of tips is to be mobile. A lot of people obtain comfortable in their own wheelhouses, switch on the heater, and just stay put. While that's comfy, it's not really always the greatest way to capture fish. If the particular bite dies, don't be afraid to unhook the home and shift it, or with least take the portable and look some new holes.
Also, don't forget the "social" factor of Red Lake. Part of the fun is the community. Visit the local bait shops and talk in order to the folks behind the counter. They generally have the most up-to-date ice fishing report Red Lake MN has in order to offer, and they'll tell you exactly which way the particular fish are shifting.
A few quick reminders for the road: * Charge your electronics: Your flasher or Livescope is your closest friend out here. * Provide an extension regarding your auger: Although it is not totally necessary yet, the particular ice gets solid enough that you'll want it just in case you hit a drifted area. * Check the particular regs: The walleye restriction on Red Lake can be different from the rest associated with the state, plus they change this based on the season's harvest. Don't get captured off guard.
Wrapping It Upward
Red Lake remains one of the premier ice fishing destinations in the Midwest for a cause. The vastness associated with the lake plus the sheer volume of walleyes make this a bucket-list place every single winter season. Even when the bite is "slow" by Red Lake standards, you're nevertheless prone to have more action than you'd find of all some other lakes in the decrease 48.
Group your warm equipment, grab some glow jigs, and maintain your own eyes around the weather. The fish are down there, you simply have to convince them to bite. Ideally, this ice fishing report Red Lake MN gives a person the edge you have to fill your limit and have a great time out on the ice. All the best, stay safe, and keep your lines small!