Anyone make it back yet to put out a report on the fishing?? Any slot fish available up there or just the big ones??

We fished Red on Saturday and Sunday. Had good fishing on Saturday although the weather made it tough to be out there. We had outstanding fishing on Sunday. We caught plenty of 15.5 to 17 inch fish to easily fill limits, but the majority of the fish we caught were 17 to 19 inches, with a few that were bigger. The biggest fish in our group was 23 inches.

Three of us fished Red on Sat thru Monday morning. Slow on Saturday in the snow as expected. On Sunday we were the first in the area we wanted to try and had 2 in the boat in the first minute (no kidding). Probably caught 75 fish in 4 hours with the vast majority of fish in the 17.25+ range. Got our limit then went to the north end for crappies and only caught more walleyes but these were much smaller fish. Fished Monday morning and probably picked up another 75 fish in 2 hours. Many, many doubles and one triple! We where soon surrounded by other boat. One even came in and anchored right on top of where we where casting!

Anyways, we where outfishing everyone and when it was time to leave we saw an older gentleman fishing alone so we called him over and gave him our spot. I can't believe the way some people where acting out there. No respect at all.

Its amazing what a hot bite does to the crowd, they get mean and get mean quick. I looked form shore a couple times (I refuse to fish opener for such reason) and it was like a boat parade. One guy would move and ten would follow. I seen some avid anglers I know try to break away from the crowd only to be followed across the lake. From my binoculars all I could see was arm waving and "finger" pointing from both boats. Must have been a interesting conversation.

What really tripped my trigger was all the boats lined up at the mouth of the closed river or right on the "do not fish here" line. I don't mean the lake end of the canal I mean whrere the lake shoreline meets the river. Lined up so tightly they had to move when a boat needed to get in or out of the canal. I personaly would be ashamed to be seen fishing like that.

I saw more than one boat anchored right in the canal. That really takes a big pair of seeds!

I agree with the rudeness thing. My boat was on a slow drift with a couple drift socks, and a pontoon came in front of us where they could clearly see our socks in the water. Pulled in a double, and Wouldn't you know it, they buzz around us and anchor about 20 yards downwind! Just shook my head, pulled the socks in and motored to the side 10 feet. Some people just don't seem to have common sense. There are fish everywhere!

I agree. We didn't fish close to the river, too many boats. We ran up or down the lake to some spots we'd done well before, and fished areas where there weren't a lot of boats, and had our best action in areas where there wasn't another boat within a quarter-mile of us. We moved around with the electric motor and stayed on the fish when we found them. We pitched jigs and minnows and later big plastics. We had 4 triples and many, many doubles. But even a boat driving by off the break but still close to us was usually enough to scatter the fish or at least slow them down for a while.

hey all, i had a great time this weekend up on url. however, i just had to report on something that happened saturday afternoon. we were out of westwind and were heading up to the north shore, in my buddies tan lund alaskan with a johnson 60. anyway, we were going in a straight line and watching forward, out of our eye we saw a white, blue sylvan with a double console and a 115 new johnson on it. they were flying, about 6 people in it. this guy nearly killed 9 people!!!! wud hav ran into us amidships of we hadnt swerved and killed our motor, so close the spray from the bow flew over our boat. peolpe need to b aware of the surroundings, we followed this guy all the way to the north shore, and were gonna chew him a new one, even tho his kids were in there with him, but my couisin talked the us out of it.. read and understand the boating laws and look as u drive!!! he wud hav run in and probally over us, putting 9 peoples lives in his hand. slower moving boats ALWAYS hav the right of way. i had a great time all weeekend, cept for being a couple seconds from being killed, that is.

I agree there is a ton of lake out there to fish get out of the channel and the mouth of the river it was just crazy. I remember years ago you went through that channel on plane or you didnt get out so when i go through on plane dont be suprised. Also there were fish all over go out and try something different

This is starting to sound like the hot crappie bite of years ago where people would pile into a hot bite with little regard for others or the fishery. Why would you want to catch your limit in an hour and then be done?? I wonder how many people are staying out after they catch their limit and sorting fish under the guise of fishing crappies?? I wonder what the mortality rate is for female walleyes over the slot who are weakened from the spawn and caught as they leave the river?? Mille Lacs went through something similar a few years ago when the forage base was low and the slot was tight but this was after the spawn and the water was warmer. There were many dead walleyes floating on the surface of the lake from C&R. Maybe barbless hooks would help the situation but who would monitor?? Questions but no aswers!

I just about loose it when people come so close that they're in your casting distance!!! Jeeze louise!!!! Get a life!

Heading for Red myself on Friday, any hints on how deep you were fishing and with what?

Thanks,

Blackjack

We were fishing the first break by shore, it was usually 2-4 feet or 3-5 feet depending on where we were. Most of our fish came from 2 to 5 fow, a couple came from 6 fow. We used jigs and shiners, or big plastics (5 inchers).

The fish we caught out "deep" (4-6 feet) where hanging about a foot off the bottom. I would have to believe that the same will hold true this weekend. If it stays warm and sunny the spawning could all be done by then and the fish will move deeper.

BEST DAY EVER... Last thursday 3 of us went to red seeking out the walleyes. We found them in 4.5-8 fow on a rock bar/break. Needless to say it was the best outing i have had in the states for walleye fishing. We netted 50 walleyes in all and had our 9 lunch fish in about 2 hours. It was a lot of fun. Thank you red lake.

Sat in the river on Saturday and caught plenty of Walleyes. We didn't check the lake for crappies but had plenty of fun. There were lots of boats but most seemed to be on good behavior. There are plenty of nice fish to be had and just need to put in your time to get the slot fish. It was also fun seeing how many ways you can catch a walleye and what was the hot bait at the time. It was well worth the trip, just wish we would have had time to chase the slabs.