This pertains to the 2009 opener; changes take effect at that time.

Opening day of walleye season 2009 will show the first of two great changes to take place to the Upper Red Lake walleye limits.

Today I was given the official word that the state boys approved the limit change of three Upper Red Lake Walleye to a four fish limit for the 2009 season!

Now we are all very happy to see that the recovery is going well enough to increase the limit back up to four fish. Waskish is a very pleased community right now. We have to thank the fisheries department, the cooperation of the Red Lake Band, help from local folks and sportsmen across the land. With every released slot fish and ethical move we inched one step closer to this benchmark. Great job everybody!

Now for the sugar

As of June 15th of 2009 with safe harvest levels still maintained, as they have for the last few open water seasons the slot limit will move from 17”-26” protected slot to a 20”-26” protected slot for the remainder of the open water season. This will continue for the open water season as long as harvest levels stay within a safe range, allowing anglers an enhanced opportunity to take a limit of Upper Red Lake walleye from the lake or Tamarac River.

I am a very proud member of the Upper Red Lake Area today, to come from demise and ruin onto this greatness is truly a story of outstanding achievement.

Fantastic News Jonny! Thanks for sharing. I'll be in Waskish for the opener and again two weeks later. I would expect that when word gets out, resorts will book up and you will see a lot of boats up there this summer. Everybody that says that it is too far to travel for a few fish and all the bag and slot limit naysayers will be shocked to see full parking lots.

What a long way we've come from empty assessment nets and a ghost town to an arguably recovered fishery in the span of a little over a dozen years. I think the state, the band, the people of the Red Lake area, and the Red Lake Fisheries Technical Committee really came together to speed up a process that may have taken decades and turned it into much less time, and in the process showed how people could work together and heal wounds.

Outstanding. Hopefully with the recovery of the fishery, there will be a continuing recovery of the economy. So much potential.

Thanks to all the resort owners and guides and the local buisnesses around the lake that have worked so hard over the past few years to make all this possible for all of us to enjoy, hopefully for years to come thanks again cant wait to make it up there.

Good to hear Jonny! The crappies might make a comeback if more walleyes are taken out of the lake, haha j/k. I think you will see a lot of people out there next year. Good for the Upper Red Lake community.

Fabulous news!! I'm a 40 year veteran of fishing URL and am very pleased in hearing all the great news.

so will the slot remain for the hard water season? you never said.

Awesome.

That really is great news for everyone interested in Red lake. Here's to my tax dollars... snap!! fizzzzzzzz....

Jon, Thanks for sharing this good news. Stan C.

Just for the open water season, due to the high angler hours or angling pressure it will most likely go back to 17-26 for the winter season or Dec 1st to protect and control safe harvest levels.

alright , i got excited for a min there! i still need my first URL ice excursion! lol