Ice Fishing Jan 6-9th - Where to?

[bk_MN_iceman]

A buddy and I are looking at taking a weekend trip leaving either the evening of the 5th or morning of the 6th through Sunday the 9th. We typically would run up to Mille Lacs for the weekend with this type of trip but with the weather, I'm not sure if that's the answer.

Do you guys have any recommendations on where to go for a weekend trip?

We'd either like to rent a hotel and bring the portables up, or rent a sleeper somewhere (and still bring the portables).

If we go with the hotel option, it would be nice to have an area where there are multiple lakes to try in case the fishing is not hot day 1.

Any tips or suggestions on which direction to head in either scenario?

Thanks!

B

[laportian]

Upper Red is a hot bite right now. I caught 22 walleyes in 2 and a half hours yesterday. Driving around is easy. As far as places to stay you could try the drake in blackduck, the royal shooks just out of kelliher. Both are 20 minutes or so from the lake. Or you could go further north to Lake of the Woods. I make it a point to go up there a couple times a year and even in rough weather that lake kicks out fish. I also like the more liberal limits up there too.

[Northlander]

LOW would be my 1st choice and hit Red on the way back home.

[thenest]

Laportian

I'll be at Red on Sunday - Tuesday morning. Can I ask, and are you willing to let me know, what you were using to catch so many in that short of time. I heard that the lindy slick jig is working.

Thanks for any info.

[laportian]

thenest- Yeah it was on the slick jig. Purple or red worked yesterday. 1/4 oz is what I bought. First time using them too!

[Jmeyers]

LOW would be my 1st choice and hit Red on the way back home.

+1

[bk_MN_iceman]

Let me ask this as well, is having an ATV or something to pull the portable necessary on Red? Would it be easier just to use a resort and stay in a sleeper?

Do you think it would still be possible to get into a sleeper for that weekend if we got it planned/booked in the next day or 2?

[laportian]

If you plan on venturing way out on the lake a wheeler would be nice. Right now the fish are in close and I had 14 inches of ice where I was at. The furthest Ive driven out in a truck has been 3/4 of a mile. Ive been out 7 times this month and the best action has been in. I usually hit 8 or 9 feet and set up shop. Last monday I went out on the south shore out to 13 feet and only caught a couple. But I didnt fish that long either.

I would start calling the rental places now to try to get one booked. Check out the red lake page on the regional forums that should get you hooked up.

[bk_MN_iceman]

Thanks for the advice guys. It sounds like URL is the way to go. I'll do some research and talk it over with my buddy and we'll see where we end up. Looks like there are some great lodging recommendations in the Red Lake section so I'll check there.

Thanks again!