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What lakes should a guy go on for an ice fishing trip this year?

Agronomist_at_IA

By Agronomist_at_IA
in Ice Fishing

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Agronomist_at_IA Veteran

Agronomist_at_IA

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Last year, I went to Upper Red Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish. I think this year I'm going to go back to upper red lake, due to the fact last winter we only caught one crappie that was 15 inches on upper red but caught a lot of 20-26 inch walleyes. I was happy with what we caught, but I have to go back and get myself a couple of those 15 in mud flaps (crappie). I was really disapointed in winni. We went through nodak lodge up there when a front came through, only caught a half a bucket of keeper perch over 2 days. Overall, due to this I don't thik I will go back to winni. Also another thing that turned me off of winni was the guide that ran nodak told me that upper red was terrible fishing and that the indians had it all fished out and winni was better. I feel that he was just trying to get us to come back to winni instead of red. Tell me am I just being to harsh on winni, since the front might have caused the terrible bite. Also, would like some of your guys opinions on were we should go for our 2 fishing trips. Also, if you could give us a time frame around the the best time for ice fishing on the lake I would be great full. On our trips last year we went to Upper Red Lake around March 7, and to Winni abround feb. 17. (That's when the front came through and it was 40-50 below zero)

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jiggin pig Community Regular

jiggin pig

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I have been hitting winnie during hard ice for about 6 years now. I have had a great time there everytime except for one year, 2003. Other then that year it has been great there. When the fishing gets slow you just have to move a little. I know its hard when it is that cold but follow the fish. I normally do the perch thing in the winter on winnie, but up until a couple of years ago i enjoy the ellpout also now. Don't get me wrong URL is a great place to fish for crappies, but I just can't give up winnie.

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Boar Grand Master

Boar

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LOW on the rock humps in late march just cant be beat for the variety of fish, walleyes, saugers, an big perch. Alot of opptions of rock humps to choose from, if one is'nt producing chances are another is. Boar

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thirtysomething Contributor

thirtysomething

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Sorry to hear you didn't do well on Winnie. I love Winnie, and prefer it over most lakes. It has over recent years become our "go to" lake when we don't want to get skunked. We take a few trips up north, always hit URL, LOW, and we make sure to save Sunday, or now Monday for Winnie. We also spend some long weekends exclusively on Winnie. I wasn't really into Perching until a few years ago and they're great on Winnie, but I agree, KEEP MOVING! Like all the pros say, and every fishing show tells you, move until you find active fish, then move some more to stay with them. I'm not sure why you received bad advise, but we always go out of Highbanks. Rick and Kim rule. Nothing against NoDak's and Denny's, but we LOVE Highbanks. I remember that front moving through, we were on Gunflint pulling in the Lakers. I wouldn't give up on Big Winn yet, keep and eye on this board and you'll find the fish. We never did real well with the Eye's until last year, thanks to this very board, and the gracious Sportsmen and gals on it we seem to have mastered them on Winn as well. Good luck to ya this winter. LOW in late March, early April is nice and quiet and can have some great fishing too.

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hanson Grand Master

hanson

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1- Upper Red

2- Lake of the Woods

I love both of those lakes so its hard to pick. I think Red has more trophy Pike & Crappie potential than LOW. I think LOW has more trophy Walleye & Perch potential than Red. Red has a much better average size and catch rate of walleyes though.

Another thing to consider would be lodging and night life. Upper Red has the sleeper ice house gig going on! Lake of the Woods has 1st class resorts, bars, live music, food, etc.

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Agronomist_at_IA Veteran

Agronomist_at_IA

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Fill me in on the mille lacs lake will ya, looks like a closer drive then red and lake of the woods. From our group stand point,we want to do the sleeper thing at red for sure.Kind of looking for that on either mille lacs or lake of the woods right now. We basicly don't get to fish on lakes like these that often so when we make the trip we'd like to max out the time that we are there with hard core ice fishing.

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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Mille Lacs can have a great bite especially early winter. Problem is that that December bite is mostly a portable bite as ice conditions can be marginal that time of year. If you do chose that option I'd shoot for early to mid January to ensure you'll have enough ice for your trip.

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maros91 Veteran

maros91

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I agree with Borch. Portable bite in Dec. Go to the Mille Lacs forum and look at some of the resorts on there for there sleeper fish houses. Usually the later in the winter you go the tougher the walleye bite is. If you have a portable you can find them but being stationary in a sleeper is tougher. I would call the resorts and book for the earliest you can.

I always loved that sound of a rattle reel going off in the middle of the night.

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Harmonica Bear Mentor

Harmonica Bear

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I would add Mille Lacs to that trip, personally. Mille Lacs permanent sleepers usually are not out until New Year’s weekend, 1 and 2nd weekend after new years the last two years have been incredible fishing as well as anytime in December with the portables. Walleye fishing has really been almost ridiculously legendary. Maybe not the incredible numbers of LOW or Red, but the quantity of quality has been nuts. People wait lifetimes to catch 7-8-9 lb walldogs. December and early Jan you can catch several in one weekend. But... as always, please practice C&R

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