At 24 miles long and 12 to 15 miles wide, Red Lake offers some of the best fishing in the state of Minnesota, whether there's open water or 3 feet of ice covering the surface. Although 56 percent of the lake falls under the jurisdiction of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, the other 44 percent is controlled by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and offers prime ice fishing in the heart of the North Woods.
The Walleye Pull
Red Lake, which is divided in to Upper Red Lake and Lower Red Lake, spans 108,000 acres, and during the winter is home to communities of hearty and happy ice fishermen. The lake, along with Lake of the Woods, an hour to the north, is prized for its walleye catch.
Over the years, the walleye catch has been consist, with walleye numbers during the winter months running from a low of 51,000 pounds in 2007-2008 to a high of 70,000 pounds in 2006-2007.
Black Crappie and Northern Pike
Although Red Lake is known for the amount of walleye it produces every year, it's also famous for another of Minnesota's more notable ice fishing prizes--black crappie. Similar to a pan fish, black crappie put up quite a fight and average 1 1/2 pounds, with many reaching the 2 pounds or bigger. Northern pike, while not the greatest of fighters, are also caught in abundance in the lake and make for a rather intimidating target for fishermen.
Fish Houses
Because Red Lake is part of an isolated area in the North Woods of Minnesota, most of the fish houses you see on the lake are either those of local residents or rentals.
If you plan on taking a trip to the lake and are looking to spend some time on the ice, you have a couple of choices: you can trek in all your gear including a house, rough it out in the open elements on the lake, or you can rent a fish house. There are a variety of establishments on Red Lake that rent sleeper houses that offer all the comforts of home, including cooking areas and outhouses.
What You'll Need
Although rental fish houses are equipped with some conveniences, there are still things that you'll need to have with you, so that you can catch fish and stay warm. Even though the houses are heated, it's always a good idea to bring a sleeping bag, as fish houses come with a cot or bunk and simple mattress set up.
More importantly, you'll need to bring essential fishing gear and food. Ice-fishing rods, which are a mere 2 to 3 feet in length, are a necessity, along with shiner minnows, bobbers, sinkers and anything you may want to enjoy with your fish dinner. And last but not least, proper clothing is vital for going outside in the cold.
Lodges and Accommodations
Not everyone is cut out for spending the night, or a week, sleeping on a bed of frozen water. Red Lake is a popular destination for all seasons with hunting, hiking and ATV activities complementing the fishing.
Because of this, there are a variety of places to stay on the frozen shores of the lake that offer everything from rustic accommodations to modern conveniences. Lodges and cabins can be found on the Upper Red Lake portion. The lodges can also offer you a fish house for the day so you don't have to do your fishing in the freezing cold.
Licensing
One thing about ice fishing on Red Lake; the game warden won't have much of a hard time finding you out on the open ice or cooped up in a fish house, so you better have the proper license.
If you are just going to fish on the open lake, you'll simply need a resident or nonresident fishing license. If you're bringing your own shelter or an unlicensed rental, you'll need to be sure you have the proper licensing for that as well. Fishing licenses run less than $20 for a resident for the season and just under $40 for a nonresident as of summer 2010.
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