Going to be super close again this year. Lots of ice, lots of snow, but a pretty substantial warm-up on the way. For the first time ever, we’ve lost our “free lodging” and have a VRBO rented for opener. 100% refund by April 28th, 50% refund by May 5th.
Do we roll the dice?
I’m guessing May 10th ice out.
It’ll be open.
Otherwise trailer it to a different lake.
Do we roll the dice?
I bet you will have a pretty good idea by April 27th.
May 1st.
I’ve never fished URL open water, but know of two groups that have been for years. From what I gather the closer to ice out the better! One year there was ice only a couple hundred yard out and my one buddy had to pressure wash the inside of his boat out from all the males jizzing all over inside his boat!
I’ve never fished URL open water, but know of two groups that have been for years. From what I gather the closer to ice out the better! One year there was ice only a couple hundred yard out and my one buddy had to pressure wash the inside of his boat out from all the males jizzing all over inside his boat!
But did they catch any fish?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MNdrifter wrote:</div>
I’ve never fished URL open water, but know of two groups that have been for years. From what I gather the closer to ice out the better! One year there was ice only a couple hundred yard out and my one buddy had to pressure wash the inside of his boat out from all the males jizzing all over inside his boat!But did they catch any fish?
Musta brought Deb Dallas that trip.
Agreed that our best fishing by far is when the lake goes ice-free the week of opener. It could very well go out that week, and that’s frankly the way I’m leaning.
Regarding other lakes opening first, that’s not likely to happen. There have been several years that we’ve driven by lakes that are still locked up on our way to an open Red.
My biggest concern is losing $1200 to VRBO if it doesn’t go out. Especially with May 5th being the final “drop dead” date for a 50% refund. I don’t remember exactly, but I think there’s only been 1 year since 2006 that we haven’t been able to fish open water on Red.
By April 28th you will have a real good idea. My guess is you will be fine. Looking at the 10 day forecast for that area. I really think once the slush and snow is gone from the lake surface, the ice will go fast. Even though there is a lot of ice left, my guess is its rather soft and waterlogged already if not soon.
The first ice outs are now appearing on the DNR web site. They are way down by Fairmont and are two weeks later than average. I don’t know if there are any trends to be taken from just two lakes, but I don’t think we’ll be setting any records this year.
There were actually two guys on the ice on Lake Mazaska on Saturday. That was a little surprising.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>MNdrifter wrote:</div>
I’ve never fished URL open water, but know of two groups that have been for years. From what I gather the closer to ice out the better! One year there was ice only a couple hundred yard out and my one buddy had to pressure wash the inside of his boat out from all the males jizzing all over inside his boat!But did they catch any fish?
OMG 
You win!
According to the DNR the average ice out date is April 30th. From the pictures I seen today I don’t think it will be off by the 30th.
However the latest date the DNR has is May 15th.
My guess it will be off by opener.
Yah. Just takes a couple of cracks to expand a bit and the wind to catch the ice sheet so it starts breaking up.
Looks like May 5th for the portion we can fish.
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Looks like May 5th for the portion we can fish.
The portion we can fish for now…
Cant help but chuckle to myself. Opener so good nobody wants to talk about it. Maybe we are scared to talk about it? LOL
Looks like May 5th for the portion we can fish.
I wonder what is so different about lower red that it is hardly open while the upper is wide open. THat is really strange.
Water depth is the main difference.
Suzuki, did you hammer them like usual?
Guessing its deeper?
Suzuki-what you are saying is true, would also guess so many other lakes/rivers are good with less worry about wind & maybe a shot at bigger fish, just be glad its not a zoo!
^substantially deeper with more structure.
Some day I too would like to try the opener on URL. A buddy goes up there every year and says it’s 100% about the wind. If you get a 15mph wind out of the West with higher gusts, it gets rolling like crazy and they end up just spending the time drinking beer. If the winds aren’t an issue…it sounds like they do pretty well long lining cranks up shallow real slow or tossing jigs with shiners
Cant help but chuckle to myself. Opener so good nobody wants to talk about it. Maybe we are scared to talk about it? LOL
I don’t know I saw a lot of reports from Opener up there with a similar theme, lots of fish in a very little amount of time lol.
I would love to fish lower red with one of the native guides, but I am not sure they do that any more.
Can confirm – Sunday on Red was bonkers.
Dennis Anderson had an article in the Star Tribune on Sunday about the opener on Upper Red. It was an east wind, it was a zoo, and there was a good bite. The 2019 year class is just getting to “eater” size and made up the majority of the fish harvested.
It was the craziest, best fishing we’ve had since 2006. Waldo, Saturday was even better than Sunday. We always start trolling cranks until we find a pod and can toss jigs. 4 guys in my boat this year because of a breakdown on the way up. We could barely get 4 lines out Saturday morning without someone hooking a fish. Suzuki was in my boat and I don’t know how many fish he caught letting line out behind the boat, 20-30 feet back.
We certainly didn’t keep track, but I’m positive we caught close to 400 walleyes in 2 days. 7 guys in 2 boats.
Gimruis, I can confirm that we caught a lot of 2019 class fish, but we also decided we saw more year classes of fish present this year than we can remember from past trips. We had fish from 10″ all the way up to 24″.
Gimruis, I can confirm that we caught a lot of 2019 class fish, but we also decided we saw more year classes of fish present this year than we can remember from past trips. We had fish from 10″ all the way up to 24″.
Good to hear. Multiple year classes is good for the fishery.
Dennis Anderson doesn’t know his dong from his elbow.
Fishing was very good and sizes varied from small to mid 20’s. Our boat looked like a porn shoot. Lots of excited males.
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