Upper Red – Walleye Limit Reduced

It looks like anglers will only be allowed to harvest 3 fish with one over 17″ this Winter.

https://www.wctrib.com/northland-outdoors/6734272-Minnesota-DNR-tightens-winter-walleye-limits-on-Upper-Red-Lake

The West Central Tribune link wouldn’t let me in without registering. Here’s a DNR link. Same info.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2020/10/26/upper-red-lake-walleye-regulations-change-winter-season

The big walleye lakes of northern Minnesota are gonna get urine pounded. And pis pounded hard

I’m no expert. My questions are more based on gaining understanding of the situation from those more informed.

-Is this a preventative or proactive move knowing the hours spent fishing this year will likely shatter all records, and the Canadian border is closed?

-Is this move due to a noticable decline in fish populations in URL? Did surveys of fish populations show signs of a decline?

I’m all for whatever it takes to protect a fishery. Keeping walleye is great and all, but I’d rather have a body of water I can go and catch a lot of quality fish year after year than keep more fish. 3 walleyes is still a nice catch and fish fry per person. I think the explosion of wheelhouses fishing 24-7 for days on end puts a lot of pressure on lakes in ways not possible even just ~10 years ago. The technology today makes people more efficient than ever at catching fish while bURL freezing so early due to its geography often make it the one show in town at the start of ice season.

Ice conditions likely play a role too, although there’s no way to predict or account for it. Last season the ice was some of the worst in years on URL and greatly limited the amount of houses that could be taken on the lake.

My brother in law couldn’t go very far out with his and he got stuck several times. Worst headache he’s experienced in years out there.

The lack of pressure on this and other lakes (because of the poor conditions) is what sent record ice angling pressure to Mille Lacs.

I think it’s safe to assume that if there is even a normal average ice season, the big walleye lakes are going to get hammered this season like BuckyBadger already stated. More so than usual if the trend follows what it was with more people out during the open water season, camping, etc.

I have absolutely no problem with that limit. 3 fish in the 16 inch range is plenty for 1 person to eat, and is bringing home 1 less fish going to make or break the enjoyment of the trip for anybody?

The 1st time I went to Red I had a ball catching walleyes all day, and unlike many lakes in WI, I could actually keep some for supper! I didn’t make the trip just because I could keep 4, or 3, or 5, or whatever.

If reducing the bag keeps that lake healthy I’m all for it.

Tucker

I know this is only semi-related, but I dont see anything about mille lacs this winter. Does anyone know if we will have a slot there?

I sure hope this keeps all anglers away. Imagine URL with not another angler on the ice….

Only 1 better tasting walleye from Midwest waters. That’d be Devils Lake, ND. At least on my palate. YMMV

SnakeShaker wrote:

Does anyone know if we will have a slot there?

I have not seen anything either but the new “winter” restrictions start Dec 1 so they should be out soon. I hope its mandatory catch and release all season so there’s no closure next summer.

Hope we can keep 1 again.

No issue with this. Like bigpike said, I think the major lakes are going to see record crowds this winter as long as the heavy snow holds off.

I’m just fine with the reduced limits, now if everyone just abides by them.

Something should have been done on LOW years ago.

I’m fine with the URL limit being reduced. There will be unprecedented pressure this season. It’s been getting more and more challenging to get fish over 17” out there. Three fish can feed a whole family for a meal. It’s a natural resource, not a grocery store.

Mille Lacs regs haven’t been released yet. I’m hoping we’re allowed a fish again. Those 21-inchers are tasty! I don’t think it’d be a bad idea to allow a 21” and up slot to get some of those big predators out of the system.

Bass Thumb wrote:

I’m fine with the URL limit being reduced. There will be unprecedented pressure this season. It’s been getting more and more challenging to get fish over 17” out there. Three fish can feed a whole family for a meal. It’s a natural resource, not a grocery store.

Mille Lacs regs haven’t been released yet. I’m hoping we’re allowed a fish again. Those 21-inchers are tasty! I don’t think it’d be a bad idea to allow a 21” and up slot to get some of those big predators out of the system.

^This is interesting. A lot of the reading I am doing has suggested the opposite. Many say there were a ton of 16-20″ fish in the system last ice season, that will likely be “overs” this year.

Bass Thumb wrote:

I’m fine with the URL limit being reduced. There will be unprecedented pressure this season. It’s been getting more and more challenging to get fish over 17” out there. Three fish can feed a whole family for a meal. It’s a natural resource, not a grocery store.

Our experience in the 5 trips we did last years was it was hard to catch any fish under. We had tons over size but couldn’t get any under

buckybadger wrote:

I’m no expert. My questions are more based on gaining understanding of the situation from those more informed.

-Is this a preventative or proactive move knowing the hours spent fishing this year will likely shatter all records, and the Canadian border is closed?

-Is this move due to a noticable decline in fish populations in URL? Did surveys of fish populations show signs of a decline?

I’m all for whatever it takes to protect a fishery. Keeping <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye is great and all, but I’d rather have a body of water I can go and catch a lot of quality fish year after year than keep more fish. 3 walleyes is still a nice catch and fish fry per person. I think the explosion of wheelhouses fishing 24-7 for days on end puts a lot of pressure on lakes in ways not possible even just ~10 years ago. The technology today makes people more efficient than ever at catching fish while bURL freezing so early due to its geography often make it the one show in town at the start of ice season.

Neither, from the DNR link: “Heavy winter fishing over the last four years necessitated more restrictive regulations. Winter angling on Upper Red Lake averaged 1.6 million angler hours with a harvest of 130,000 pounds annually over this period. The new regulations, which become effective Sunday, Nov. 1, lower the possession limit from the four-walleye limits in place during the 2020 open water season and the 2019-2020 winter season.

buckybadger wrote:

I’m no expert. My questions are more based on gaining understanding of the situation from those more informed.

-Is this a preventative or proactive move knowing the hours spent fishing this year will likely shatter all records, and the Canadian border is closed?

-Is this move due to a noticable decline in fish populations in URL? Did surveys of fish populations show signs of a decline?

I’m all for whatever it takes to protect a fishery. Keeping <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye is great and all, but I’d rather have a body of water I can go and catch a lot of quality fish year after year than keep more fish. 3 walleyes is still a nice catch and fish fry per person. I think the explosion of wheelhouses fishing 24-7 for days on end puts a lot of pressure on lakes in ways not possible even just ~10 years ago. The technology today makes people more efficient than ever at catching fish while bURL freezing so early due to its geography often make it the one show in town at the start of ice season.

Neither, from the DNR link: “Heavy winter fishing over the last four years necessitated more restrictive regulations. Winter angling on Upper Red Lake averaged 1.6 million angler hours with a harvest of 130,000 pounds annually over this period. The new regulations, which become effective Sunday, Nov. 1, lower the possession limit from the four-walleye limits in place during the 2020 open water season and the 2019-2020 winter season.

“Anglers should remember to bring a good measuring device along with them on their trip to Upper Red Lake,” said Andy Thompson, Bemidji area fisheries supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Many walleye will measure just above, and just under, the 17-inch size restriction.”

The Red Lake Nation and the Minnesota DNR manage walleye harvest on Red Lake under a joint harvest plan that the Red Lakes Fisheries Technical Committee revised in 2015.

The DNR will determine next year’s open water harvest regulations after the winter fishing season. An Upper Red Lake Citizen Advisory Committee reviews walleye harvest totals and regulation options and provides recommendations for regulations for the state waters of Upper Red Lake.”

buckybadger wrote:

A lot of the reading I am doing has suggested the opposite. Many say there were a ton of 16-20″ fish in the system last ice season, that will likely be “overs” this year.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Our experience in the 5 trips we did last years was it was hard to catch any fish under. We had tons over size but couldn’t get any under

This is exactly what I’ve been hearing also. A lot of sorting just to get the (legals) under 17″. I might also guess this year will be even more challenging as any remaining 16″ fish will now be over 17″.

And other than the one over, everyone will be competing for the unders.

Anyone think in a few more years URL could become a phenomenal big walleye destination?

Trophies plus an eater or two, you think the lake is hit hard now?

IceManBran wrote:

No issue with this. Like bigpike said, I think the major lakes are going to see record crowds this winter as long as the heavy snow holds off.

I think we are going to see more and more reduced winter regulations in the future. Ice fishing has gained an incredible increase in popularity.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

Anyone think in a few more years URL could become a phenomenal big walleye destination?

No. It was a factory for eater eyes 75 yrs ago and will probably continue to be in the future. It has never been, and will likely never be known as a trophy walleye destination. You almost never hear of a walleye that breaks 28″ coming out of there.

Timmy wrote:

No. It was a factory for eater eyes 75 yrs ago and will probably continue to be in the future. It has never been, and will likely never be known as a trophy walleye destination. You almost never hear of a walleye that breaks 28″ coming out of there.

Well I have heard that some believe Red Lake walleye genetics might limit their overall growth potential, I guess we may find out in the next few years.

Of course it was a factory for eater walleyes 75 years ago, but that was when there were more liberal limits and no slot restrictions. So it stands to reason most all were harvested before they had a chance to get big in any significant numbers.

It was also subject to commercial harvest. Still is but predominantly in LRL and more regulated.

Ultimately walleyes were close to being fished out entirely from angler overharvest and unregulated netting.

Comparatively, 25-28″ walleyes were rare in Mille Lacs back in the 1950’s and 60’s because most were harvested before they got that big. Now 25-28″ walleyes are far more common.

I guess it’s still all speculative at this point, but with the reduced bag limit and “one over” protected slot…I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more big walleyes from URL in the next few years. I doubt an abundance of 10 lb’rs, but more bigger fish than in the historical past.

Ultimately

With the walleye fishing being totally shut down from the late 90’s until 2006, followed by slots and tight monitoring and regs from then until now, I think if it was to become a trophy fishery, we would be seeing that already. It is an incredible factory for churning out eaters – and 2/3 of the lake is off limits to us, so I would think that we would be seeing the occasional 30″ fish get caught, but we simply aren’t. It seems like there are a load of 20-25 fish caught, and they get pretty scarce over that size. over 28″ seems to be nearly non-existent. If solely looking for a 28″+ walleye, URL would not make my list at all. If looking for a 50 fish day and piles of nice eaters, it is at the top of my list!

Agree it is not a trophy lake nor will it be.

Timmy wrote:

With the walleye fishing being totally shut down from the late 90’s until 2006, followed by slots and tight monitoring and regs from then until now, I think if it was to become a trophy fishery, we would be seeing that already. It is an incredible factory for churning out eaters – and 2/3 of the lake is off limits to us, so I would think that we would be seeing the occasional 30″ fish get caught, but we simply aren’t. It seems like there are a load of 20-25 fish caught, and they get pretty scarce over that size. over 28″ seems to be nearly non-existent. If solely looking for a 28″+ walleye, URL would not make my list at all. If looking for a 50 fish day and piles of nice eaters, it is at the top of my list!

Good points, I mostly agree.

I would think too there’d be more 26-28″ caught by now.

I suppose my thoughts weren’t as much 28″+ trophy fish as just a shift in size structure to more larger, bigger fish relative to the abundance of eaters. It sounds as though that could already be happening with some anglers already claiming more and more of the catch going over that 17″ slot.

FWIW a 28″+ plus fish is anything but common on Mille Lacs. There’s a few out there yes, but it does seem to fall off sharply at 28″.

True trophy walleye destinations would be LOTW/Rainy River, Mississippi River, Erie, Green Bay, Winnipeg if we’re talking about better odds for hooking a giant.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Timmy wrote:</div>
With the walleye fishing being totally shut down from the late 90’s until 2006, followed by slots and tight monitoring and regs from then until now, I think if it was to become a trophy fishery, we would be seeing that already. It is an incredible factory for churning out eaters – and 2/3 of the lake is off limits to us, so I would think that we would be seeing the occasional 30″ fish get caught, but we simply aren’t. It seems like there are a load of 20-25 fish caught, and they get pretty scarce over that size. over 28″ seems to be nearly non-existent. If solely looking for a 28″+ walleye, URL would not make my list at all. If looking for a 50 fish day and piles of nice eaters, it is at the top of my list!

Good points, I mostly agree.

I would think too there’d be more 26-28″ caught by now.

I suppose my thoughts weren’t as much 28″+ trophy fish as just a shift in size structure to more larger, bigger fish relative to the abundance of eaters. It sounds as though that could already be happening with some anglers already claiming more and more of the catch going over that 17″ slot.

FWIW a 28″+ plus fish is anything but common on Mille Lacs. There’s a few out there yes, but it does seem to fall off sharply at 28″.

True trophy walleye destinations would be LOTW/Rainy River, Mississippi River, Erie, Green Bay, Winnipeg if we’re talking about better odds for hooking a giant.

Agreed. If I’m looking for a 10# or greater fish to put on the wall, it isn’t URL or Mille Lacs. I do think URL will see a lot more 3-5# fish in the near future with the shift to a 3 fish limit.

They have had this limit several times in the past. 2017 was when they changed it to four I believe. ( Don’t quote me on that) It was three previously. Actually was changed to two fish in recent years. I believe 2015.

The size structure gets hammered every year. Early season you here reports of nice over 17 inch fish you get into Jan and Feb all you here is guys catching smaller fish.

I honestly do not think this 3 fish limit changes much for the size structure of the lake overall. It is to try to keep the amount of total lbs taken. Mostly take too quickly in the ice season.

The lake is pretty amazing at pumping out walleyes every spring as it gets pounded every winter more than probably any lake in MN.

Ripjiggen wrote:

They have had this limit several times in the past. 2017 was when they changed it to four I believe. ( Don’t quote me on that) It was three previously. Actually was changed to two fish in recent years. I believe 2015.

The size structure gets hammered every year. Early season you here reports of nice over 17 inch fish you get into Jan and Feb all you here is guys catching smaller fish.

I honestly do not think this 3 fish limit changes much for the size structure of the lake overall. It is to try to keep the amount of total lbs taken. Mostly take too quickly in the ice season.

The lake is pretty amazing at pumping out walleyes every spring as it gets pounded every winter more than probably any lake in MN.

^^^^ This
Fished URL since 2002, back in the crappie boom days. There has been a 3 fish winter limit (and a few summer ones too) quite a few years, and with the explosion of wheel houses the last 7/8 years there will be times when an adjustment is needed.
I have been so impressed with the management of URL by both the Band and MNDNR since walleye reopened. They’ve taken proactive measures based on actual data, and implement it to sustain one of the best fisheries in the State despite the pounding it gets winter after winter.
This is one lake that has shined as it relates to slots and adjusting harvest regs, to fit the population dynamics (notably different than ML). The DNR can’t regulate how many folks hit the ice on URL each winter, but they can adjust slots and limits to keep within the acceptable range. And thats what they’ve done since 2006, and I say kudos to them for that.
And if there are so many more people this year than years past as predicted, they’ve shown they are not above lowering the limit mid-season to protect the resource, as they did in the winter of 14-15.

Walleye student –

I know it is not a significant sample, but my early open water experiences (and it has been pretty consistent over the years) have been great. I know of no better lake to beat up on a pile of 19-21″ walleyes. Last opening day my son and I fished from 9 until 4 and landed roughly 50 fish. I was literally pulling the anchor in when to head home he landed the 8th keeper we got that day. Fish after fish averaging 19-20 inches – it was a blast. 6 (barely) unders and 2 overs….what a great way to struggle for a limit. not a trophy destination, but still a phenomenal bite.

I’ve been fishing red since the crappie days. Everyone is concerned about how many new fisherman and how many new wheel house owners there are and I could care less. The fishing pressure from this group of newbies will be minimal. The one good thing it will do is help resorts by paying access,bait fees, restaurant/bar and pump more money into the local economy. A good majority of these new money anglers don’t have a clue what they are doing. The 3 fish limit is fine with me. Red is a huge lake and there is more fish than you can imagine in it because it is managed well.