I spent most of this weekend scouting for upcoming guide trips on Lake of the Woods and Red Lake. We hit the ice on Friday in search of Slabs on Red Lake. The fishing was very tough over the day and it took me until 6:30 PM and 300 holes to find the fish. We did not spend any time fishing these fish, but Pikester and his group picked up and moved and still ended up catching some fish yet that night. Here is Chad with a couple nice Red Lake Slabs.
We fished Lake of the Woods for some of the day on Saturday. We used snowmobiles and headed out 18 Miles or so. We bounced around in different areas that have produced fish in the past. The highlight of the day was this GIANT jumbo perch weighing 2.25 Pounds. This is my personal best to date and was a highlight to the trip for me.
The fishing on Lake of the Woods was really good, as usual. We kept 3 limits of walleye and a few sauger. The fish were all between 14-17 inches, perfect eaters!! We also released 31 more fish and were off the lake by 2:30 in the afternoon. We used Go Devil jigging spoons by Scenic Tackly to catch all of the fish. Here is a picture of Todd and Gary with some of the days catch.
We ended up back on Red Lake Saturday evening. We ended up getting set up a little late but it took only 25 minutes to catch 2 limits of crappies. We fished the same area where I had found fish the night before. Here is a picture of Todd, with a couple of the larger slabs for that evening, both fish went 14 3/4 inches, and both were taken on Phelps Glow Tick Jigs. I really enjoy guiding combo trips such as this. There is nothing better than fishing two of the great lakes in MN in one weekend.
Bigger picture of that Perch
Valentine’s Dinner at the Steil House!
Hey Scott nice report.
Great Perch ..
Nice catch, thats one big Perch.
Ron
How long is that perch Scott? You getting her mounted? That’s a sumo, no matter where you are fishing!!!!
Is just me or is that FATTEST JUMBO I have ever heard of.
I think my all time best is 1.5.
It looks like it’s 15, 16 inches.
Nice job Scott……
Scott, we should have followed you!
Nice fish!
Tuck
The perch was 14.5 inches long. It is the FATTEST perch I have ever seen, no doubt. I have seen 14 inch perch before, this one looked like it had already ate one of those. It takes a really nice fish to get me excited, this one got me excited
The perch out of LOW have always been the fattest perch and that includes those from SD & ND. I am sure there are 3 pounders swimming around LOW.
I wish everyone could see it, the picture does not do it justice. Yes, I am having it reproduced and the fish is in my freezer. It’s air sack came out of its mouth, along with 3 crawfish and it couldn’t swim away.
Scott,great job on that jumbo.
Ryan Hale
Nice fish Scott,
Looks like that was alot of fun cathcing those fish!
Nice job.
JWB
Wow, I would have guessed it bigger than that. I’ve caught a handfull of 14″ perch, but never one that looked like that. I said I wouldn’t mount one unless it was 15, but a fish like that would be a great mount. I wouldn’t feel the least bit bad about killing the fish. It happens all the time and we all know you put your share back. Thanks for sharing!!
Awsome perch and crappies Scott!
We’re heading up to URL Friday night for the weekend with my wife and son. Hopefully we will find them before I have to drill 300 holes. But whatever it takes!
Borch
Nice fish Scott.
Jeff, Look me up. You have my cell number I think. I will be on Red Friday-Monday this week.
Scott I think that Perch could use the low carb diet!
Theresa caught one up there that was big, but nowhere that big! Nice job! See ya this weekend.
Scott,
Nice report and super Crappies, and greater Perch, thanks last week in locating Derek.
sure like to see more pictures. Jack…
Scott your a little out of range for me to just pop in any time. But when I’m in your neck of woods I will give you a call. Thanks for the offer. Same goes here if your in my area.
More pics of Derek??? Oh, more fish you mean!
[its been a longgggggggggg winter Jack]
Borch, they did not range very far this weekend. You had to be on top of them. When you were they weren’t going anywhere except up the hole. It was just one of those weekends, either you got them good or you didn’t. Hopefully they move a little bit more this weekend. It keeps people spread out more.
Jeff Patrick, I was saying that to Jeff Borchart because he is going to be on the lake this weekend. But, you can stop by if you are in the area too
I will dig through the pictures, I have taken hundres this winter.
Bill, Jack is shooting a Hot Walleye Fisherman Calender for charity. Get out your speedo, your next.
So what do you guys start fishing with on Red and what do you find is usually the most successful? Horizontal jigs like a Ratso or something more vertical or angled like a Shrimpo, or a jigging spoon like a little Go-Devil, or even a plain hook & bobber? Just wondering ‘cuz I’m going up in 10 days and like to configure my rods before I get there. Thanks.
Clark
It really depends on the day. I like to have a verticle presentation set up, like a Phelps Tick Jig and I like to have a 1/16 Go Devil set up. Sometime is takes a lot of jigging to get them to come it and take a look. When this is the case, that little Red Glow Go Devil is the ticket. If they like it dead still, the Phelps Tick Jig is the ticket usually. There are many other glow jigs that work at times but I stick with my presentation mentioned above.
Thanks Scott,
I have a bunch of the 1/16th oz Go Devils, and a bunch of tick jigs so I’ll definitely have a few of those rigged up. I’ll have a little of everything rigged but most will be vertical style.
Clark
how does a guy know where to start looking for red lake crops. I have been there 3 times in the last 3 years and caught 3 crappies all in about 3 minutes on the 3rd time. I have nothing against drilling holes and its not uncommon for me to go through over a tank of gas on a given outing. I wouuld assume start away from the crowds but I dont know. Anyone have any advice?
Ive only been there once, but if it were me I would be searching with my Vexilar flasher shooting through the ice to find schools of fish. I would be mobile on a ATV or sled until I found fish and then start drilling holes. Word of mouth also helps as does a good guide. The fish roam so much due to pressure and shifting bait fish it can be almost impossible to pin point exact locations without much stucture in the lake. I can also say being up there during the week will increase your chances. March also seems to be the time the fish really start to group up.
Scott,
I don’t think I’ve got your cell(shoot me and email). I didn’t get a chance to get back in here before we left. My wife’s grandmother died and the week was pretty hectic. My wife, son and I did manage to get out Saturday for a day of chasing those URL crappies. We ended up with 27 for the the three of us Saturday. Drilled a lot of holes and ended getting some during the day and had a hot bite for about an hour in the evening.
We’re trying to make another trip in a few weeks if we can find somewhere to stay. It may end up just being a day trip otherwise.
The fishing was really good, I will get a new report up when I get a chance.
As for a place to stay. I have a friend that rents out a cabin on the lake. It is obviously full most weekends but totally open during the week and you don’t have to fight the crowds. If anyone is looking for a nice cabin to stay in, let me know.
We had a group go up to red on tues the 22nd. virtualy no fish first day 3 northerns about 4 walleye, two perch. Then on wednesday night about 6:00 pm we found the crappy. The seven of us had our limit in about 40 minutes. Had several more walleye mixed in. We fished out of Hillmans access. toast: