Red Lake Fishing: A Must Do For Fishermen

People in the United States have considered fishing to be one of America's pastimes for centuries. Of course, it has also been a staple in food supply for just as long. Those who participate in the sport spend a lot of time seeking out fishing locations that provide abundant species and awesome scenery. Red Lake fishing has proven to do just that. Some very tasty fish are found here as well as species that offer a challenging experience.

Red Lake is situated in Beltrami County in the northern section of Minnesota. It is divided into two lakes of virtually equal size by a peninsula stretching down from the east. These two divisions are referred to as Lower Red Lake and Upper Red Lake. Overall, the lake surface area covers nearly 450 square miles making it the largest freshwater lake to rest entirely in the state.

Some of the best fish for eating are found here. Walleye is probably the most fished for. About 3.5 million walleye are caught in Minnesota annually which equates in weight to about 4 million pounds. Anglers seek out this species not only because of its yummy taste but also because catching the fish makes for quite a challenge. They are elusive and difficult to capture, thus their allure grows.

Walleye is not the only species sportsman seek here. The northern pike is also a popular fish. Though they are one of the fiercest predators in the lake's waters they do make for an easy catch. Pike are such voracious hunters that they are overwhelmingly tempted to go after fishermen's baits and lures. Pike average 2-3 pounds in size although some trophies have been awarded to anglers for reeling in a pike over 20 pounds. Some folks feel that pike taste just as good, if not better, than the walleye.

Lake Whitefish, white sucker, yellow perch, black crappie and white crappie are some other fishes that swim in this lake. The most frequently caught are the crappies, with the giant black variety being valued the greatest.

Fishing season at the lake is really a sport that can take place year round. Sportsmen can be found ice fishing for black crappie during the winter months though the spring months are the best time to catch them as this is the season for their spawning runs. The northern pike, walleye and a relative of walleye, the sauger, are typically best sought from the beginning of May through the end of February.

A list of all the annual fishing tournaments throughout the state is published yearly by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Department grants somewhere between 400 and 600 permits to sponsors of all the tournaments. Red Lake is host to many of these tourneys. Entry fees are often as little as $30 and some of the prize money can total up to be $10,000 or more.

Red Lake fishing has and will continue to be one of the most popular fishing spots in Minnesota, if not in the United States. Its diversity of delicious fish makes it the perfect enticement for fishermen.