maplelakeduckslayer wrote:Have wanted to get up there, haven't ever been
Go early, like real early, or don't go. It's too far and too in the middle of nowhere to go and not have it be great.
When I say middle of nowhere....it's unlike even 'North Dakota' middle of nowhere....where there's still people that can help you if you run into shit happening with a vehicle or a trailer....there's still always a bar where you can get a greasy burger.
Red has one small to medium-ish sized resort in West Wind and that's it....other than that and a dilapidated old shitty gas station there ain't nothing in Waskish.....and Waskish is an oasis in a desert of bog.
It's worth going, but go when in late November or the first two weeks in December when it's the only ice game in town and walk out. By the time guys are bringing wheel houses out it's already slowed way down usually.
The other thing about Red is what happens elsewhere, except it happens there like times ten......guys pick up and leave before sundown....AKA "Prime Time." For whatever reason it you take a piss an hour before sundown, then take one an hour later in the middle of the bite-fury, almost all the guys out fishing will be packed up and gone. I have no idea why.....seems absolutely retarded to me.
The other thing is that Red is shallow. Fishing out of Waskish in you're going to be in 14' or less. As a result, and in my opinion, the fish tend to be more sensitive to a lot of traffic up above.....another reason why I think it's better early. I think vehicles moving on the ice really fukcs with the walleyes and that's when going early, when only foot traffic is allowed out of West Wind, is the best. I think the fish aren't freaked out and are more prone to bite.
Even so, try to find an area away from everyone else. Red isn't like ML, especially just out of Waskish, in that there isn't structure. There's no need to group up with guys in order to be off a break or on the edge of a reef or mud flat....walleyes just roam this open basin so pick a spot away from others and try to be somewhat quiet after setting up. I'm normally loud as shit on the ice and don't think it's a factor, but on Red I try to get all my holes drilled and then be done with the auger....try not to be dropping 20lbs propane tanks hard on the ice rearranging the portable, shit like that. I don't know if it makes a difference but it's just one of those things that make me feel better about my effort since I want to make a pretty concerted one after driving four plus hours to get to a shithole in the middle of nowhere no one would ever go to if it weren't for a big lake having a shitload of walleyes in it, that you can still usually keep a limit of four on and catch a ton.
Good luck!