Lower Red Lake

Lower Red Lake

Size
199ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Lower Red Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Crappie
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Rock bass
Rock bass
Walleye
Walleye
Channel catfish
Channel catfish

Overview

Lower Red Lake Map

Fishing Regulations

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

  • Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

Special Species Regulations

  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Bluegill: See Panfish.
  • White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
  • Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 3
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
2-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
836.4706
0Statewide Range849.0614

Lower Red Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
2024
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20249
Channel catfish
fish
8-9 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2015
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2015
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2015
Apr
Crappie
fish
2-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
14.1176
0Statewide Range84.8403

Lower Red Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
2024
May
Largemouth bass
fish
2-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
35.4499
0Statewide Range83.5649

Lower Red Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
2024
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized largemouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202421
Muskellunge
fish
46-47 in
Length Range
47 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0005
0Statewide Range0.0648

Lower Red Lake Muskellunge abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2015
May
2024
Mar
Northern pike
fish
2-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
8.9599
0Statewide Range16.72075

Lower Red Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
2024
May
Perch
fish
2-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0009
0Statewide Range0.7271

Lower Red Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
2024
May
Pumpkinseed
fish
2-9 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
90.5882
0Statewide Range84.67115

Lower Red Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
2024
May
Rock bass
fish
46-47 in
Length Range
47 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.0014
0Statewide Range0.32635

Lower Red Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Mar
Walleye
fish
17-18 in
Length Range
18 in
Length Range
2007
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2007
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2007
Apr