Red Lake Ice Fishing Guide: Upper and Lower Red Lake

Short answer: if you are not a member of the Red Lake Band, your ice fishing on the big lakes is on the state side of Upper Red Lake. Lower Red Lake is closed to non-members. So is the part of Upper Red that lies inside the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The state side is about 48,000 acres of a lake near 120,000 acres. Walleye is the main fish. Perch, pike and some crappie ride along.

To stay legal on Upper Red, the Minnesota DNR says state anglers should stay east of 94° 43' 12.0" W. Run a GPS. The DNR says everyone fishing near the boundary is responsible for knowing where they are.

The lake is shallow, with a mean depth of 12 feet. On December 29, 2023, 122 people were rescued on Upper Red after ice chunks broke off from shore. A plowed road does not tell you the ice is good.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Who owns which water

Upper Red Lake is in Beltrami County. The DNR lists it at 119,294 acres, with a mean depth of 12 feet and a maximum depth of 15 feet. The DNR survey text says the lake is about 120,000 acres. It says 60 percent (72,000 acres) falls under the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. The other 40 percent (48,000 acres) falls under the State of Minnesota.

Both governments manage the walleye under a shared plan. The DNR says harvest targets are set with the Band and that regulations are adjusted often to stay inside those targets.

The Red Lake DNR, the Band's own agency, says its fisheries program manages the fish on 237,000 acres of Upper and Lower Red Lake, along with 135 smaller lakes and about 55 miles of rivers and streams.

The rules for non-members

The Red Lake DNR small lakes page says it plainly. Fishing by non-members is prohibited on Lower Red Lake, on Upper Red Lake within reservation boundaries, and on all other rivers, streams and lakes except the ones it lists. The state DNR says the same about the reservation waters of Red Lake: they are closed to non-band members except by special authorization of the tribal council.

What that means on the ice:

• Lower Red Lake: closed to non-members.
• Upper Red, reservation side: closed to non-members.
• Upper Red, state side: state waters, so Minnesota fishing rules apply. Check the current DNR regulations for limits and licensing.
• Small reservation lakes: a short list of named lakes is open to non-members with a permit. The Red Lake DNR lists them on its small lakes page. A 2018 tribal resolution on the Red Lake DNR site says permits for non-resident non-members are sold at the discretion of tribal officers, that only Band members 18 and older may act as guides, and that anyone fishing without a valid permit is trespassing. The Red Lake DNR phone is (218) 679-3959.

We could not confirm from official pages which small lakes are open to non-members for ice fishing, or what the current permit prices are. The resolution on file is from 2018 and its seasons are written for open water. Call the Red Lake DNR before you plan a trip to any reservation lake.

What to expect for fish

These numbers come from the DNR's Upper Red Lake survey text for 2025, which reports a July 2025 survey. They describe summer netting and angler reports, not winter catches.

• Walleye: the 2025 gill net catch rate was 50.9 fish per net. The DNR says the population is dominated by young fish, mostly the 2022 year class, ages 2 to 5, at 8 to 17 inches. Expect many fish near the 17 inch line, and measure carefully.
• Perch: the 2025 gill net rate was 7.4 fish per net. Growth is excellent. 59 percent of the catch was over 9 inches.
• Northern pike: density is low on purpose. The lake is managed for trophy pike. The DNR reports a 30 to 40 inch protected slot, with one fish allowed over 40 inches.
• Black crappie: the DNR says more are showing up in angler catches. They are nearly all the 2018 year class at around 13 inches. The DNR says not to read this as a new crappie boom.

Winter walleye limits on the state side change from year to year. The DNR survey says the rules are adjusted often. The DNR's Upper Red regulations page we found was out of date, so we do not print a limit. Check the current DNR fishing regulations before you drill.

Access and plowed roads

LakeFinder lists two state access entries on Upper Red. One is three state-owned accesses on the Tamarac River. The other is on the south shore. Both are listed as open.

We could not source road locations, lengths or plowing dates from the DNR, the Red Lake Nation or Beltrami County. So we do not list them. Ask the resort or landing where you plan to park about current conditions.

Two rules of thumb:

• A plowed road is not proof of safe ice. Plowing tells you where people drive, not how thick the ice is.
• Do not drive onto the ice because someone ahead of you did. Measure for your own load.

When the county closes the ice to vehicles

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office says it is responsible for the safety of everyone using county forests and waterways. In the 2023-24 season, FOX 9 reported that the December 29, 2023 rescue of 122 people on Upper Red Lake was the fifth ice rescue call in the two weeks before it. An order restricting vehicle access on Upper Red began the next day, December 30. The sheriff's office announced the restrictions would lift January 10, 2024, after colder temperatures and calmer winds. In the same report the DNR kept its thickness guidance in place and said, "Ice can never be considered 100% safe."

Check with the sheriff's office before a trip: https://www.co.beltrami.mn.us/departments/sheriffs-office/. We did not find a standing page of current ice or vehicle status there.

Rentals

We could not verify any rental business on its own official site, so we do not name any. Before you book a fish house or sleeper house on Upper Red, ask about:

• Whether the house is on the state side of the lake.
• What ice thickness the operator requires before it moves a house out.
• How you get to the house, by plowed road or by operator shuttle.
• Heat, ventilation and a working carbon monoxide alarm. The DNR lists carbon monoxide poisoning in ice shelters as an ice safety topic.

A rental does not remove the risk. Ice on Upper Red has shifted and broken away from shore before.

Ice thickness (DNR)

These are DNR guidelines for new, clear ice only:

• Under 4 inches: stay off.
• 4 inches: ice fishing or other activities on foot.
• 5 to 7 inches: snowmobile or small ATV.
• 7 to 8 inches: side-by-side ATV.
• 9 to 10 inches: small car or SUV.
• 11 to 12 inches: medium SUV or small truck.
• 13 inches: medium truck.
• 16 to 17 inches: heavy-duty truck.
• 20 inches or more: heavy-duty truck with a wheelhouse shelter.

White ice is only about half as strong. The DNR says to double these numbers on white ice. The DNR also says a parked load that sits longer than two hours needs thicker ice than the table. For a person standing, it lists 6 inches for stationary loads. Cars and trucks should be parked at least 50 feet apart and moved every two hours.

Wind, streams, narrow areas, sun, shade, snow and more all change ice strength. Do not count on an even sheet.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Before you go

1. Drill a hole and measure. Clear ice, not slush.
2. Drill again every few steps and again where you set up.
3. Stay off pressure ridges, cracks, dark spots and open water.
4. Wear a flotation device. Carry ice picks and a rope.
5. Tell someone where you are and when you will be back.
6. Know your position against the boundary line. Use GPS.

We have a separate guide on when Upper Red Lake freezes. First ice is the risky time. Treat it as unproven until you measure it.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

FAQ

Can non-members ice fish Lower Red Lake?

No. The Red Lake DNR says fishing by non-members is prohibited on Lower Red Lake and on Upper Red within the reservation boundary.

Where can I fish on Upper Red as a non-member?

On the state side. The DNR says to stay east of 94° 43' 12.0" W to be on state waters. Carry a GPS, since the DNR says it ensures compliance near the boundary.

What fish are on Upper Red Lake?

Walleye are the main target. The DNR also reports perch, low-density trophy pike and some black crappie. Survey numbers come from open-water netting.

How thick should the ice be to walk on?

The DNR says 4 inches of new, clear ice for ice fishing on foot, and 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV. Double it for white ice.

Can the county close the lake to vehicles?

Yes, it has happened. FOX 9 reported that a vehicle access restriction on Upper Red began December 30, 2023, after a 122-person rescue, and the sheriff's office announced it would lift January 10, 2024.