Beacon Harbor Resort (Hudec Resort)
Waskish
Call for current rates
Upper Red Lake is the northern half of Red Lake, the largest lake entirely within Minnesota. Most of it lies inside the Red Lake Reservation and is closed to anyone who isn't a band member; the eastern end, about 48,000 acres, is state water open to licensed anglers. Waskish sits where the Tamarac River enters at the east end, and the Kelliher accesses line the south shore.
The walleye collapsed in the 1990s and harvest reopened in 2006 after a restocking plan agreed between the state and the Red Lake Band. Today it is one of the busiest winter walleye lakes in the state: resorts plow miles of ice road and rent heated sleeper houses by the night.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Pick Waskish for the town, the Big Bog and the Tamarac River, or a south-shore access for a plowed road straight out to the fish.
4 places to stay
Waskish, the east end & north shore
Resorts and outfitters along Highway 72 at Waskish, where the Tamarac River meets the lake next to Big Bog State Recreation Area, plus Beacon Harbor up Hudec Resort Road on the north shore.
Bear Paw Guides & Cabins
Waskish
From $35 (nightly and weekly rates) · year not stated
Big Bog State Recreation Area Campground
Waskish
Call for current rates
West Wind Resort
Waskish
Call for current rates
5 places to stay
South shore: the Kelliher accesses
Private accesses off the county roads north of Kelliher, including Mort's, JR's Corner and Rogers, most of which plow ice roads and rent sleepers in winter.
Greater Minnesota Rentals (Greater Minnesota Access)
Kelliher
Call for current rates
JR's Corner Access (JR's Red Lake Access)
Kelliher
From $200–$360 / night · year not stated
Mort's on Upper Red Lake (Mort's Dock)
Kelliher
From $250–$300 / night · year not stated
Rogers Resort & Campground (Rogers on Red)
Kelliher
Call for current rates
Upper Red Cabins
Kelliher
Call for current rates
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RLK's Upper Red Lake Guide ServiceKelliher | Call | – | crappie |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Mort's, JR's Corner, Red Lake Adventures, Red Lake Ice Cabins and RLK's publish sleeper rates by the night, and most of them plow their own ice roads.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon Harbor Resort (Hudec Resort)Waskish | Yes | Yes | |
| Bear Paw Guides & CabinsWaskish | Yes | Yes | |
| Greater Minnesota Rentals (Greater Minnesota Access)Kelliher | – | Yes | maintains lake roads |
| JR's Corner Access (JR's Red Lake Access)Kelliher | – | 4-person $200/night Mon-Thu, $250 weekends/holidays; 6-person $300 Mon-Thu, $360 weekends/holidays (2-night weekend minimum); year not stated | 15+ miles of plowed ice roads; private spur plowing for wheelhouse owners |
| Mort's on Upper Red Lake (Mort's Dock)Kelliher | $150/day (4-person); $100/day with a cabin rental | $190/night 4-person (8x16 or 10x16); $380/night 8-person (12x24) | road access fee included in all rentals; plowed lake roads |
| Northwoods Fish Houses LLCKelliher | – | Yes | Houses are moved to a scouted spot before check-in |
| Outdoor Authority Fish House RentalsWaskish | – | Yes | |
| Red Lake Adventures, LLCWaskish | – | Per night (undated): 8x16 for 2 $160 (2-night minimum), 8x16 for 4 $220, 8x20 deluxe for 4 $250, 10x20 suite for 4 $275, 10x24 suite for 6 $320. Road access $20/day or $150 a season. | Operator plows its own lake access road to the reef complex; guests may also bring their own wheel house or portable |
| Red Lake Ice CabinsKelliher | – | Per night, weekday / weekend (likely 2026-27): Rusty for 2-3 $115-$135 / $135-$160; Ice Castle for 2-4 $180-$200 / $220-$260; Medium for 4-6 $220-$260 / $280-$320; Large for 5-7 $260-$300 / $340-$390; XL for 6-8 $290-$340 / $390-$450. Plus tax. | |
| RLK's Upper Red Lake Guide ServiceKelliher | – | 2026-27, per house per night, Sun-Thu / Fri-Sat: 2-3 people $200 / $275, 4 people $250 / $320, 6 people $325 / $440. Early-ice and on-shore rates from $125. Road pass through JR's Corner Access. | Check in at JR's Corner Access for a road pass; houses placed on fresh ice |
| Rogers Resort & Campground (Rogers on Red)Kelliher | – | Yes | |
| West Wind ResortWaskish | Yes | Yes |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye and pike seasons open (5 walleye, one over 17 inches).
- November 15, 2026Winter walleye limit of 4 (one over 17 inches) takes over.
- February 28, 2027Walleye and pike seasons close.
- March 15, 2027Every fish house must be off the ice by midnight.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 rule for Upper Red Lake. Ice roads open when the ice allows; each access posts its own date.
V. Field notes
The comeback
- Red Lake's walleye population collapsed in the 1990s. In 1999 the state and the Red Lake Band agreed a recovery plan, with large stockings in 1999, 2001 and 2003.
- Walleye harvest on the state waters reopened in 2006. Harvest is now shared under a plan agreed with the Red Lake Nation.
- Big Bog State Recreation Area at Waskish was created to bring visitors back after the collapse. Its boardwalk runs more than a mile into the bog.
VI. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Walleye season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
- Walleye, May 9 – November 14, 2026: 5 fish, only one over 17 inches.
- Walleye, November 15, 2026 – February 28, 2027: 4 fish, only one over 17 inches.
- Northern pike: release every pike from 30 through 40 inches; 3 in possession, only one over 40 inches.
- Only the state portion of the lake is open. The rest of Upper Red Lake lies inside the Red Lake Indian Reservation and is closed to non-band members except by special authorization of the tribal council.
- Fish houses must be off the ice by midnight on March 15, 2027.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and the DNR's adopted emergency rule for Upper Red Lake (effective May 4, 2026). The DNR sets Upper Red's walleye limits each season with the Red Lake Nation and can change them after fall netting; check before you fish.
VII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
What's the walleye limit on Upper Red Lake?
5 walleye with only one over 17 inches from May 9 to November 14, 2026, then 4 with only one over 17 inches from November 15, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (DNR emergency rule, May 2026).
Can anyone fish all of Upper Red Lake?
No. Only the state waters at the east end, about 48,000 acres, are open to licensed anglers. The rest is Red Lake Reservation water, closed to non-band members.
What does a sleeper fish house cost on Upper Red Lake?
Most sleepers for four run $190–$320 a night: Mort's $190, Red Lake Adventures $220–$275, JR's Corner $200–$250, and RLK's $250 Sunday to Thursday or $320 on Friday and Saturday (2026–27). Bigger houses for six to eight run $300–$450.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Red Lake, Minnesota, USA (48012913602), Pierre Markuse (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data, 2017), CC BY 2.0; Big Bog State Recreation Area, Chris Tompkins, CC BY 2.5; Red Lake by Sentinel-2, Copernicus Sentinel-2, ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo.
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