Heading up to the Gunflint for the first time in a few weeks (week after the 4th). Seems like a lot of people have had success on both Alpine and Red Rock. Any recommendations for Walleye & Pike fishing on either lake? Spots, Equipment, methodology?

Alpine for numbers, Red Rock for quality. As far as pike go, have heard of some big ones out of Alpine, but every lake in this area is going to hold pike.


Pic of a 40 incher out of Jasper.

I have never fished Alpine, but I have fished Red Rock, and Red Rock has always produced on numbers and size. Three years ago, we fished the south side of the small northern-most island in the middle of Red Rock with leeches and absolutely killed the walleyes, along with some huge smallies. We really only fished that spot every day/every night for 3 straight days because it was such a hot spot. We are headed back next Friday and hope to find the same luck we had last time. Taking a ton of leeches and also some crawlers this time.

We camped on the SE campsite back in a bay by itself and caught a couple from the shore, but nothing like the island spot.

Nice. Let me know how it goes up there! It seems like right by Jasper Falls on Alpine is a decent spot as well from what I have read if your hot spot cools off.

I can attest to the island spot as I was with loneranger. The south side if the current is strong swirls where the narrows occur can be good, our father did excellent on the Northern side catching less but BIGGER walleyes as that side is much deeper and quicker. The west side (main river route) is money but tough to fish from island unless you wade...if one brings anchor bags that cut I am betting would be amazing (we hope to find out this trip).

I know I hope to do some smallie exploration up by the northern bay of Red Rock by the "stream" connecting RR Bay to RR Lake...had the immense feeling of smallie heaven if timed right.

Another spot I hope we check out is north of this island if you study aerials there is apparently a submerged peak, nearly out of the water. I'd suspect this could be another solid spot to try some mid-depth casting or bobbers set deeper.

I have seen that and was thinking the same thing. Let me know if you guys have any success at any of these spots this weekend.

tynimiller86: "Another spot I hope we check out is north of this island if you study aerials there is apparently a submerged peak, nearly out of the water. I'd suspect this could be another solid spot to try some mid-depth casting or bobbers set deeper."

I was just there a few weeks ago. You can definitely see that boulder pile when going past. It looked like it was just 2 feet below the surface but I bet it was really about 4-6 feet since the water is so clear.

I was on the move that day since it was a travel day and didn't really give it much of a shot. It seems like it should be good for smallies during the day and walleye at night...

tynimiller86: "...
I know I hope to do some smallie exploration up by the northern bay of Red Rock by the "stream" connecting RR Bay to RR Lake...had the immense feeling of smallie heaven if timed right. "

About 10 years ago, my dad and I were waiting for our tow boat to arrive. A guide and fisherman were fishing the creek. They caught a really nice northern with a big bobber and smelt right in the creek. The creek is only about 1 foot deep and 2 foot wide. I'm still amazed at the size of the northern that came from such a small creek.

BigChompers95: "Heading up to the Gunflint for the first time in a few weeks (week after the 4th). Seems like a lot of people have had success on both Alpine and Red Rock. Any recommendations for Walleye & Pike fishing on either lake? Spots, Equipment, methodology?
"

I was on Red Rock last week. Didn't camp there but saw a person at the portage who said that almost all campsites on that lake were visited by a bear the previous day. Apparently this bear was not afraid of people and no amount of screaming or pot/pan banging would scare it. Also, be aware that several campsites on Alpine have been closed due to bear issues. You might want to check with the Ranger Station in GM or with one of the nearby outfitters to get an update on the bear situation... and be sure you have a good bear rope rigging for hoisting your food pack.

Thanks for the heads up. Did you do any fishing on Red Rock?

Yes, fished just a bit and got one nice walleye. We were on the lake at mid-day so not the best time for 'eyes. High winds put a damper on the fishing.

loneranger: "I have never fished Alpine, but I have fished Red Rock, and Red Rock has always produced on numbers and size. Three years ago, we fished the south side of the small northern-most island in the middle of Red Rock with leeches and absolutely killed the walleyes, along with some huge smallies. We really only fished that spot every day/every night for 3 straight days because it was such a hot spot. We are headed back next Friday and hope to find the same luck we had last time. Taking a ton of leeches and also some crawlers this time.

We camped on the SE campsite back in a bay by itself and caught a couple from the shore, but nothing like the island spot."

Same amount of luck this time around on red rock?

I would categorize our trip this go around to Red Rock as much more hit and miss. That island yielded solid fishing but not nearly as good as before. Bites were tougher to come by, but if we'd been depending on fish to feed us we'd easily had enough.

The walleye bite was MUCH tougher to come by. Our crawlers went bad in the heat, but the last two I cast at that island I had two slammer walleye hit them, landing one.

The bay back to the east of our campsite yielded some great fishing around the drop along it's eastern edge; 3 awesome walleye, few pike and some fat smallies.

Speaking of the smallies the girth on those things up there will never cease to amaze me. We caught some SLAMMER smallies.

The route leading out up to red rock bay is one we desperately wished we'd have found had weed growth going well and cast for pike. Just screamed pike.

One of the bigger smallies caught. Split tail and FAT!