---
type: lake
name: "Upper Red Lake"
county: "Beltrami"
nearest_town: "Waskish"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 119294
max_depth_ft: 15
latitude: 48.13343
longitude: -94.77533
lake_score: 76
dnr_lake_id: "04003501"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/upper-red-lake
---

# Upper Red Lake

Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota, near Waskish

- **Surface Area**: 119,294 acres
- **Max Depth**: 15 ft
- **Average Depth**: 12 ft
- **Shoreline**: 59.2 miles
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 76/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Upper Red Lake is an 119,294-acre lake near Waskish in Beltrami County, Minnesota. It reaches 15 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 12 feet, and has roughly 59.2 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in Beltrami County in the Minnesota DNR's LakeFinder records.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 14 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, and lake sturgeon. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to northern pike and walleye, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There are 2 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. Red Lake State Forest and Rogers' on RED are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays. The lake is listed as infested with starry stonewort — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 29, based on 17 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 2 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 14
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Northern Pike**: All from 30-40" must be immediately released. Possession limit three, only one over 40".
- **Walleye**: Beginning May 9, 2026 through November 14, 2026, the daily and possession limit is five; only one over 17" allowed in possession. Beginning November 15, 2026 through February 28, 2027, the daily and possession limit is four; only one over 17" allowed in possession.
- A person's statewide bag limit may not include more than current bag limit of Red Lake walleye
- <strong>State anglers:</strong> The actual boundary is not a true north-south line. To simplify, it's recommended that anglers stay east of the longitudinal coordinate of <b>94 deg. 43' 12.0"</b> to ensure they are on state waters.
- The fish carcass retention requirements are still in effect. See page 37 of the Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet.
- Those portions of Red Lake located within the Red Lake Indian Reservation are closed to non-band members except by special authorization of the tribal council.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming, Camping

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Campground

### Campgrounds

- Red Lake State Forest
- Rogers' on RED

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Lake Sturgeon, Burbot, Lake Whitefish, Rock Bass, Freshwater Drum, Goldeye, Quillback, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker

## Invasive Species

starry stonewort. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 29
- **Years of record**: 17
- **Earliest**: 2012-03-27
- **Latest**: 2013-05-15

## Nearby Lakes

- [Battle Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/koochiching-county/battle-lake) - 26.9 miles, 286 acres
- [Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/island-lake) - 27.1 miles, 424 acres
- [Dellwater Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/dellwater-lake) - 28 miles, 199 acres
- [Medicine Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/medicine-lake) - 28.1 miles, 461 acres
- [Balm Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/balm-lake) - 28.5 miles, 537 acres
- [Blackduck Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/blackduck-lake) - 28.7 miles, 2,711 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=48.13343,-94.77533)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=04003501)
- [All lakes in Beltrami County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/beltrami-county/upper-red-lake)*