Devils Lake Fishing Reports

Last week’s warm weather and some windy days resulted in Devils Lake now being ice free and open to both boating and shorefishing.  As for shorefishing, this is one of the best times of the year.  With warmer water moving in from the coulees that feed Devils Lake, spawning fish congregate in those areas and the result is some excellent shorefishing.  Anglers are reporting some excellent pike and walleye fishing in Channel A and the Mauvee Coulee.  The Mauvee Coulee areas that have been producing walleye and pike include both the section north of Lake Alice that goes up towards Cando and between Lake Irvin and Pelican Lake.  In these areas anglers are using jigs tipped with twister tails, leeches, or minnows.  Anglers are also using cranks such as shad raps, countdowns, flicker shads, and hornets.  The best bite is early morning, and late evening.  On warmer days, anglers are also reporting some good fishing in the middle of the day when the water temps are at their peak.  Anglers are also reporting excellent pike fishing in the coulees in the Garske area.  This time of year the fish are moving and if they’re not biting in one area, don’t be afraid to move to the next bridge or bring up Google Earth and look for your own remote spot to try.  As for boaters who finally have some open water to fish, the best bite is similar to that of the shorefishing.  Best times are early morning and evening at the moving water bridges and in shallow bays and warmer water areas during the peak temperature times of the day.  This time of year moving water and the warmest water are keys to better fishing.  In the moving water bridge and coulee areas, try jigging with plastics or using livebait.  In the shallow bays, cranking smaller cranks such as #5 shad raps, hornets, countdowns, and flicker shads works well.  Blue/silver, black/silver, perch, firetiger, white, bleak, and purpledescent are the typical hot colors this time of year.  Some of the better early open water spots are the moving areas such as the mouths of the Mauvee Coulee, Channel A, any of the bridges around the lake and the shallower warmer water bays.  These can be the bays of the Mauvee, the north end of Six Mile, the western shores of the Minnewaukan Flats, and the shallower bays of Black Tiger and East Bay.  The best fishing has been for walleyes and pike with perch and bass fishing being rather slow at this time.  As water temps pick up, the spring bass spawn should start as well and add to the action for both shorefisherman and boaters.  After you catch that limit of fish, don’t forget that Devils Lake now has a new year around heated and air conditioned indoor fish cleaning station located next to Eds Bait Shop for the public to use.  There is no charge for it’s use.

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This weekend, the Lake Region Anglers Association will be having their annual Spring Northern Outing on Saturday May 18th at the Pelican Lake ramp.  Take off is at 8:00 am and participants must register prior to that time.  ANS inspections are required and can be done at the tournament site or Eds Bait Shop.  No late entries are accepted.

Monday, May 6, 2013 

Check out the webcam off of Woodland.
http://www.woodlandresort.com/?page_id=11

April 30, 2013