Keys for Devils Lake Success

So many times the difference in a good trip and a trip of a lifetime is putting together all the small pieces of the puzzle. Usually, putting some of these smaller pieces together isn’t rocket science and has more to do with organization and preparation than anything else. Once you complete the puzzle, the fun begins!!

Completing the puzzle is especially important when fishing on Devils Lake, ND. Devils Lake is not your traditional walleye lake. Major flooding in the 90’s has helped turn this lake into one of the top walleye, northern, and white bass lakes in the country. The majority of the best fishing spots on the lake were not fishable 20 years ago. In fact, it is common to be fishing on flooded roads, farmsteads, and in the abundant flooded timber. The fish are healthy and usually on the bite. One of the neat aspects about Devils Lake is the variety of presentations that can be used to catch fish. Because there is such a tremendous shallow water bite, there are many options for anglers to choose from: vertical jigging, slip-bobbers, pitching jigs or cranks in the shallows, pulling bouncers and spinners or lindy-rigs, and trolling cranks. All of these presentations put fish in the boat, so use the presentation that you are most comfortable with.

As a fishing guide on Devils Lake, people often ask me when the best time is for summer fishing. It really depends on the style you want to fish and when you can find the time to get away from work. I think that all of the summer months offer fantastic fishing.

May
We usually have total ice off the lake by late April to early May. Fishing can be fantastic in early May and it can also be a bit spotty as well. So much depends on the weather and the spawn. This is the one time of year where I feel it is the most hit and miss. If the stars align, you can experience some fantastic post spawn action for big walleyes and northerns in the shallows. There is probably no better time to catch big fish on the lake. However, the flip side is that there are also days that can be tricky depending on the weather and the spawn. It seems like the later you get into May, the better the bite gets.

June
This is by far one of the most popular months to fish on Devils Lake. There are many reasons to want to be on the lake during this month. First, you will catch beautiful fish in the shallows. When I say shallow, I’m talking that 1 ft. to 10 ft. range. Walleyes, northerns, and white bass are looking for warm water and are on the feed. They have been through grueling spawn and they are hungry. There are many days that you will catch bass, walleyes, and northerns all in the same area. Look for dark bottoms on the lake in bays that are consistently shallow. There are plenty of them on the lake. Work shorelines with jigs and live bait, jigs and plastics like Berkley Gulp or crank baits.

July
July is my favorite month to fish on Devils Lake. The bite is the most consistent and it is not uncommon to catch 60 to 100 fish a day. There are many different bites going on and you can still fish shallow or go a bit deeper and find fish. When I say deeper, I’m talking 12-25 feet. Big fish can still be caught, but it gets more common to catch those 12-18 inch walleyes. Also, fronts don’t seem to have such a negative effect on the fish during this time of the year and the weather is usually nice.

August
When many people think of August, they think of the ‘dog days’ of summer. It seems that someone forgot to tell the fish this because the bite is traditionally still very good. Fish can still be caught shallow, but it is more common to be in that 10-30 ft. of water. All methods work during this time of year for catching fish. You can pull spinners and lindy-rigs, troll cranks, slip-bobber, or work the shallows with pitching jigs or cranks.]

September
September offers a lot of options for outdoorsmen in North Dakota. Waterfowl and upland bird seasons both open in September. Many people come to the lake region and do combo fishing and hunting trips. Hunt in the morning and fish in the afternoon or vice versa. Fishing can still be very solid and the bite will go shallower again as you get later into the fall. There are still patterns out deep too, but it seems like many fish will move up into the shallows to feed once fall arrives.

So when is the best time of year to plan your trip to Devils Lake, ND? I think it depends mainly when you can get your family or friends lined up to make the trip. Usually, there will be larger fish during the earlier part of summer (May until about mid-June). It seems like more fish are caught in late June, July, and August, but they are not traditionally as big. The bottom line is there is no bad time to come out to Devils Lake.

Ten tips for Devils Lake:

1. Use braided line (Fireline is my personal choice). Fish are often caught in the timber or along the rip rap roads where snags are abundant. Also, there are plenty of northerns swimming around and you don’t want to lose those $7.00 cranks.
    
2. Fish shallow! Many people have a hard time believing walleyes can be in 2-4 feet of water in the middle of a warm day, on Devils Lake it seems to be the norm.
    
3. Fish weeds! It seems like many anglers get weeds on their lines and they want to leave. This is a big mistake! Work the pockets and edges of the weeds. It seems like having your boat in that 9-12 ft. range seems to be the ticket.
    
4. Fish flooded roads. That’s right, flooded roads. There are many places on Devils Lake where roads have been flooded. Work the top of the roads and work the ditch line as well. These roads can be loaded with fish!
    
5. Bring smaller cranks. #4, #5, and #7 are great sizes. Colors seem to vary from year to year, but some great color patterns are: perch, firetiger, crawdad, and pearl.
    
6. Jigs and plastics are very effective when pitching and retrieving into the shallows. White and chartreuse seem to consistently catch fish.
    
7. Stay away from the crowds. If you see a bunch of boats, more than likely you have already missed that bite.
    
8. Remember, there really are fish in every bay on Devils Lake. The bays can change from year to year or month to month, so make sure to talk with guides, resorts and local bait shops to get pointed in the right direction.
    
9. Make sure to have plenty of jigs in your tackle box. Anywhere from 1/8 ounce up to a 1/2 ounce. When fishing with bobbers or vertical jigging, most days you want to use as light of a jig as you can (1/8 oz. to ¼ oz.). On the flip side, when casting jigs and retrieving you want use heavier jigs (1/4 oz. to ½ oz.).
    
10. Use catch and release on those bigger fish. Devils Lake does not have a size limit on any of the fish. The lake also has liberal fish limits. Remember, bring your camera with and take a picture of those bigger fish and release them for the future.

Mark Bry (Owner)
Bry’s Guide Service
Devils Lake, ND
(701) 739-0161
www.brysguideservice.com