North Dakota Fishing - North Dakota Hunting

name: The Rally Monkey
city: GGF
Date: 12/22/2002
Time: 03:44:36 PM

Two of us fished near woods-rutten road in about 11' of water last night. We caught 3 very small walleyes and a very small perch. Holy, put another freshwater shrimp on the barby. Too many of those suckers down there. I would have about 5 or 6 on my presentation when I would bring it up.

RM

name: Cliff
city: Williamsburg
Date: 12/21/2002
Time: 12:10:33 AM

You wouldn't believe the fishing trip... My son was catching crappies left and right on a full moon in Dec.I was using a blue jig rapala jigging about 7 feet deep when I felt a nice hit. I knew it wasn't a crappie but as I brought it up I thought ahhh a small mouth but just as it came up through the hole it shot up out of the hole and my 2 pound smallmouth turned out to be a 3.5 lb. muskrat. As we tried to bail out of the shanny the muskrat made about three trips around my legs before he got his bearings and returned down the hole. The only comment my son Michael made was "dad do you have another blue & silver rapala? True story!!!

The temps are starting to descend in to the teens. The Perch fishing has been hot for the last five days. I had my first guide trip of the winter season on Dec. 12th. 13th. and 14th. all three days we limited out on Perch, I had a father and son from WI. We fished creal bay in 32 ft. of water the fish did not want minnows but the Kastmaster with a ratfinky six inches below tipped with 3 spikes did the trick. I have my second group in as I speek, today was are first day out the two of them are  older men and it took them awhile to get the technique down put they did ok, they ended up getting 58 perch between the two of them.

The ice held up great with the warm temps we have had. We have 6 to 12 inches of ice, if you are comeing out to fish becareful by the pressure ridges! Well I have to get my lunches ready for tomarrows trip, until next time!

I sent some pictures of the catches of the last couple trips.

Jason Feldner

Perch-Eyes Guide Service and Lodging

Home # 701-473-2533

web site www.percheyes.com

name: walleye
city: devils lake
Date: 12/18/2002
Time: 07:07:18 PM

Jimmy - I don't know if you remember what the coordinates were on your GPS before it went down the hole, but if you do I would be happy to take you back out there.

We could put my underwater camera down and give you one last look at it.

Let's go on a calm day.

name: Steve
city: bemidji
Date: 12/18/2002
Time: 05:32:13 PM

Hey, guys, just wanted to say, I did almost the same thing as the guy below except I dropped my vexlar and my latern, no poles, down my hole but I kept fishing and ended up bring both of them back up. Damn wind, I tell ya

name: Jimmy
city: Grand Forks
: jplacquay@hotmail.com
Date: 12/18/2002
Time: 07:07:24 AM

Thanks Jumbo. I am still crying. :(

name: Jumbo
city: Grand Forks, ND
Date: 12/18/2002
Time: 12:27:40 AM

Jimmy, I've heard of some bad luck fishing, but your story takes the cake...The next time I get skunked, I will won't even think of complaining...Better luck next time, if you have a next time.

name: Jimmy
city: Grand Forks
: jplacquay@hotmail.com
Date: 12/17/2002
Time: 12:59:34 PM

You guys and girls are not goiong to beleave what happened to me today!!! I went out to devils lake at 6:00am this morning. I figured that I would get there and set up before sunrise to get all the good action through the morning. I got out to east bay, set up a FraBill 2 man ice house. drilled the holes and thought that I was ready to fish. Alas, the win kicked up and fliped my house with ME IN IT!!! My trusty Ice fishing pail with my fish finder 4 NEW poles and Reels AND my NEW Garmin GPS 12XL flipped smack dab on top of my freshly drilled hole!!! I LOST EVERYTHING!!!! Its gone. All gone!!! Then (after yelling all holly heck) tried to get the house broken down so I could go home, but NOOOO the wind cought the house and drug me half way to the other bank about 400 yards or so with me on my belly all the way. Finally I got every thing put away so I could just go home. But just to add insult to injery, or should I say injery to insult I slipped on the ice and hurt my back AND my pail hit the ice and blew away! I almost started to cry. I finally did make it home and I called my insurance company to find out if this sort of thing would be covered in my renters insurance, OF COURSE NOT!!! But they were sure fast to try to sell me a policy that would cover this sort of thing in the future. I said, "WHY I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO LOSE!!!!!!" and hung up. I didn't even get a line wet.

name: Tom
city: Remsen
: tjaminet@hotmail.com
Date: 12/17/2002
Time: 12:03:09 PM

Devil's Lake Fishing for Pearch

name: Kris Moen
city: Gilby
: moener25@hotmail.com
Date: 12/17/2002
Time: 03:12:19 AM

Anyone know about the ice conditions on Creel Bay??

name: jemma
city: devils lake
Date: 12/15/2002
Time: 08:30:18 PM

The ice is thick enouhg on the north side of the cacino and the jombos are biting fast asn steady i was there 130 and i had my limit good luck with the fishing

name: Brad Durick
city: Grand Forks
Date: 12/14/2002
Time: 11:45:33 PM

Does anyone know what the ice conditions on devils and area lakes is like with the recent warm weather?

name: Richard
city: Lawton
Date: 12/10/2002
Time: 02:43:54 PM

Fished Budweiser Bay Saturday morning and couldn't find anything to mark on the Vexilar. Noone else was out there. There's a substantial pressure ridge following the towers so I was limited in how far out I could go.

Tried Haybale and could mark fish right on the bottom, but they wouldn't bite - talked to a few others and they didn't have much either.

Caught 5 decent walleyes on Black Tiger in 18' of water using a chartreuse glow casting-style forage minnow (spoon with a trebble hook on the bottom, not the jig-style)

Went back to Black Tiger Sunday and caught one nice walleye, then went out to 20' of water and marked some perch again holding close to the bottom but couldn't get them to bite - had a few pike come through.

Ice was about 6" on Budweiser, 6-8" on Haybale, and 4-8" on Black Tiger, there's some poor ice on the point off of the East Bay bait shop that's all broken up.

name: William
city: Chelsea
Date: 12/04/2002
Time: 06:43:44 PM

Thanks for the info i am looking foward to being on Dl. Thanks Again William

name: Jiggin
city: Grand Forks ND
Date: 12/04/2002
Time: 03:50:13 PM

William, January can be very unpredictable in ND. We are experiencing negative temps right now, and you should expect much of the same. Devils lake has decent perch fishing in deeper water during the day and walleye fishing along the shores in the early morning and evening. Plan on moving often if you want to fill the bucket with perch. Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

name: William Bredernitz
city: Chelsea, Mi
: Brederwil@aol.com
Date: 12/03/2002
Time: 10:35:02 PM

I am planing on being in Devils Lake january 1st till the 8th and i was just wondering what i could expect for weather fishing and all. I know the weather can be really unpredictable but i thought maybe someone could give me an estimate of what to expect. And could i get some information on what kind of fishing yall do in the way of tech. Thanks a bunch. William

name: gary boedeker
city: almena, wi.
: boedeker2001@hotmail.com
Date: 12/03/2002
Time: 04:09:04 PM

can anyone give me a fishing report for devils lake? plan on being there Dec. 9th

Thanks Gary boedeker2001@hotmail.com

name: magmike
city: maddock
: magmike2000@hotmail.com
Date: 11/17/2002
Time: 07:57:59 PM

some walk out fishing on devils lake. sheltered bays etc I hope to try it tommorrow. Mike

ALNWALLEYE
Grand Forks

10/28/2002
04:09:49 PM

Got a nice limit of walleyes from 16"-19" on 10-26. Caught 2 at 6 Mile Bridge and the rest were in Creel Bay. Plain Black jig with a minnow seemed to work the best. Fished 22'-31' in the current.

Allen
Grand Forks

10/24/2002
05:06:01 AM

John, In my book, DL is overrated as a perch fishery. There are LARGE perch in there, but try as I may, I have never caught a 2 lb perch in DL, nor do I consistently (ever) catch large numbers of them (20 in a day with 15 keepers is a good day for most people). I know some people do better, but they're few out of the many that fish there. Time and time again I go there only to find people saying you should have been here yesterday, or everybody for as far as the eye can see is restless because the fish aren't biting as good as the reputation (advertisements) of the lake. I really do believe that it is over fished (or oversized for its fish population). My 2 centavos worth. I'm sure I will be going back this year though.

John Naeve
Rapid City, SD
naeveja@msn.com
10/23/2002
09:55:48 PM

Down here in SD all we hear about Devil's Lake is that it harbors BIG PERCH, and all the stories I've read on your web page tonight talk mostly of N.Pike and Walleye. Is DL getting fished out of perch?

Ice fishing is my favorite pastime in the winter. Trout is the #1 attraction around here, and they're so easy to catch, but it's a fun and clean sport. I always set outside and watch everybody having fun. Happy fishing, Jack Naeve

John Naeve
Rapid City, SD
naeveja@msn.com
10/23/2002
09:54:11 PM

Down here in SD all we hear about Devil's Lake is that it harbors BIG PERCH, and all the stories I've read on your web page tonight talk mostly of N.Pike and Walleye. Is DL getting fished out of perch?

Ice fishing is my favorite pastime in the winter. Trout is the #1 attraction around here, and they're so easy to catch, but it's a fun and clean sport. I always set outside and watch everybody having fun. Happy fishing, Jack Naeve

John Naeve
Rapid City, SD
naeveja@msn.com
10/23/2002
09:41:16 PM

Down here in SD all we hear about Devil's Lake is that it harbors BIG PERCH, and all the stories I've read on your web page tonight talk mostly of N.Pike and Walleye. Is DL getting fished out of perch?

Ice fishing is my favorite pastime in the winter. Trout is the #1 attraction around here, and they're so easy to catch, but it's a fun and clean sport. I always set outside and watch everybody having fun. Happy fishing, Jack Naeve

joe
desplains
joe12198@msn.com
09/12/2002
07:23:28 PM

give me fising report

Rick
Fargo
fholbrook@cableone.net
09/01/2002
04:18:27 PM

We fished Devils Lake Friday evening thru Sunday morning 12:00pm Friday we were on Creel Bay north of the access on the east side. We found 3 14-16" 'eyes on Saturday we were up on Six Mile Bay. We used bottom bouncers and spinners with leeches Caught fish from 6 to 22 inches. On Sunday went back to Creel bay fishing was good until the wind died down. Then we moved up to Military Point fished from 20 to 25 feet deep and caught and released a bunch of 'eyes from 12 to 17 inches

Auggie264
Fargo/Crystal
d_ucttape@yahoo.com
08/26/2002
08:04:19 AM

Walleye fishing will be tuff in Pelican lake until the turnover happens. Walleye don't like the 75 degree water in the flats and pelican. This time of year the walleyes are turning nomadic and are generally in the basin, 20 feet and deeper. Ive had luck on jigs, and rigs fishing the transition zone of rocks to mud. Every rock pile I went to though was good for no more than 2 or three walleyes. I have caught 3 or 4 for everyone I keep. Released a 26.5 and a handfull over 20 inches the past week. I have had some luck downrigging and probably will be doing mainly that this comming weekend prior to the goose hunt on Sunday. Good luck

matt mireault
grand forks
mattie_spears@hotmail.com
08/24/2002
05:04:05 PM

I was fishing at DL on friday, august 23 and saturday august 24 and we caught 2 fish in 10 hours of fishing. We used everything from jigs to bottom bouncers and all we caught were a walleye and a northern. we went to pelican island and caught nothing.i thought that was the worst trip i have ever had. it was one of the best days for fishing on saturday because of the weather but the fishing was bad all around. good luck u guys

KDM
Fargo

08/21/2002
12:10:44 PM

Fished the flats in 21-24 ft. Caught 15-18 inch fish on bottom bouncers and spinners with 1/2 a crawler. Color didn't matter. Fish were scattered but the bite was steady. Go slow. Good Fishing

Allen
G. Forks

08/07/2002
11:06:01 AM

Played on DL last weekend with the wife and in-laws. Had an O.K. couple of days fishing mostly East Bay around Pelican Island with hammered metal spinners, nightcrawlers were the preferred bait betweeen 18 and 24 ft of water. Stayed at a DL hotel for the first time in many years on Saturday and Sunday. Rooms were clean and the staff were friendly, but wow for a clunking air conditioner. Only thing that would have made the weekend better is if someone wouldn't have unplugged the freezer and thawed two days worth of fish. Major bummer.

scott mcnamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
08/02/2002
02:14:34 PM

testing..

name: Allen
city: Grand Forks
Date: 07/31/2002
Time: 01:31:51 PM

DL has been decent to good in the East Bay area using hammered metal spinners in 21-26 ft of water. Biggest problem you'll find is that the green goo has arrived in full force and will coat your spiner and bottom bouncer making it less appealing to the walleyes. Haven't really tried too much jigging in the trees lately, but will probably give it a go this weekend.

name: Brad Durick
city: Grand Forks
: brad@invoman.com
Date: 07/25/2002
Time: 02:31:05 PM

Loomis,

I have not been to Devils since I posted my last report however have have been hearing some reports. The reports that I have been hearing are saying get on the edge of a weedline in the early morning and late evening. Use jigs or slip bobbers. To get where you need to go be prepared to go into the trees. During the day people are saying the best fishing is coming from 16-25 feet with live bait or pulling cranks.

If I get there this weekend I will probably be pulling cranks. It seems to cover the most water and produce larger fish.

Don't forget to let the big ones go. Good Luck

name: Brad Durick
city: Grand Forks
: brad@invoman.com
Date: 07/22/2002
Time: 11:00:00 AM

Spent Saturday in Black Tiger and East Bays. Fished in the trees for the most part. Caught fish using weedless jigs both vertically and casting into the woods. Also did ok with a slip bobber with a small jig and a leach.

The action wasn't fast and furious, but we did catch some nice fish.

Sorry-computer glitch lost these records till now..

Brad Durick
Grand Forks

06/17/2002
08:57:46 AM

Made the weekly trip to Devils Lake Saturday. Caught a few small walleyes on slip bobbers in the trees during morning hours. Nothing fast and furious.

Ended up working alot of areas to catch about 10 northerns. I couldn't even count how many would follow the lure to the boat but not hit. The magic to get strikes was a jig with a sluggo. Threw it out and rip jiged it back to the boat.

The high point of the day was my father in-law catching the biggest white bass I have ever seen. Probably would have been whopper class if my new scale would have worked (piece of trash).

Walleyes were biting, just not in my boat a friend of mine caught a nice limit casting cranks in the trees.

Allen
Grand Forks

06/10/2002
09:31:35 AM

Hit Creel Bay on DL by myself this past Saturday. Showed up about 9:30 at Lakewood, met a fellow from Wisconsin looking for a fish cleaning station because he and his wife already had a limit of walleyes from the 6-7 bite (Lakewood's fish cleaning station is down and he wanted to hurry and clean his fish so they can get back for more). He seemed a little surprised when I mentioned that it was illegal to take TWO limits a day.

Oh well, the walleyes pretty much quit by the time I got to where he caught his fish (and I had the week before). Worked my tail off fighting the wind to bring home two for the day. Also caught a couple of northerns. Lots of people up in the trees avoiding the wind using slip bobbers, seemed pretty quiet when i was among them.

Crappy day, guess I'll have to go back to fishing the flats.

Brad Durick
Grand Forks

06/10/2002
07:51:48 AM

Spent both Friday and Saturday on Devils. The fishing has been picking up.

Friday we fished the Minnewauken area with little early success. We found the northerns around noon. The best presentation was a blue countdown or a pink jig with a white twistertail. (minnow or leach optional) In the late afternoon we found the walleyes. They moved into 3-5 feet of water on the wooded wind blown shore. The best action came on a #4 rattlin rap. Managed to catch a limit of nice eyes in only about 40 minutes.

Saturday we ventured to East Bay. Again a slow start. Found the walleyes on a wooded flat near woods rutton road in 5-6 feet of water. The best action came on a perch countdown or a green jig with a whte twistertail. The eyes stopped as soon as the sun came out. All fish taken were in great shape.

A final note: If you are going to travel on any gravel roads around Devils Lake they are in very poor condition. Washboards are as bad as I have ever driven on. Exercise caution, your boat will thank you!!

Tully
EGF
ttollefs@telproinc.com
06/03/2002
09:15:10 AM

Fished Black Tiger Bay on Saturday from about 4 until 7. Caught 14 walleyes and took home 9 between 2 of us. Not a bad day considering how miserable the wind was. Did not see any white bass. Should only get better. Tully

Brad Durick
Grand Forks

06/03/2002
07:10:44 AM

Spent all day Saturday on Devils Lake. The day proved that the little things in presentation count.

The White Bass are running all over the lake. We got into schools of them in the north end of Six Mile as well as the north end of Creel Bay. They were biting jigs with minnows, slip bobber with a minnow, and even a countdown.

Found the northerns in shallows around the rip rap. The best came pitching large countdowns (#9 or 11) and working from six inches to about six feet of water. This is where little things made a difference. By going from a barrel swivel to tieing direct adjusted the run of the bait enough to trigger more fish. Jigs with twistertails also worked.

After a whole day we finally found the walleyes. #5 or #7 countdowns reeling very slowly. Only caught about five but they were all nice eyes. The best walleye catching happened where the water was 64 degrees or more on the wind blown side of the lake.

Tyson Bohlman
Grand Forks

05/28/2002
08:56:27 AM

Devils Is the dead Sea... Went this weekend and caught only a few northerns...

Big Tuna
Grand Forks

05/27/2002
07:17:57 PM

Went to Devil's Sun PM and most of Mon. The six of us fishing in 2 rigs covered alot of ground-Mavee, Pelican and around Graham's. 2 bigger walleyes and 8 nice sized sharks is all we could come up with. There are some in the party who are now believing in the power of the "Jinx". With all the snags, broken equipment, and slow fishing the "Jinx's" powers cannot be challenged. Anybody have a potion or formula to combat these superior powers?

Tyson Bohlman
Grand Forks

05/22/2002
09:30:07 AM

Went to Devlis Lake on Saturday and fished black tiger bay and the rutten road. We had are best luck in the mid-afternoon. Caught a total of 7 walleyes in the day. Were going to try the Flats on Saturday..

percheyesdl@yahoo.co
Minnewaukan
percheyedl@yahoo.com
05/08/2002
10:57:04 AM

Well some Walleyes are spawned out and some are not. Fishing has been slow with all the cold weather. The water temp. range from 40 to 45 degr. The Walleyes I have been catching have been by moveing water or gravel humps. If you are planning a trip to Devils Lake I can set you up with Lodging and guiding. Check us out on the web at www.percheyes.com and good luck fishing!

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