The Welcome Sign is out at Devils Lake
The Welcome Sign is out at Devils Lake
It’s summer. The crops are planted. The kids are out of school. There are no excuses. It’s time to head to Devils Lake, North Dakota and catch some fish.
Do it in your boat with your gear. Or, better yet, leave the boat home and hire a guide service for a few days. The top guides in North America ply the 245,000 acres of Devils Lake. They know where the fish are (and most of the big ones by their first names), what to use, when to move locations, and will even explain why the fish behave like they do.
Tactics
The best part of the guide equation is “how.” Learning lessons about numerous tactics are worth the time spent with guides. They are willing professors of the scientific art of making fish bite. Typical days include casting crankbaits like Berkley Flicker Shads or Rapala Shad Raps in the mornings. Extremely effective swim baits (jig with a plastic paddle tail) will also be on the end of a line.
A typical day includes walleyes to start the day, while later searches include hard-fighting white bass up to four pounds and plenty of northern pike to stretch lines. Zippy Dahl with a large stable of guides said, “With many large white bass, it’s tough to get my clients to leave this much fun and go back to chasing walleyes.” The lake is well-known as a jumbo perch factory; expect a few of those tasty critters to end up in the live well.
Bring home the refined slip-bobber techniques or bottom-bouncing tricks to Iowa. Bottom-bouncing with spinners and nightcrawlers or GULP plastic, the locals have an about perfect technique with these. Dahl said, “We follow our GPS tracks along the outside weed edges, keeping the bouncer and spinner in the fish zone.” He said guides will explain electronics (sonar and GPS systems) to clients. Trolling crankbaits at all depths and behind boards away from the boat are popular on Devils Lake.
Conveniency at its Finest
Launch ramps are located at many convenient locations. Devils Lake may be the most “fish-friendly” area. There are fish-cleaning stations with water and grinders at most popular ramps. Large parking lots serve locals and visitors. There is even a public fish-cleaning station in the city of Devils Lake (same name as the lake). Better yet, most guides clean their client’s catches. Motels and resorts provide freezer space so the trip back to Iowa could include 10 walleyes and 10 pike (possession limits) and a bunch of white bass if so desired.
Guides are featured on the Devils Lake website with contact information. Call early to arrange dates. Several guides also offer accommodations, although the area has many motels and resorts that cater to sportsmen and their families. The website – devilslakend.com.
Additionally, access/launch locations, lodging, restaurants, casino, bait shops, fish-cleaning stations, handicapped fishing piers and many more details can be found at devilslakend.com. Seasons are open!
