Fishing Report

(Bailey trolling for walleyes)

It's a dog's life!!

5-12-08

The weather has been lousy here the past few weeks. It seems like it is either cold, blowing or snowing. We have had the occasional nice day, but we need to string together several nice days. As I mentioned in my last report, we need some warm weather. Give us a week of 70 plus weather and the eyes will be active. Water temperature is still cold (anywhere from mid 40's to low 50's). Best bet for walleyes is warm water and slow presentations. Jigs and lindy-rigs are a great presentation for sluggish eyes. Also, try deeper rocks or road beds. Many times there will be fish spawning in these areas and you can pick off some fish.So the secret ingredient right now is for old mother nature to let the sun shine and let summer begin. Let us know if we can help with any questions about fishing Devils Lake and if you need a guided trip we would be more than happy to get you out. Happy Fishing!

4-28-08

We have open water! It is time to hit the water after a long winter in the Northland. Be careful for possible floating debris and ice chunks out there. As for fishing, expect the bite to get better and better with the arrival of warmer weather. It has been a bit of a chilly spring, but it can only get warmer. Fish shallow and current areas. Jigs, lindy-rigs, and cranks all produce fish this time of year. If you are interested in experiencing some early season fishing, give us a call and we will get you on the water. Remember: fish for the future this time of year and release the big females.

1-28-08

Hello to all!! Hope the New Year has been kind to everyone so far. We are now in the heart of winter and fishing has been pretty good. The walleyes have been a bit hit and miss, but overall the winter bite has been decent. My best result have been really shallow or really deep. Deep for DL is 20 feet or more. The edges of the weed lines have been good and walleyes have been caught as shallow as 5 feet. Usually when fishing weed lines, the edges are the best, around 7-9 feet. Pike fishing has been good! Many are using tip-ups or spearing for them. We have had some big slough sharks this winter, it is very cool when they come into the hole. Perch have been nice (as far as the size goes), but it is not always easy to get a bunch of them. There are obviously days they go, and others they don't. Minnows or minnow heads have been the best. Have a safe and enjoyable time on the hard water!!

9/20/07

7/26/07

And the bite goes on!! Devils Lake continues to produce many nice eater size walleyes. There are some bigger fish being caught as well; however, most days the eaters are the norm. Get out to the lake and fish. I prefer to fish early before the heat gets to tough. All presentations will work. Trolling cranks, pitching jigs or cranks along the weeds or drop-offs, spinners and bouncers, bobbers, vertical jigging. Whatever way that you want to fish you can do it! Best bays include: Dead Cow, Black Tiger, Haybale, Jerusalem, Foughty's, and most areas in east DL. Best depths can vary, but anywhere from 9-25 feet of water. The key is to move and find them. Tip of the week: Red hooks are deadly for walleyes. I like to rig up a few presentations of bottom bouncer, 2 ft. of vanish and a red hook with leech. Give it a try and it should put a few more fish in the box.

Remember that summer is slowly slipping away, get out there and enjoy the great fishing!

7/9/07

Fishing has been hot!!  We are seeing a lot of the smaller walleyes hitting on the lake.  Lots of the 13-15 inch fish are biting right now.  They are very aggressive and seem to be all over.  Pitching cranks or jigs along weed lines and drop off areas has been very effective.  Many people are pulling bouncers and spinners tipped with leeches or crawlers.  Good depths are anywhere from 7 - 30+ feet, but I would focus on water in the 8-14 depth.  Trolling cranks has been hot as well.  Work 8-14 feet of water here too.  Salmos, shad-raps, and jointed shad-raps have been very good.  Colors can change each day, but anything with an orange belly has been hot.  Bobber fishing is solid as well.  The key with bobbers is to move until you locate fish.  The best bays to fish in are Stromme's, Foughty's, Haybale, Black Tiger Bay, Dead Cow Bay, and East Devils Lake.  Now is the time to get out and enjoy some of the greatest fishing of the year.  Good luck and remember to try to take a young person fishing!!  Tip of the Week:  Fish can be caught pretty much anywhere during this time of the year.  The key is to cover water until you locate the school that you want to fish.  Two great ways to cover water quickly include trolling cranks and pitching cranks.  Cover water and eventually you will find them!!!

6-26-07

Fishing continues to be pretty solid all over the lake. This year seems to be different from years in the past. Maybe it's because of all the fronts and various winds from every direction. Spots that maybe produced last summer, may not be the same this year. Don't be afraid to explore. However, the fish are biting and we have been doing very well. I have been pitching cranks into the shallows pretty much every single day. This is one of the funnest ways that I know of to catch a lot of fish and a variety of fish. Plus, you cover water and you locate the fish. Best cranks include: #5 shads,#4 Jointed shads, #5 Jointed shads, and #4 Salmo Hornets. Colors can change from day to day but I like any of the blues, firetiger, hot steel, pearl, crawdad. Jigs and plastics have also ben producing.

Trolling bouncers and cranks has worked as well. Bobbers in the trees with leeches has beengood some days too. Best bays: Pelican Lake, Mission, Foughty's, Penny, and thesouth end of Black Tiger Bay. Tip of the Week: Don't be afraid to change it up. Try something different. Fish a bay that you have never fished before. There are fish all over Devils Lake. Stay away from the crowds and you will put more fish in the boat! Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!!!

6-14-07

Fishing has been good.  The fish have been caught in all depths, with the most active fish coming in shallow.  Work shorelines, anywhere from 2 - 8 feet of water, pitching cranks.  Slip-bobbering in the trees has also been effective, as well as spinners in deeper water.  The best bays include Black Tiger Bay, Haybale Bay, Skadsen's, Foughty's Point, and Penny Bay.  Leeches have been working well with slip-bobbers and crawlers and leeches have been working well with spinners.  The best colors for cranks include pearl, firetiger, perch, and blues.  #5 regular and jointed shadraps have been the best.  Tip of the Week:  While working cranks, retrieve them slowly with pauses and jerks.  This has been the key to getting strikes.  Have a great time on the water!

1-10-07

Walleye fishing has been good and the best time to fish has been early and late. Sunrise until 10am and 3:30 until 6pm. Walleyes can be caught at other times, but these are the key times to fish. Perch fishing has been good some days and slow others. Cover water and work unitl you find the active school. Pike are continuing to be caught and they are cooperating all day long. The best places to fish include: Black Tiger Bay, Penny Bay, Mission, Ft. Totten Pt., Creel Bay, Six Mile Bay, Cactus, and the humps in the Flats. Good luck and remember to be safe on the ice!!

9-1-06

8-2-06

7-21-06

7-10-06

Fishing remains great. With the warm weather, look for fish to slide deeper. Right now the best depths are 4 - 20 feet. Slip-bobbering in the trees, pulling spinners, or trolling crank baits along the weed lines (above 9 feet) has proven to produce a lot of fish. Flooded roads, points, and humps are holding fish. Tip of the week: Watch your depth finder closely when trolling and covering water. Stay close to the weed lines and change speeds anywhere from 1.4 - 2.8 mph. The best bays to fish are Mission, Stromme Edition, Foughties Point, Old Mill Bay, Fort Totten Point, and Haybale Bay.  Enjoy the great weather and have a good one!!

6-26-06

Fishing remains steady.  Over the past week we've had some inconsistent weather, which has made fishing a bit hit and miss.  When the weather has been stable, fishing has been excellent.  Walleyes are being caught in depths between 2 and 20 feet of water.  Slip-bobbering, pulling spinners, pitching cranks, and trolling cranks have all been good methods to use.  Some of the better areas to fish include New Mill Bay, Mission Bay, Foughties Point, Penny Bay, and Black Tiger Bay.  Football-sized White Bass are being caught in Penny Bay and Skadsen's by pitching crank baits.  Tip of the week:  When bobber fishing, spool up Fireline to your barrel swivel then use a two-foot lead of Berkely Vanish and a red hook and then put a split-shot above your barrel swivel.  This will help to put more fish in the box.  Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

6-17-06

Fishing remains excellent on Devils Lake. Walleyes, Northerns, and White Bass are all biting. Some of the best areas to fish include: New Mill Bay, Haybale, Black Tiger Bay, Foughties Point, Mission Bay, Cactus, and the Skadsens.

Walleyes are still shallow, but they are starting to slide out to deeper water. Anywhere from 2-14 feet has been very productive. Leeches and crawlers are both working. Bobbers, dead-sticking, vertical jigging, pitching jigs, and lindy rigging in the trees has been good. Bouncers and spinners and trolling cranks has been working as well. White Bass are all over in the shallows and once you find them, prepare to catch lots of fish. Northerns are in shallow and seem to hang around the bass (also look for weed beds starting to come up). Tip of the week: When fishing with crawlers, pinch them in half. I catch way more fish with half of a crawler than I do with a full crawler. Scent is given off and the Walleyes can't help but bite. Have a good one and try to take some time to enjoy the great summer and fishing.

6-5-06

5-29-06

The fish are biting!! Walleyes are more aggressive each day. They are in the warm water and many methods will work for them. Slip bobbering in the trees (anywhere from 2-15 feet of water) with lecches under jigs or split shots and hooks (try red hooks). Pitching jigs with live bait or plastic is also producing. Of course cranks are working. (one key to working any of the lures, when you get your lure within 10-15 feet from the boat, twitch it, pause, and again, and again). Many fish are hitting close to the boat, so be ready. White bass are starting to go crazy as well, it's all this warm weather. Northerns are being caught in shallow. Basically, you should stay shallow and expect to catch walleyes, white bass, and northerns in the process. Best places to fish: Mission, New Mill Bay, Skadsems, Penny, and Haybale Bay.Good luck to all and hope to see you on the water!!

5-21-06

5-10-06

Fishing on Devils Lake is starting to take off again!! Northern action is hot anywhere you fish in the shallows. Try to find warm water(anything over 52 degrees seems to be the key). Jigs and soft plastics, shadraps, countdowns, salmosare all working to catch fish. Walleyes are also starting to get active and look for the bite to get better as the month goes on. The key this time of year is shallow and warm water. Good Luck and happy fishing.

7-14-2005 Fishing continues to be good!! Walleyes are being caught in front of Hwy 20, 57, and Woods Rutten bridges. Anchoring and jigging minnnows or crawlers had been very productice. Leeches are also working but they are hard to find. Fish are being caught in all depths and some of the best methods to use include: trolling cranks, pulling bottom bouncers, jigging the trees, and pitching cranks along the weedbeds or rocky shorelines. Best areas to fish include: Mission Bay, Cactus Pt., Six Mile Bay, Stromme Edition and Fort Totten. Good luck to all and enjoy the fall fishing!!

8-22-05

Fishing on DL has been a bit hit and miss. This time of year the fish are all over and can be caught in any depth and with any fishing method. The biggest key is to locate the active school and stay on them. Watch your depth finders for fish and differences in the bottom. From soft to hard, 10 feet to 15 feet and so on. Find the structure. Fish the old shorelines, weedbeds, humps, trees, sunken roads, rock piles, and riprock areas. Mission Bay has still been producings Walleyes, along with the North Shore, Stromme Edition, Foughty's Point, New Mill Bay, East Bay. Keep moving and changing depths until you locate the active walleyes. White Bass have been hot in Skadsems and Northerns have been scattered in with the Walleyes. Good Luck!!

8-11-05

Fishing continues to be good on Devils Lake. Walleyes are being caught in all depths and many eating sized fish are being caught. Some methods to try include: Slip-Bobbers in the trees, pitching cranks along the shorelines, trolling cranks or bouncers and spinners. Worms and leeches are the best live baits to use. Some of the best areas ionclude: Foughty's, Haybale, Mission Road, North Shore, Dead Cow Bay, Mission Bay, and the Stromme Addition. Good Luck to all and enjoy the rest of summer!!

7-17-05

Fishing has been excellent on Devils Lake!! Walleyes are being caught in 2 to 30 feet of water. Working the shorelines with cranks has been excellent. Blue and Pearl  #5's have been very hot colors to use. The key is to find weeds and work around them. Jigging and slip bobbers have also been very effective. Use crawlers and leeches and fish the trees. Work points, humps, drop-offs, and move until you locate fish. I usually give each area about 10 to 20 minutes and if I haven't had any action I move. Bouncers and spinners have also been working well. Work the old shoreline, Haybale, Skadsems, Foughty's, Rutten Road, or the North Shoreline. White bass are also being caught in most areas of the lake, once you find them it's one after another. Northerns are starting to move out deeper and look for areas that have deep rocks, and remember that you can always catch them in shallow as well. Good Luck to all Fisherman and enjoy the great action!!

6-27-05

Fishing continues to be good on Devils Lake. We have had some rain and unstable weather over the past week which has made patterning the fish more difficult than usual. Once you locate the depth the action has been great. Walleyes are still being caught in shallow water. The weeds are starting to surface and it is important to work the openings with live bait or crank baits. Fish are being caught in the trees as well. Anywhere from 6-17 feet of water. Bobbers and jigging methods have worked well tipped with leeches or crawlers. Bouncers and spinners have also been catching fish and look for more fish to be caught out a bit deeper as summer and warm weather continue. Get out there and enjoy the lake and have a safe and fun 4th of July!! (Bry)

6-20-05

Fishing has been very good on Devils Lake!! Walleyes are being caught in depths that range from 2-30 feet. The best depths to fish are still shallow. Pitching cranks along the shorelines, jigging and bobbering in the trees(3-15 ft), and pulling bouncers and spinners have all produced walleyes. Worms and leeches have been the best baits and seem to vary each day on which is the hottest. White Bass are also biting in the shallows and when you find them it is one after another. Look for bubbles in the water. The bass are absolute footballs and the walleyes are fat and healthy too. Northerns are also biting in the shallows and I would pitch cranks for them as well. Don't be afraid to pitch a jig/sassy shad into the shallows as well. Many fish have been caught using this method. Best bays on the East end of DL to fish include: Penny Bay, Skadsens, Dead Cow, Foughty's and Haybale has been producing fish too!! Good Luck to all and we will see you on the water!

6-14-05

Fishing on DL continues to be excellent. Many good eaters(walleyes) are being caught and the key is to still fish shallow water. Working the shorelines with shad raps, countdowns, huskey-jerks, sassy shads, has been doing great. Some colors to use include blue, firetiger, perch, and pearl. Work areas that have weed beds, rip rap, trees, or gravel bottoms. Fishing in the trees has also produced some good numbers of fish in the 2-15 foot range. Northerns and White Bass can be in the same areas as the Walleyes. Best areas to fish on the Eastern part of DL include: Skadsem's, Penny Bay, Dead Cow Bay, Haybale Bay, and the South Shoreline located around the Balck Tiger landing. Have a good one and good luck to everyone!!

6-6-05

Fishing has been hot!! Walleyes, White Bass, anbd Notherns are all being caught all over Devils Lake. As far as the eatern part of Devils Lake, the best areas to fish include: Dead Cow Bay, Skadsem's, Penny Bay, and Foughty's Point. Fish are shallow and the best way to catch them is with cranks or jigs. Tie up in the trees or troll the shorelines and mix up your retrieve until you find what they want. The best retrieve seems to be slow with occasional pauses and jerks involved. Fish are also being catch trolling bouncers and spinners. Again, I would fish shallow water (water less than 10ft.) and worms have been the best. Tip: Cut the worms in half, this will help attract fish. Get out there and enjoy the great fishing nad remember to fish for the future and release the big boys and keep the eaters!!

5-28-05

Fishing has been hit and miss for walleyes on Devils Lake over the past week. The best walleye bite is in the evening and jigs and plastics or shadraps have been working the best. I don't think that color is as important as getting it across their nose at the right time. The best areas to fish are shorelines with gravel and timber.  Northerns have been biting all over with the best bite coming out of Pelican lake. Working the shorelines with crankbaits. White bass are also being caught in the shallows using cranks or jigs and soft plastics. Good Luck to all and see you on the water!! 

5-17-05

Fishing on Devils Lake is starting to pick up!! Walleyes and Northerns are being caught in shallow water. The warmer the water temperature the better. Anything over 50 degrees seems to have active fish. Some good areas to fish include: Six mile bay, Mauvis Coulee, Howard Farm area, and Pelican Lake. Through shadraps, countdowns, huskeyjerks, rat'l traps or jigs and soft plastics along the shorelines that have gravel/rock/sand bottoms. Live bait will also work and slip bobbers along the same shorelines. The eastern part of the lake hasn't been as consistent. Skadsen's has some Northerns biting and there are a few Walleyes biting here and there, but the water temperature is cooler then the western part of the lake. Warm weather will heat the east end up soon. Good Luck to all anglers and I will see you on the water!!

4-24-05

The lake is completely ice free and the docks should be going in soon.  Use caution on the lake as there will be trees floating around. Look for the bite to be around current and in warmer water. Fish shallow bays with cranks, jigs/soft plactics, or bobbers and smelt.  Please remember to fish for the future and release the bigger fish and allow them to spawn.  Good Luck!! 

4-15-05

Fishing is limited to small boats or shore fishing at this time.  Northern Pike and Walleye action is beginning and look for some nice fish to be caught. Fish areas with current. Bridges, chanels, and windswept areas will produce the best action. Lures to use can vary from jigs and soft plastics, bobbers and smelt, or cranks. Remember that because the spawn is occurring, handle the fish carefully and only keep the eaters. Fish for the future!!

7-26-04

Fishing continues to be good on Devils Lake. Fish are being caught in 2 feet of water all the way up to 30 plus feet of water. The key this time of year is to keep moving until you find active fish. Weeds are a good place to look for walleyes, white bass, and northern pike. Work the edges and pockets with cranks or jigs and soft plastics. It is helpful to have polarized glasses to locate the pockets and openings. If you are fishing deeper, bouncers and spinners or leadcore with cranks are very productive. Tip the spinners with crawlers or leeches. Best colors seem to be blue, hammered gold/silver, and any bright color. Best depths seems to depend on the day; however, start by working the old shorelines and move shallower and deeper until fish are located. Enjoy the beautiful summer weather and good luck to all anglers. Remember: Fish for the future and put the bigger fish back. A quick picture and release ensures the future of Devils Lake!!!!

7-16-04

Fishing has been awesome on Devils Lake this past week. Walleyes are hitting in 2 feet of water all the way to 28 feet of water. When there is a bit of a breeze, pitch shad raps along the shorelines and get ready. Walleyes, White Bass, and Northerns are all hitting. The key is to work the weed beds and the windy shorelines. Out deeper, bouncers and spinners tipped with crawlers or leeches have worked well. Also, trolling cranks has produced some nice fish. Best areas to try include: Foughty's Point, Haybale Bay, Skadsens, Black Tiger Bay, and the Rutten Road area. Good Luck to all fishermen and enjoy the great fishing and weather!!!!

7-5-04

The weather has been wet and a bit windy; however, fishing has been good. Some of the best areas to fish include: Rocky Point, Skadsen's, Foughty's Point, Black Tiger Bay, and the old shoreline. The key to fishing the old shorelines is to work the areas that have had some wind and that have the best rock/structure to them. This time of year(mid-summer), fishing usually is very good around the old shorelines. Best depths are 18-28 feet of water. Spinners and bouncers or trolling cranks are great methods to use to cover these areas. Good Luck to all anglers and enjoy your time on the water!!

6-28-04

Fishing has been fair to good the last few days. Warm and consistent weather is in the forecast and fishing should improve. Best areas to fish include: Foughty's Point, Penny Bay, Mission Bay, and the south end of Black Tiger Bay. Fish are being caught at all depths. Tree fishing with jigs and bobbers, cranking the shorelines, pulling bouncers and spinners, and pulling cranks are the best methods. The key is to cover water and find the active fish. Good Luck and have a great and safe 4th of July!!!

6-15-04

Fishing continues to get better and better. The key is to fish the shallow bays and work the wind swept shorelines. Pitching cranks and jigs has been very effective. Best cranks include: shad-raps, huskey-jerks and countdowns. Best colors seem to vary; however, the brighter colors seem to produce better than the duller colors. Slip-bobbers and jigs in the trees have also been producing some big fish. Best baits to use are leeches or crawlers. Best areas to fish: Foughty's Point, Penny Bay, Skadsens, Dead Cow Bay, and the Middle Bay in the south end og Black Tiger Bay. Good Luck fisherman and have a good one!!!

6-5-04

Fishing was fair to good all over the east end of Devils Lake. Many nice walleyes were being caught in shallow water using shad-raps or countdowns. Slip-bobbers and jigs also produced fish in the shallow water as well. Best areas include: Dead Cow Bay, Skadsen's Bay, Penny Bay, and Foughty's Point. Pike continue to be caught all over the lake. Best method is pitching cranks along the shorelines.

Awesome Job Terri Taylor(from Wisconsin)!! Terri caught a 30 inch Walleye using a jig tipped with a leech. She caught the fish in the trees at Foughty's Point in about 11 feet of water. Terri was fishing with Bry's Guide Service. Way to go Terri on the Whopper Walleye!! Fish caught 6-4-04.