We have had some great days on the ice for both perch and walleye! Some of the perch we have caught have been so fat and big they look as though they came from a different planet. Best depths for perch have been 25-45 feet of water and most of our best walleye fishing has been in shallower water in the 10-16 feet of water.
Best lures have been lindy flyers and buckshots tipped with a minnow head. Wax worms have also caught there fair share of fish. We have also had some good action with a plain hook and full minnow.
We have caught a fair amount of pike while fishing for walleyes in the morning or afternoons.
 Fishing should continue to stay good and we are currently building ice with this cold weather. NOW is the time to book that trip to Devils Lake! Remember to use caution around cracks, ridges, and current areas,

Good luck to all and everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

12-7-12

Ice is building with our recent cold snap! We've been out a few times and ice thickness really varies from bay to bay. The walleye and pike bite has been good. Catching fish in that 14-18 inch range with a few dandies mixed in. We have caught some nice perch as well!
Extreme caution is still advised in many areas. It is very important to know where you are going this time of year. You can have 10 inches in one area and 2 in the next. Also, be careful near cracks. If you have questions about ice conditions or would like to book a winter trip, give us a call or email and we will make it happen.

Bottom line: You can ice fish right now, just know where you are going and use caution. With cold weather coming, conditions will continue to improve and we will be able to fish anywhere we want!!

11-22-12
Happy turkey day to all!!

We are in a bit of transition here in the Devils Lake area. For the most part we have open water with some of the back bays iced over. The weather of late has been beautiful. We are supposed to be  getting a blast of colder air tomorrow and this should help build ice on the lake. So, we are playing a waiting game for now; however, I am very excited about the upcoming ice fishing season. We have record levels of walleyes and pike and the perch bite was fantastic this fall. This is looking to be a very promising winter in the lake region. If you have questions about ice fishing on Devil Lake or would like to book a trip, give us a call or shoot us an email and we will get you in.

Weather has been beautiful the past few days and the bite has been very consistent around all of the bridges on Devils Lake. Seems like most days they are adjacent to the main channel but there are days or times during the day when they are right in the middle of the current. Jigs tipped with live bait or live bait rigs slowly trolled have been the ticket. Worms, leeches, and minnows have all produced. When water isn't to turned up there is a shallow water bite. The key on this bite is to have somewhat clean water, if we get high winds this bite seems to take a few days to turn on again. There are still fish being caught near weeds, on rock piles, and near points. Seems like the best depths are 12-25 feet of water, we have pulling cranks and live bait rigs with some pretty good results.
Again, this is a great time of year to enjoy some great fishing. We have had a beautiful fall and there is still time left to get out and enjoy some excellent fishing!
Good luck to all!!

The weather has been the biggest factor involved with catching fish on Devils Lake this past week. We have had everything from calm and upper 70's to windy and lower 50's. The biggest factor involved on windy days is good boat control.
Seems like the most consistent action is current. Some days the fish are in the current or just off it a bit, while other days they are scattered many yards either direction from current. Deeper rock piles have been very productive for us as well. We have caught many nice fish in that 25-32 ft of water over rocks or on the edge of them. As mentioned in the last few reports, there is a shallow water bite that is getting better and better each week. Pitching cranks or jigs and plastics has been deadly at times. This bite stays very solid and consistent right to freeze up. Here are just a few activities that are happening around Devils Lake this weekend: (duck hunting, goose hunting), right now: grouse hunting, and archery hunting for whitetails...and oh ya some excellent fishing still!!

So many opportunities this time of year and so little time!

Fall patterns are showing up more and more every day.  We are cathing more fish in shallow areas each week, as the weeds are starting to die off.  However, our most consistent bite is still in deeper water - in 12 to 25 feet of water.  The bridges have also been very productive with more and more fish showing up there as well.  Presentations have varied from pitching jigs and plastics in the shallows to vertical jigging by the bridges to pulling live bait rigs along points and old shorelines.  There are many opportunities in the Devils Lake area for both fishing and hunting.  It's a fantastic time to be out there!

The bite goes on!!

World class fishing an hour from home! Great weather and fishing on Devils Lake! There is a good chance for walleye, pike, bass, and perch right now! It is hard to think of a time when we have had a better August bite than this year. The walleyes are biting all over and are running in that 14-17 inch range for the most part but we have had some nicer fish (18-22 inchers) mixed in as well. We are starting to see some fish move back into the shallows; however, we are still catching the majority of our fish in that 12-25 ft of water. We have been jigging and live bait rigging with minnows and crawlers. Trolling cranks has been productive as well, seems like jointed shad-raps and slamos hornets have been the best! We have had some days where the shallow water bite has been good pitching jigs and cranks, but the most consistent bite has been deeper. Working the edge of the weeds, points, and flooded rocks has still been the ticket! Fall is near and the bite is going to continue to be great! Good luck to all!

Fishing remains very good on Devils Lake! We are doing a lot of the same presentations that we were working in early July. Weed lines, long points, and flooded rock piles have been the best for us. We are fishing in 12-30 ft. of water. Some days they tend to be a bit shallower and other days they are deeper. Trolling cranks or live bait rigging has been the ticket!! We have caught fish vertical jigging and bobbering, but it seems like the action is better when you cover water!
If you are looking for a great way to end summer, give us a call and we will get you out! School is right around the corner and this is a great time to get the kids out!!
 Also, look for the fall fishing on Devils Lake to be very good this year! Cooler temps, less fisherman on the water, and the overall beauty that fall brings can make it a pretty special time out here! Again, give us a call and we will make it happen!!

The bite continues to be fantastic!! How would you like to catch lots and lots of walleyes, some pushing three to four pounds, pike that have weighed up to 15 pounds, or even some bonus jumbo perch. We have had many clients that have caught pike, bass, perch, and walleye all in the same day. Life is darn good here on Devils Lake and it seems like every week we wonder when the bite is going to slow down but it keeps going...
Presentations have varied from live bait and crawlers to trolling salmos. Seems like there are days when the cranks are better and there are days when live bait is the ticket. Best depths have been 8-25 ft. of water. Walleyes are hungry and this might be the best bite that we have had all year!! If you would like to get in on some great fishing, give us a call!!

Fishing remains good!! Where is this summer going to... Lots of walleyes are being caught at a variety of different depths. It is really fun now because you never know what you are going to catch. We have seen everything from 8 inch up to 25 inch walleyes. The majority of the walleyes have been in the 14-16 inch range. There have been several dandy pike caught while we are fishing for walleyes and we have even had the occasional perch. Some of our perch have been flat out huge!! Seems like the size of fish can vary from day to day. One day you might find a school of 14-16 inchers and the next day they might be 16-19 inchers. Also, it seems like there are days when the fish are tight on spots and other days they are scattered. We have had our best luck pulling live bait rigs and trolling cranks. There are days we have had great luck pitching jigs and plastics as well. Best depths seem to be in that 8 to 17 ft. range; however, we have caught fish shallower and deeper than that.
Best tip to give you would be to cover water until you find active fish. Don't be afraid to try different presentations and depths, with a  bit of persistence, you will be on fish!!

Good luck to all, if you want to get out to Devils Lake and enjoy some of this great fishing, shoot us an email or give us a call and we will make it happen!

And the bite goes on!!! I know I sound like a ‘broken record,’ but the walleyes are still smacking. I’m not sure if there is really a magical spot to fish because they seem to be all over. Some days live bait is the ticket and other days it is cranks or plastics. Depths can vary as well. Devils Lake is not your traditional walleye fishing lake because there are days when we catch fish in the middle of the day with the sun beating down and flat calm in 2-4 feet of water. My point is don’t be afraid to try different places until you connect with the active school. For sure the most consistent depths have been that 8-14 ft of water.

Bass have been active in the shallow water and we have caught several dandy pike while we are fishing walleyes. Many of them have hit on the smaller walleyes that we have caught, what a blast!! Good luck to all!

Fishing is "crazy good" on Devils Lake right now! We are catching lots and lots of walleyes!! Many of them are in that 15-19 inch range. Water temps are in the 70's and the weeds are growing daily. Find weeds and you find the bait, which equals hungry walleyes. Best depths seem to be that 8-14 ft range; however, we have caught fish as shallow as 2 ft and as deep as 20. The best aspect about Devils Lake fishing is that you can fish however you prefer to catch them. Vertical jigging and slip-bobbering, pitching jigs and plastics or cranks, pulling live bait rigs, and trolling has all been deadly for walleyes. 

We are catching some nice pike mixed in the walleyes and the bass have been good in shallow. Not all shorelines hold them and they move around a lot, but once you find them it is a "gong show."

This is truly some of the best fishing of the year and it should stay awesome for quite awhile. July and August are great months to fish out here.  If you would like to experience some world class fishing, give us a call and we will make it happen.  Many of our clients have commented on how good the bite is and there are times when even I can't believe how good it is. We are fortunate to be on a great lake.

Good luck fishing to all!

Fishing is fantastic on Devils Lake right now!! We are catching walleyes all over the lake in depths from 4-20 feet. We have caught walleyes bobbering, jigging, live bait rigging, pitching, and trolling. Worms and leeches are the ticket for live bait and it seems like and cranks with an orange belly is hot. Jigs and plastics are working as well. We are catching many fish in that 14-18 inch range. Seems like everyday we catch a few fish over 20 inches as well. The water is warm and now is the time to get to Devils Lake and enjoy some great fishing!!
If you would like to book a trip, give us an email or call and we will make it happen! Good luck to all and have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!!

I must say that I am truly impressed with how good the fishing has been despite major winds, rain, and cold fronts we have had off and on the past week. Seems like the wind has blown from a different direction everyday. Our water temps dropped about 10 degrees but they are slowly climbing back up!!

As far as the fishing there are many different presentations that are working right now for walleyes. Many of our guides are still pitching jigs/plastics and cranks into the shallows. Usually, the best best is to follow the wind (but not always.) We have also had days where the live bait has been the ticket. Bottom bouncers and spinners or slow death rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers. We have also had some great bobber bites. Our best depths are anywhere from 3-14 feet of water.  Seems like there are 14-16 inch eyes everywhere. We have many 17-22 inch fix mixed with a few over 22 inches most days.

Bass are in the shallows with the walleyes. Seems like if you cover enough water you will run into them. We are seeing many larger bass mixed in with some smaller ones as well.

Pike have been caught in shallow but we are not catching quite as many as we were a few weeks ago. However, we had some really slough sharks hitting witch always makes it fun!! Look for bigger pike to get more aggressive for the second half of June. This is usually the best time of year for a true monster pike!!

So overall life is good on the waters of Devils Lake! We have had a busy summer and the future looks busy as well. If you would like to get out and have some fun, give us a call. Also, some of the best action of the year is coming up...Fishing in July and August can be awesome on Devils and if you would like to experience the action, we would be more than happy to take you out! Thanks, and good luck to all!!

Fishing is excellent on Devils Lake right now!! We are catching lots of walleyes (anywhere from 13-25 inchers) and pike are mixed in with the eyes. We have had some absolute brutes for pike with many in that 34-40 inch category. Water temps have exploded and with the warm weather fish are being caught in lots of different places. The best bet for eyes and pike is still shallow (find weeds and reeds) and life should be pretty good. We have done a lot of pitching of cranks and jigs/plastics as usual. Slip-bobbers with leeches has produced many nice eyes as well. Best depth are in the 2-10 ft of water. Many people are also working that 10-18 ft range with bottom bouncers and spinners and fish are being caught.
Bass are a bit spotty, but look for them to really turn on any day.
Overall, the bite is great and there are lots of places you can fish and many different presentations that will work, good luck to all!!

5-29-2012

The fish continue to go; however, the bite has been at its best when we have warmer weather. Seems like we get warmer weather for a few days and then cold and wind for a few. Water temps have dropped to the mid 50's. Looks like we will be warming up a bit in the next few days and look for fishing to get better and better!
We are still pitching a lot of cranks and jigs/plastics into the warmest water we can find. Slip-bobbers with leeches have also been very good. Some people are pulling bottom bouncers and spinners around and catching fish as well. Again, as the warmer weather arrives, look for fish to be active all over. Most of the walleyes that we are catching are in that 15-22 inch range. Lots of bass with many up to 17 inches long (absolute footballs.) Pike fishing has been good as well, we have had several over 10 pounds this past week.
Summer is here! It is time to get out and catch some fish! Good luck to all!!

Fishing Report 5/16/12

Bite is very solid!

We are finding walleyes in more places. Water temps are rising like crazy, which allows for fish to be caught just about anywhere. We have found fish in front of the bridges, along riprap, and in or near the reeds. Best depths are 2-8 feet of water. We have caught them pitching jigs/plastics and retrieving, trolling with the electric trolling motor in 6-8 feet of water with cranks, and slip-bobbering with leeches. The majority of fish are still in long shallow bays, but don't be afraid to work shorelines that look 'fishy' and have deep water close. It is really a fun time of year because pike, bass, and walleyes are all biting. It can make for an entertaining day! Slip-bobbers have been best with a split shot and a red hook!
A great way to cover water when looking for fish is to pitch cranks. If you catch a few, come back with jigs/plastics or bobbers and it is often very good!!

May 8, 2012

The fishing is starting to heat up!! We have had some excellent bites for walleyes, pike, and bass! It's all about water temp this time of year. Find the warmest water and reeds and it seems like the fish are either in them or on the edge of them. I prefer calmer water because it warms faster and it seems like the bite is at its best from about 11am til dark. We have been pitching cranks a lot and using jigs and plastics. Slip bobbers and leeches has also been good at times. The weather looks promising  and with warmer weather look for shallow bite to only improve. The fish are very healthy and fat. We have had a nice mix of walleyes ranging from 15-22 inches on the norm and several between 22-26 inches. Pike are hard to keep off at times with the average size being that 3-6 pound range, we have had a few over 10 pounds as well. It's the same game for bass, find them and hang on. They are shallow and in pre-spawn stage right now. There are some true trophies being caught!!

One big key right now is to slow down retrieves when pitching cranks and jigs. Also, try to mix up retrieves with pauses and jerks, this is been very important!!

Good luck to all and remember that many of the fish this time of year are big, take a picture, and fish for the future!!!

April 26, 2012 Fishing Report

Fishing is slowly improving. We have had some warmer days which is making the shallow water bite more productive. We should be seeing more and more fish arriving daily in the shallows to feed and recuperate from the spawn. Water temps are in the upper 40's and on some days the lower 50's. The best shallow bite is really close. Seems like the mid 50's on is usually fantastic fishing! Pitching cranks or jigs and plastics is a great way to cover water. Also, live baiting with bobbers and leeches can be effective. Some fish are also being caught  near the bridges or anywhere you can find a bit of current.
The most important factor right now when you fishing the shallows is to find warm water. Really watch your temp gauge and if you can find even a degree warmer in a bay, you may just find your honey hole!!

Good luck to all! Remember this time of year is big fish time. take a picture and fish for the future!!

April 9, 2012

Up and down is the best way to describe the bite and the weather of late on Devils Lake, ND.
There are fish biting, but there are days you have to really work at it. We are in a period of lots of transitions and the best thing that can happen is for the water to continue to warm and the spawn to occur, from there the fish really move shallow and the fishing really takes off!
For best action fish current areas with jigs and minnows. Vertical jigging has been the best for us. Some days are better in the current and others are better just off of it. We have caught a few fish in the back bays retrieving jigs and plastics as well. There are some fish being caught on the Sheyenne River, best areas are below dams or other current areas.
We have been booking many groups for late April and May. Look for the fishing to be fantastic! If you are interested in a trip, give a call and we will make it happen!

March 26th, 2012 Fishing Report

Wind and more wind have opened the lake up!! There are some pockets of ice out there floating around, but the majority of lake is ice free!!
As for the fishing there are some excellent shore bites happening right now on the coulees and some of the rivers near Devils Lake. The Warwick area has been very good and there have been some nice fish caught at Channel A and further up north. Jigs and plastics are a very good presentation to use this time of year.
We are looking forward to fishing the lake later this week and we will keep you posted with what we find. We have not been in boats on the big lake this early since I have been guiding on Devils Lake. Should be very interesting!
Also, on Saturday I will be at the boat show in Devils Lake!! Stop inn and check out some of the boats that Blake's Marine has to offer!!

February 27, 2012

The bite remains good! Seems like there are days you have to work a bit and there are others where they really go. The walleye fishing has been pretty consistent, with the best bites still coming early and late. Some days the bite will go all day, it really just depends on the day. I think it is important to be fishing in deeper water or very close to deeper water to catch walleyes consistently, deeper water being anything over 25 ft.

The perch have been good all winter! Seems like the last week to ten days the bite has either been really good or really slow. Our best depths have been between 30-55 feet of water. We have had some days where we get them as shallow as 15.

Pike have been scattered in with the walleyes and perch. There have been some real tanks caught as well. 8 year old Tucker Satterlund caught a 42 inch pike all by himself while fishing for perch! Way to go, Tucker!!

Good luck to all! I think March Madness is going to be very good this year, make sure you get to Devils Lake and experience some world class fishing!!

Devils Lake: From Boredom to KABOOM!

GF Herald Article by Brad Dokken 

Photo by Brad Dokken

Fishing Report 2/7/12

The bite remains very good on Devils Lake! We are catching walleyes and perch on a very consistent basis. The best bite for walleyes is the first two hours in the morning and the last hour or two before dark. During the middle of the day, the only way that we catch walleyes on a regular basis is by fishing the edges of structure. The bite is usually really good on top of humps, points, flooded roads, rock piles, and basically any kind of structure you can find early and late in the day. To catch walleyes during the middle of the day, we have been fishing the first major drop-off nearest structure and having luck. We will usually have perch action out in the deeper water too. If you are willing to do some work, the perch are going as well. Many of the same schools are being fished and we are finding better luck getting away from the people. The key is to drill and move until you find them. We are usually able to find them and the good thing is once you do they have been pretty aggressive. We have caught some very nice perch and also seen a lot of smaller fish, so the perch future on Devils Lake appears bright!

The best bait for us this winter has been a buckshot with a minnow head. We have used spikes as well, but it seems like most days the minnow head is the preferred bait. Good luck to all! The bite should stay solid right until ice out! Conditions are good on the lake, there are some pressure ridges that you need to be careful around, but other than that, the ice is in good shape!

Photo by Brad Dokken

January 10, 2012

Weather is absolutely crazy right now! We are more like October than January. There have been many days where you can fish outside all day and be very comfortable. I'm sure cold is coming eventually, but it sure has been nice.  Walleyes have been on the feed and the bite has been very solid. Seems like they are biting all over the lake and everyone seems to be doing well. Our best depths are that 8-18 ft of water. We are catching most of our walleyes an hour before sunset, but there are days that we get some good mid day action too. The morning bite has been fair but not as good as the night bite for us.  Perch have been biting with the walleyes, we have had some beautiful perch and we have had some days where the numbers are good as well. We have catch perch as shallow as 10 feet and as deep as 50 feet. The real key to perch is moving,moving,moving until you get on the active school.  Pike have been good on Devils Lake in shallower (5-10 feet) and some of the smaller lakes around Devils have been fantastic. We have catch fish on every lure that is made I do believe, the real key is location and being on the 'spot on the spot.' It is interesting how one house will hammer them and the house 50 feet away might struggle. Really look at the GPS's, maps, etc. and find the flooder rock piles, drop-offs, edges on weeds and you will catch fish!  Good luck and remember to please be safe out there. Overall, the ice is pretty good; however, avoid the bridges,culverts, or any areas of current. We do still have a bay that has open water on East Devils Lake, there are about 5,000 geese keeping it open. This area is east of Coxes Flat. Make sure you stay way from this area!!