So Dependent on Water Clarity, Moon Phase, and Barometer

I have commented many times that I am a true believer in the importance of the solunar table and the phases of the moon having both negative and positive effects on fish.

That is only one component, however, of what triggers fish to bite aggressively or be very sluggish.

In fact, in order of importance I would rate these three factors like this:

1. Water Clarity

2. Barometer

3. Solunar Table

Water Clarity right now in the Northern Feeder lakes and the Main Lake itself, especially up shallow, is Chocolate Milk.  This is not generally ideal conditions for good fishing.  If the fish can’t see your lure, they can’t inhale it.

This increases the importance of finding schools, being mobile and actively moving to find fish.

At times, we are able to hole up on a perennially productive spot and wait for schools to roam through.  With decreased visibility below the ice, this is not an option.  We have to be the ones roaming to try to drop down onto active fish.

One way to combat this poor water clarity right now is to go deep.

What Gave Us Chocolate Milk Water

We had a 50 mph wind event just before much of Devils Lake locked up.  The water, especially shallow and along the shorelines was churned up and that is what is giving us this issue right now.  As you peruse deeper, you are going to find more favorable water clarity conditions.

The only problem with that is that Early Ice fishing is usually most productive in the shallows for Walleyes and the Intermediate depths for Perch.

Barometer Believers Will See The Significance

Just to add another condition to that, our barometer since saturday has been:

Saturday, the 17th-  30.36

Sunday, the 18th-  30.27

Monday, the 19th-  29.85

Tuesday, the 20th-  29.76

The 3rd Factor

Add to that, we are just coming out of the FULL MOON (12-13-16) event and are just about smack dab in between Full and New Moons.

All of these conditions put us in a So-So fishing period.

Barometer is going to level out:

Our weather warmed up, that part is straightening out.

Clarity will solve itself:

Everyday, the water sediments are settling a little bit more and clarity is going to improve by the day.

Solunar Table is cyclical:

The NEW MOON (12-29-16) event next week looks to be a period of gangbuster fishing.

I would speculate that by then end of this week we are going to be getting into some truly GREAT fishing.

Talking To Other Fishermen

One of the things that brought up the idea and the creation of Devils Lake Fishing Report was just conversing with other fisherman.  Finding out their thoughts, what they felt was lacking, what they needed to be more successful.

I had a great conversation last night with 3 fishermen and the topics ranged from ‘Where are the fish’ to ‘We need slot limits’ to ‘Devils Lake is an enigma’.

It sure can be.  One of the gentlemen commented that he must have drilled 30 holes and they only marked a few fish.

This struck me as kind of comical.  To us, 30 holes is only 2 and a half to 3 holes sets.  I would never dream of thinking that 30 holes was me giving the effort I needed to sufficiently call my day on the ice an adequate search.

But therein lies ‘why we are doing what we are doing’ here at Devils Lake Fishing Report.

I have been in that guy’s shoes. I have gotten frustrated many times on the ice.  Talking with an Ice Crew member from Woodland Resort, I commented to him, “The next hole is always going to be THE hole”.

That is the attitude I take to the ice, and here on the Big Devil, I believe it is the attitude you have to have.

Seven holes, Twenty holes, One Hundred and Thirty Six holes, what ever it takes, because the next hole is ALWAYS going to be THE hole!

Stay tuned to find out……

Hold onto your Rod….

and…

CATCH MORE FISH