Two Depth Levels Will Bring Success Right Now
It is really no secret among active fishermen that Devils Lake, North Dakota is a pitcher’s paradise. If you like to pitch plastics or Crank Baits in the shallows to catch Walleyes and Pike and White Bass; Devils Lake is right up your alley. The water has kind of been stuck in the high 60’s but the fish are getting real active and just about any wind blown shoreline right now will produce some action.
Lure of Choice!
For the last 10 years I would have immediately recommended to everyone a #5 Shad Rap, #5 Scatter Rap, or #7 Scatter Rap in BLEAK. That was once the ticket on Devils Lake, bleak was THE go to color. It was just able to out fish all other colors combined. It was uncanny.
That color trend seems to be switching a little. Don’t get me wrong, I still stock up on BLEAK every time I am in a Scheel’s store, a guy still has to have that color as an option, however, a couple colors that made their appearance a few years ago seem to be overtaking BLEAK as the color of choice for both this Walleye Fisherman and the Walleyes. Hot Steel has been on fire lately. I don’t know what it is about that color but it doesn’t seem to matter, sunny or cloudy, the Walleyes love it. Not far behind is the PURPLEDESCENT.
I am a HUGE VIKINGS Fan, so throwing Purple at fish just comes naturally. The days that Hot Steel has kind of seemed to go cold, the purpledescent has done the trick.
My crank box has almost nothing but those three colors in it right now. If you have a Devils Lake Trip coming up, make sure you have an ample supply of all three.
The Transitioning of fish to deeper levels seems to be occurring as we speak. A guy can and will still be able to get plenty of Walleyes in the shallows for the foreseeable future but for a change of pace, that 6-9/10 foot range and even out into 12 feet is really holding a lot of fish right now. I was getting frustrated with the weeds today and slipped deeper to finish out my limit and the Walleyes were really aggressive in 6-7 feet, one swung the rod holder all the way around on the strike. It was impressive to say the least.
Eastern Portion Has Some Nice Fish Too!
Pelican, The Flats, the Northern Feeder Lakes, and the South Shore back bays get a lot of hoopla and attention this time of year and one area that may get overlooked a bit is the Eastern end of the lake. I love fishing East, it is like a whole different fishery with different structures and deeper ledges. My last few trips East have produced some really nice fish, some almost too nice. If you go east bring the bouncers and spinners as that is predominantly what I do when I venture to the Eastern edge of the Big Devil
What The Pitcher Should Be Looking For!
Walleyes love the Cattail edges and to get after them right now, a guy can get in tight and rip some nice lunkers out of the weeds. One problem that we are starting to see now is that second level, intermediate weed bed is really springing up and causing some fouled hooks in the pitching game. It might take a little more time to really establish that weed edge, once you do though, there are a lot of fish tucked up in there.
Spinner Bite!
I truly enjoy Pitching Cranks. It can be fast and furious and some of the strikes can be nothing short of violent. I do, however, look forward to a good spinner bite every year. It is almost like a chess game and the amount of water that you can explore with a spinner and bottom bouncer over pitching a crank bait is staggering.
Look for defined weed edges and submerged road beds in 6-12 feet of water right now and you will find some willing fish. My color of choice for this activity is dimpled gold. We did get a couple on white and blue today and even pulled in our final fish of the day on the blue with a night crawler.
I anxiously await a few Perch to start showing up and will be bringing the crawlers with for the duration of the open water fishing season.
Other Relevant Locations!
Don’t Forget The Corks!
The ole stand-by slip bobber will round out the presentation that is working right now. Don’t leave them at home. If you are pitching and getting a lot of follow-ups but can’t get them to take it, slow it down and throw out a plain hook with a leech under a slip bobber, the results can be magnificent.
Good Luck Out There!
