Report 12: Meandering Thoughts of a Weather Stalled Fisherman

Rainy Day Meandering Thoughts on the “Big Devil,” Devils Lake Fishing Report

When the weather doesn’t allow for fishing, what is a fisherman to do? Well, think about fishing of course. As I take time out from building an ark, I ponder many positives and negatives going on Devils Lake, I think about ways to be more efficient, ways to catch more fish. I think of the techniques we use and how we can become better.

The Shrimp Factor

There are many ways that make Devils Lake a truly unique fishery. The freshwater shrimp population is one that we constantly both use and compete with. They make Devils Lake Walleyes and Perch plump and fat, however, at the same time they keep the bellies of these fish full and can really hamper the bite, especially when it comes to the Perch.

Water Clarity

Along with this weather pattern that has been plaguing us here on the northern tier, another overlying factor in fishing success is water clarity. The lake and its tributaries have been churned up and muddy. Gin clear water is not usually good. The fish see too well and are easily spooked, especially early on Devils Lake when we are attacking the shallows.

However, things can turn the other way on us rain and wind stir the waters into a chocolate milk syrup. We are forced to dip into our bags of tricks in order to even let the fish know our lure is there let alone get them to bite it. Usually, this means slow it down, use more scent specific lures and live bait is essentially a necessity.

Fishing Pressure

The popularity of Devils Lake as a Walleye and Perch fishery is really picking up steam. The sheer volume of quality fish that swim in the waters of Devils Lake is mind boggling.

The biota mass of the lake is stifling. With this comes fishing pressure, thousands of anglers from across the upper Midwest and even the entire Untied States come to tackle the big water and chase those Walleye and Perch.

Devils Lake has many well known community fishing spots. The Golden Highway crossing the Minnewaukan Flats and Rocky Point are probably two of the more famous or infamous ones, depending on how you look at it. The other day, as helping a friend pre-fish for a tournament, we passed the Golden Highway, and it was exactly that, A HIGHWAY. There must have been 30 boats in a mile and half stretch.

I frequent the cleaning station at Woodland Resort and the buckets upon buckets of fish guts can be truly eye opening at times. Will this fishing pressure and abundant harvest have a ‘Mille Lacs’ effect on Devils Lake one day? I hope not.

I try to avoid the community spots, the true joy I find in fishing is chasing the fresh bite. There is nothing better than pulling up to a ledge or flat that has no one on it and striking gold. I dedicate my entire winter to this process. I refuse to ‘cluster hop’, moving from groups of vehicles and houses trying to hone in on already hammered schools. I want the fresh hole, the fresh school, the undiscovered feeding frenzy.

How the Moon Affects Fishing

Everyone has a person or group of people that they fish with most of the time.   Mine is a good friend and confidante that shares many of my likes and appropriately dislikes. He is a Wiscony (I use that term only affectionately with his permission) transplant. For most of his life he enjoyed the back forests and back waters of Wisconsin chasing Monster Whitetails with a bow and crappies, musky, and bull bluegills with a rod.

He has taught me many things in exchange for my perch fishing and field waterfowl hunting knowledge. One of the truly beneficial things he has tuned me in to is the moon, the importance of understanding its phases and how it affects wildlife, and fish in particular.

I NEVER used to even care if the moon was full, new, or even out. I could have cared less. Oh, how times have changed, now I pay attention to it religiously. I keep detailed records of our hunting and fishing successes and let me tell ya, that Moon has a distinct influence on hunting and fishing successes.

This is the Solunar Calendar page I use. I now understand a little more about what Waning and Waxing mean and why those terms along with Full and New and Major and Minor mean to my fishing success what days I NEED to be on the water.

The weather up here will clear, I WILL get back on the water, but until then I will sit here with my spinner table and prepare for that next gold mine bite.

SPECIFIC BAYS and LOCALES: The tear drop islands of the eastern flats are oasis’ of eater Walleyes right now. Patience Pt. is one of my favorites, look for perch schools hanging off the Western Ledge.  Haley’s Hump, just west Patience is similar structure and is holding those 13-16 inch Walleyes.  Mike’s lake remains strong for the troll bite, either spinners and leeches/worms or Crank baits.  If you are looking for the Bruisers, find the rock piles, the Main Bay towers, Rocky Pt., and Lost Jig are all holding bigger if fewer fish.  The weed beds in East Bay and Stromme’s have cooled off a little but those next level deeper ledges are starting hold more fish.