2-1-2024 Fishing Report

With the current warming trend every day is a little different, USE EXTREME CAUTION on the lake…

We are having a very warm winter which has really kept us on our toes here in Devils Lake, ND. With temps in the 30-40’s most of this week, we have seen a lot of the snow cover disappear. Ice ridges and cracks have been very active. Many have opened up. Some are even starting to sink. It is very important that you know where the ridges are when you are traveling on the Devils Lake basin. Again, in some areas the ridges have sunk down some. Knowing where they are is very important as there will be open water and or poorer ice thickness in these areas too. As far as getting on. Be very careful around rocks, flooded roads, culvert/bridge areas. Access getting on and off might become a factor if we continue this warm trend for much longer.

Some people are driving trucks out. We suggest lighter utv’s, snowmobiles, 4 wheelers, and Snobears. We still have plenty of good ice, it’s just really important to respect the ridges and access areas.

As for the bite…

It’s been all over the place. We have also fished all over the Devils Lake Basin the last two weeks. We’ve had some groups get their limits of perch, some groups get their limits of walleyes and others have struggled only catching a handful of fish for their day.

We have probably had our most consistent bite with walleyes in the morning. Some of them really smack the lure! We have caught everything from up and comers to eaters to nice size to true Devils Lake trophies that were released to swim another day.

Buckshots are still our “GO TO” lure for walleyes in the morning and late afternoons. We have also used some light jigs tipped with a full minnow and just let it sit. Some days it’s the aggressive presentations and others it’s the subtle one that they want. Play around and get a feel for their mood!

The perch fishing has been somewhat inconsistent. Get them one day and the next day they are gone or get them one day and the next day they are smaller fish. We aren’t sure if they are more spread out this winter, as we are not catching them as consistently as we did last winter. Hopefully we will get them dialed in and we get you a better idea out there as to where they are at!

Remember to STAY SAFE and enjoy the beautiful weather! Remember to HEAD TO ED’S for all you bait, tackle, rods, snacks, gas, diesel, and on and off sale needs.

Thanks and good luck to all!!