Devils Lake advice

Hi Guys,

I am head to Devils Lake for the first time with a couple friends in March. Looking for some advice to start our planning. Looking at staying with Woodland Resort and renting one of their houses. What are your thoughts? We have gear and portables, so do we need the fish house?

What lake maps do you guys like best Navionics or Lake Master? I know the lake has grown quite a bit just curious what you all like that have been there.

Traditionally what kind of patterns are you looking at in March for walleye and perch? Any general areas we should be looking to start?

I appreciate your feed back

Thanks,

Todd

Woodland Resort is a great place to stay, with a variety of accommodations, bait shop, and restaurant. Kyle and his crew work hard for their guests. If you are looking for an easy, comfortable trip where you will be shuttled out and back each day to hard side fish houses they will do a great job for you. Woodland places their houses on the main body of Devils Lake and the fishing can be really good, especially for walleyes on structure.

Fishing off the main body of Devils Lake can also be really good. Look at Stump lake or Lake Irvine. If you want to fish these areas I’d suggest bringing your portables or hiring a guide service that fishes the entire region.

Good Luck in North Dakota!

Jim Carroll NPAA #13

I also agree, Woodland is a first class operation, another thing you will want to do is monitor ice conditions, late march trips definetly bring atv, with the numerous pressure ridges on the lake and our current weather, I can foresee a need for atv’s even earlier.Permanent houses have to be off mar 15, so doubtful any rentals will be on ice after that, after they have to be removed daily.
Perch are a crapshoot where your gonna find them, but for walleye try north end six mile, hwy57 bridge, mauvis coulee, old railroad tressel in south end of mission bay, typical spring hotspots.
If you have never fished our perch, they are good sized, but some of the pickiest biters.Definetly recomend noodle rods, spooled with light superlines, in the deeper water this will shine!!
Good Luck!!
oh, Lakemaster, by far the best map.

Woodland is a great place. They’ll definitely give some some pointers on where to start looking to fish. I fish devils about once a week during the winter and typically walleyes are easy to come by. As far as perch goes, I like to “ice troll”. I usually will get to a spot and pop about 10 holes and fish them all and if I don’t catch a fish within 20-30min, I’m on to the next spot trying to locate a big school. Once you locate that school its all about keeping them interested because if they lose interest those perch are gone. Fast sinking lures that get back down to the bottom are key. The minnow head hook has been really good for me because you can thread on the minnow head to the shank of the hook and perch can’t rip it off as easily.
Oh and don’t forge to bring an extension for your auger!
Move, move, move!

I’m headed up there too the second week of March. Going to be a long drive from southern Nebraska. Hope it will be worth the money spent!!!!

Thanks for the info guys. Gives me a starting place to start looking into. Really looking forward to the trip!