When would you go?? - Devils Lake - Devils Lake

Kooty,
Devils lake can be like any other lake, and have good days and bad. The best thing is that there is plenty of water, and the fish will be biting somewhere at any given time, but you just need to figure it out when you get there. I have fished the lake in early June, July, and mid August, and have found that the fish were always active somewhere. Just remember to be flexible! The key to this lake, is there is an abundant amount of freshwater shrimp, and therefore they are not always eager to work hard for a meal. If you are jig fishing, do not get over agressive with your lift and drop, and always stay close to the bottom. The same goes for bobber fishing, and if the wind is blowing, try to position your rod in a holder that will keep the movement of the bobber to a minimum. Once you get tired of fishing the timber or some other sunken structure, go out and pull some cranks. Just be aware that this lake eats tackle like no other. There is nothing more gut wrenching then pulling four baits in 20 feet of water, and then seeing a massive monster of a dead tree on your electronics that comes within 6 or 8 feet of the surface. Talk about a fire drill!
If you decide to go in July or August, don’t forget to try the main lake humps, and pull bottom bouncers with leeches or crawlers. Last year, I was out there in early June and then again during the 3rd week of August. Although we were there late in the summer, we still caught most of our fish in 8 feet of water in flooded timber. One last thing to pay attention to, is believe it or not, this lake has a fair amount of current flowing through it. It comes in from the northwest and flows east. Even on the quietest days, you should pay attention to where your bobber moves. Certain areas around timber will be better based on the current flow, and may hold a few more fish. I do have one concern with the lake, and that is that there is not a slot limit there to keep from taking a large amount of the more mature fish. I have seen people take many fish out of the lake, that should have gone back. The fish in this lake are very fat and healthy, and the 16″ – 20″ fish are perfect for keeping along with the northerns, pearch and white bass that you will get along way. Last August when I was cleaning some fish at Grahems Island State Park, two guys came in and were cleaning a bunch of 14 and 15 inch fish. I thought they were done, and then they pulled out a 28″+ female, and started filleting it up. To each his own, but I myself thought it would have made a nice picture, and then gone back into the water. One last thing, and this is the most important. Do not go tearing around the lake until you have spent some time getting to know it. There are so many obsticles that are 1/2 to 3/4 miles away from shore, and you will not expect to come across a lone tree sticking 3 inches out of the water. I guess what I am trying to say with this long winded response, is that you will not be disappointed no matter when you go. It’s a great fishery and a good buy when you start to track your expenses.
Good luck, and let us know how things go!
Tailfeathers!