Quick Devils Lake Trip – What to do?

  • cougareye
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 4145
    #1272917

    I found out late last week that my boss and boss’s boss is going to be out rest of the week. Being a holiday week, meetings are slow so, at the 11th hour, I’ve thrown together a DL trip.
    I’m from ND so my dad and uncle (in town from Phoenix)will meet me there. I plan to leave Th am early, fish Thursday afternoon/evening and again on Friday until I feel time has come to get on the road. I hope to be home late Friday night. (6-7 hours driving each way)
    Given that, what techniques should I be looking to do? What type of structure am I looking for this time of year? I’m on as much of a budget as I can so I’m not buying any new tackle, just bait and license.

    I’ve been on the lake 4 times in last 5 years so if I had to start tomorrow, I’d:
    1) cast cranks to shallow weedlines
    2) drown leeches under slip bobbers in trees
    3) rig leeches in fishy areas.

    What else should I be ready for?

    Thanks in advance!!

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #978531

    About the only thing I can think of that you might want to add would be some spinner rigs and bouncers if the fish are holding on the outside edges of the weeds and / or trees.

    tbuaer66
    Posts: 66
    #978534

    i have been fishing devils lake,we have been having success finding reed beds(they are every where),locating the out side weed edge in front of them,and slip bobber fishing that area,i look for breaks in the weeds(there is cabbage growing out in front of the reed beds)inside turns,or any other structure that looks good,give it 20 minutes or so,and move to the next likely looking spot.the weeds stop at 10 feet,so trolling cranks or bottom bouncers is a good way to locate active fish and then switch to slippys,FISH THE SIDE WHERE THE WIND IS BLOWING IN!you can catch fish in the calmer waters but they tend to be alot smaller

    stuwest
    Elmwood, WI
    Posts: 2254
    #978539

    with salmon, we’d use side scanners to ‘hunt’ the shore, laying a board right up on the 2″ water line.

    used paper X-15s, Scitexs and Old furunos: 50 down in the center, a 200 out each side. It worked and we only had $15k invested… Geez have we come a long, virginia.

    So,i’m wondering for those who have use SS on these smaller waters, CAN YOU SEE FISH UP IN THOSE 2′ REEDS AS YOU TWEEK ALONG WITH YOUR ELECTRIC MOTOR and cast to them??? Or not…

    cougareye
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 4145
    #978588

    Anything else guys? Surprised plastics were not mentioned. Is that an early season tactic only?

    ET

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #978682

    Quote:


    Anything else guys? Surprised plastics were not mentioned. Is that an early season tactic only?

    ET


    I’d bet $5 you can and will catch fish on them if you use them when you’re out there but plastics do seem to produce best May – June before water temps get into the mid to upper 60’s.

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