Where to go for walleyes in mid-August?

I’m looking at taking a trip with my dad in mid-august. Right now the front runners are Devils Lake and Lake of the Woods. Which one is best? Any others I should be thinking about? Thanks!

I have never fished Devils Lake, but LOTW I fish every year in August. Most of the fish we have gotten are in the mud pulling cranks. If the wind is down I will make the run to the garden island area and fish shallower around the islands again with cranks. We have also pulled spinners around the reefs edges, but with the warm temps this year I am guessing the spinner bite should be done.

I have to think that the further north you go, the better that time of year. Water temps are already bath tub warm. Go for cooler water and go deep like Mojogunter said. A river with some current might be a decent alternative, as current generates more oxygen than stagnant water.

Also, don’t be afraid to fish at night. There’s more bugs, but there’s way less people and the air temps are much cooler.

I live between both and I’ve fished Devils Lake and Lake of the Woods for quite a few years. Depending upon the wind, I’ll go to one or the other almost every weekend in the summer.
Historically, the fishing is very good in August at both. Water temperatures will likely be at their peak in August and it’s been my experience that the warm water temperatures increase the metabolism of walleyes and they want to eat and chase lures. I’ve yet to see the fishing slow down when the water gets warm. If the walleyes are deeper, it’s because that’s where the food is at. It’s usually fairly easy to catch walleyes at both places once you find them and at Devils Lake, fish the windward side of the lake if possible.
At Devils Lake bottom bouncer and spinners are the most popular in to catch walleyes at almost all depths while spinners and bottom bouncers and/or jigging at Lake of the Woods in the mud or on or near reefs can really be good as well as trolling cranks with lead core, snap weights, downriggers, etc. to get them in the 30 or so foot range out on the mud flats.
I prefer to pull cranks at both lakes using either lead core or snap weights or both. You can use two rods/angler at Devils Lake and one rod/angler at Lake of the Woods. At Devils Lake, I’ll concentrate on old shorelines that are now covered by water and at Lake of the Woods I’ll look for walleyes on the large mud flats or the rock to mud transitions around the many reefs. I never start trolling until I mark fish at either lake and they are usually fairly easy to find. Just use your electronics.
Which one is better in Mid August? They can both very, very good.
You’ll catch walleyes at both.
If it means anything to you or not, the limit at Devils Lake is 5 walleyes daily and 10 walleyes in possession with no slot limit while at Lake of the Woods, the walleye/sauger aggregate limit is six (no more than four can be walleye). Walleye from 19.5 through 28 inches must be immediately released. Only one Walleye over 28 inches total length may be possessed.

Thanks for all the info! We decided to head to Devils Lake and booked a room at Woodland Resort. The other two guys coming with me would much rather pull spinners than cranks, so Devils Lake sounds like the better choice.

You’ll have a great time. Let us know how you do.

@breenmr661 when will you be there Brewer?
we are staying at Woodland from Aug 8th – 15th in place of our usual trip to Canada. would be nice to share a beer and compare notes during the week.

I’ll be up there August 14-18th. Unfortunately we won’t overlap much, but I’m always up for grabbing a beer and talking fishing.

Karry Kyllo wrote:

You’ll have a great time. Let us know how you do.

Will do!