Devils Lake Perch Fishing Report

The early ice action for Devils Lake jumbo perch has been very steady for two weeks now…and excellent. There is not all that many anglers out yet either. Access is by ATV or LaCrosse pacs.

We’ve been using the same techniques, in the same spot (emphasis on spot) for over two weeks. They are still in the same area and depth. They haven’t moved into the deeper water although there are perch out there but why fish in 40 foot when you can do it in 16?

I’ve been using the glow blue 1/8 oz Hali and a treble dropper with a perch eye or spikes. The other rod has been an orange glow 1/16 oz Buckshot with a tiny Jiggle Bug or Rat Finkee dropper with spikes. Some around us are using minnow heads with bobbers but are only getting the more aggressive perch or an ocassional pike, about half as much as those with rod in hand. As you’ll learn from my reports Devils Lake perch need to finessed with good equipment and a watchful eye on the rod tip and electronics…hopefully an FL-18 Vexilar.

I’ve been catching the biggest fish when I detect the slightest sensation on the rod tip when I lift it no more than an inch. They’ll just be hanging on. By biggest I mean 12 inch plus. The typical perch are going 10 inches, just touching both sides of a 5 gallon pail bottom. I drill two holes, putting an FL-18 on low power down each and have no problem with interfernce and see only one lure on the display. This way I can finesse two rods, one acting as a semi-dead stick.