Devil's Lake Info.

[Schwanny]

My wife and I are thinking about an ice fishing trip to Devil's Lake. After searching through some websites it looks like the trips are fairly expensive, especially if you hire a guide service. I have all my own equipment and I'd be willing to try it myself, but looking at a lake map I wouldn't know where to start. I just was wondering if anybody out there did this trip for under $500 per person (Amtrac, Lodge, meals & guide). Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[smalls]

You shouldn't need to use a guide on Devils Lake if you have your own equipment. And you should be able to do it for far less than $500/person. I would guess a majority of your expenses will be travel.

First lodging, there are several hotels in DL that are reasonable, I think we usually pay around $50/night. The casino has reasonable rooms too.

It's a big lake with lots of fish, but the baitshops are very helpful. Ed's Baitshop and the baitshop at Eastbay Campground are good places to start. Also, just check back here when it gets closer to your trip, someone will likely help you out. The perch can roam over the large lake basin, so the best strategy is to start punching holes and looking for fish with the vex.

IMO, walleyes are underutilized in the winter on Devils Lake. Many of the best walleye spots are completely abandoned during the winter months and if you have the means to get there, you can have some fantastic fishing. Lake maps are invaluable here.

Like I said, don't hesitate to come up, we're friendly people and all the businesses are morethan willing to help out. You will probably be surprised to find out how much the hotel workers know about the current bite.

[Jeff Dosch]

schwanny,

We can put together a trip for well under $500 and that would be a fully guided trip. We also have packages for people who have their own equipment at half the price. If you've never been here before Devils Lake can be a little overwhelming in size. I'm not saying that you couldnt come here and find fish without a guide but a guide service would greatly increase your chances. Send me an e-mail or give me a call and see if I can help.

[Eyes4life]

I went up there and used the perch patrol, it was like 200 bucks for two days fishing with a guide. They did a good job, also after one day with the guide you know where to go, also you can just follow there trucks the next few days because they really know what there doing, i think we caught 60 perch in 1 day. Also we caught a lot of big walleyes, the only access to the spots we fished was snowmobile for the Big Walters. Devils Lake is A Blast and try Perch Patrol There Great. I think it is Perch Patrol.com, not sure.

[hanson]

Schwanny-

Just from my personal experience with Devil's Lake, even with your own equipment, it can be frustrating.

The lake is very overwhelming, there is no doubt about that. A good lake map, such as the one I have by Lakemaster is a necessity when fishing a lake this big. I would also recommend a GPS unit used in conjunction with a good map to put you on some good spots.

As Jeff mentioned above, a good way to cut the learning curve would be to hire a guide on a 'tag along' package. These guys are out day after day searching for fish to put their clients on. They can help put you on fish and show you what techniques, tackle, bait have been working most effectively.

Another thing to remember about a Devil's Lake fishing trip is that Devil's Lake is in NORTH DAKOTA and you will be there in the WINTER!! The weather can be very unpredictable. Wind, snow, cold, and poor visibility can happen even with the best planning for a trip. I know, it happened to me last year. If you go prepared, it is really no big deal.

If you haven't checked out my fishing report from last weekend, go ahead and read it. Devil's Lake- Report Dec. 10-12 Now remember, we encountered very early ice conditions but we spent more time searching for the fish than catching them.

Good luck to you, Devil's Lake is a great (Contact US Regarding This Word) lake with trophy opportunities. Big Perch! Big Pike! Big Walleye!

[Ed Carlson]

I tend to agree that for your first trip on a water such as DL it is a challenge. A guide will be a huge help to dial in the best bite on the ice.

Patterns and locations charge so dramatically on DL that the inside scoop and tips a guide can offer you are very cost effective.

[huckfin]

Schwanny

We made our first trip to DL last February for two days. I see your not located to far from me. So your in the same boat I was in, drive 5 hours and hope to find fish or hire the guide. We hired Jeff and his crew for two days. Had a great time and caught fish. Moved 6-8 times each day to stay on active fish, they earned there fee and made our trip a memory. The kids couldnt get enough of riding in the fish houses pulled by the snowmobiles.

P.S. North Dakota smokies do not allow 8-10 MPH over the speed limit grace like they do in MN. OH THE MEMORY $$$$$

[iffwalleyes]

huckfin,

Oh they have a speed limit grace like MN but just stay under 10 mph over. That is the magic number I have found. If your are 9 over they will leave you alone if you are 10 over you will probably get a ticket. Not to say I haven't been grab by the long arm of the law. But the cool thing about tickets over here is that you can be like 10 miles over and it cost you $20-30 bucks. Unlike MN over priced tickets.