Perch Fishing Report

[littletroublemaker]

Just got back from Devils Lake 2/1 thru 2/5. In 10 years this is the slowest. We put on 250 lake miles searching. 2 perch. You can catch all the eyes you want in the 1 1/2 hour morning bite, but they are all small (12" to 16") males - Towers. Gold Halies with minnow head seemed to be the only bait they would look at. No one knows why - even the locals were not catching anything. We probably saw a total of 50 other fishermen on the entire lake system. My idea is that they are widely scattered throughout the lake - no schools. The fresh water shrimp are much bigger this year than other years. There were 85 perch caught at the last fishing contest out of 4000 people. Something is up or should I say down. Maybe in March, Doubt it.... To Bad.

[CAJ]

We were there about the same time as you were with the same luck. One day we had a lot of Perch a lot of eyes, but after that we were shut out. That is a big lake, and I think that they just don't school like a lot of other small Lakes. I have never scene so many shrimp, as there is in that lake. CAJ

[jackthedog]

SOrry to hear about your guys bad luck. I'm headed out there with a group in a couple of weeks. Can you give me an idea of the ice thickness and lake conditions as far as driving and getting around? Did you have a bait shop you would recommend?

[littletroublemaker]

Jackthedog

You can drive everywhere. Full auger drill depth. The drifts are hard so it is a jumpy ride. There are a few ice heaves - (mouth of creel - road through the trees) and off of (haybale bay-could not get around - had to drive to the other side of the lake). Just talked to a guy fishing it right now - 1 perch, 1-8# and 1-6# out of 4 guys. Using a gold hammered spoon of sorts. I would try Ed's Bait to see where. Minnows are a little bigger (but still small) at the casino. Remember the casino and towers area.....

[koWALLEYEski]

Are there any size to perch out there this year? Never fished it. But looking to try it sometime. also any nice eyes? Give me some feedback thanks

[iffwalleyes]

From everyone I have talked to and heard from the perch fishing has been Slooooooooow this year on DL. But, I guess the walleyes and pike fishing has been pretty good. I have just heard word of month because I myself haven't fished it this year.

[koWALLEYEski]

Hope to hear some more info on the perch fishing on DL. Might have to make a trip or 2 if it speeds up

[Ed Carlson]

A couple reports I got on DL last night.

"From Totten Bay and Catcus point the walleye are biteing very well, along Hiway #2 and the Strommy Edition area is really good too."

"Some respectable perch catchs were caught in the trees off the Minnewaken flats on the back side of Grahams Island, 14' was the magic depth.

The Pike bite is nuts almost all over.

I think we will soon hear of more big perch being caught in the shallower bays.

[koWALLEYEski]

Awesome report! Think I might have to round up the boys and go catch some fish. When does walleye close in ND?

[Ed Carlson]

Fishing is open in ND 24/7 and 365...it don't close.

Except for specific areas were slots or a conservation season may aply. (See da-regs for that stuff.)

DL is open 365.

[koWALLEYEski]

Thanks ED. I have only fished ND once in my life and it was during the MN seasons so I knew it had to be open there also. Ill look into the regs. Thanks

[jackthedog]

Just got back from Devils Lake tonight. Stayed at Woodland Resort and Fished half day on Thursday and sun up to sun down Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Would definately go back to resort as I found the people there friendly and they tried to put you on fish. Had a heated ice house reserved each day and they were happy to move you if you weren't catching any to a different spot. Perch fishing is very, very slow out of ten guys we caught five. Tried everything in our tackle boxes and bait we could think of but we weren't even marking many fish. Talked to numerous people through out Creel Bay, the Casino and two different guide services who had similiar luck. Walleye fishing also was pretty slow but we did manage to catch two really nice 24" and 25" walleyes on tip up rigs off the bottom on crappie minnows just before dark(Six Mile Bay). By far the highlight of the trip was the Pike fishing. Best Pike fishing I have ever been a part of (Lake Irvin). On Sunday alone we caught over 30 fish most all (28) of which were between 24"-29" range. Nice thick healthy pike. Probably missed at least another 30 flags (Couple of Rookie Ice Fisherman ) At one point we had four going at once. Incredible tip up fishing all day long using primarily herring about a foot off bottom in shallow water. Would also like to give thanks to Jeff Dosch and his guide service who tried to point us in the right direction for all three species of fish. Jeff was honest about the tough bite for perch and told us about the Northern and a couple Walleye spots and I would definately recommend him to anybody going out there and wanting to be put on some fish. Honest guy who didn't want just your money and cared more about putting you on fish. Thanks Jeff. Any questions for a guy that just got back from DL let me know I would be happy to answer them if I can as I appreciated all the help before I left. Good Luck fishing and I sure hope the Perch fishing turns on for all you headed out there.

[koWALLEYEski]

its been pretty quiet as of late? How is everyone doin out there

[deadstick]

Walleyes are still hitting good morning and evening, but the perch are slow. Gets to be a long day out there when you only catch fish in the morning and evening and only get a few all day long. Saturday I went up to Lake Irvine (20 miles west of Devils Lake) and caught pike on tip-ups after the morning walleye bite - good time, LOTS of people out there (more than any bay in Devils Lake).