US territory or get a permit for reservations? Devils Lake

[MJCatfish]

My brother said that he was checked and warned about not having a permit to fish the res part of Devils. This just happened last week. He said the permit would cost about $14.00, but the fine could be about $500 and possible loss of vehicle and equipment. I've only been on Devils a handful of times, but have never heard anything like this. Can someone elaborate? We'll be coming to fish in February.

Thanks!

MJ

[iffwalleyes]

It will only apply when within the reservation boundaries for example 6 mile bay you would be ok with just a ND fishing license. But if you are with in the spirit lake reservation boundaries it is true you need to have a trible license. You can contact the BIA in Fort Totten and they will be able to fill you in on the necessary details.

[MJCatfish]

Thanks IFFWalleye. I'll look into it. I did some searches for maps, but they weren't the most detailed maps. We will be staying at Bluebill Cabin, which is right off of hwy 2 just before you get into Devils Lake. East Bay is where we'll be driving on the lake. Does any one know how far we have to go before we are in the reservation?

Thanks~

MJ

[MJCatfish]

Looking on mapquest, it looks like the Benson/Ramsey county line is about where the res is. Does this sound right?

MJ

[iffwalleyes]

Yes that is correct.

[Jeff Dosch]

You do not need a tribal permit to fish any of Devils Lake! The only way you need to buy a tribal permit is if you access the lake by using a tribal road. The permit they want you to buy is not a fishing liscense it is a access permit. As long as you do not use a tribal road for access you do not need a permit.

Jeff Dosch

www.doschguides.com

[MJCatfish]

That makes sense, guys. When doing some research on this, it seemed like it was a res road access thing. Thanks again!

MJ

[iffwalleyes]

Thanks for clearing that up Jeff. I emailed the BIA once and never got a response. I have never fished on the Reservation anyhow so I just knew I didn't need it. I am sorry my information wasn't correct.

[Jeff Dosch]

No Problem. This basically just started last year and they try to inforce it from time to time. If the reservation Game and Fish say anything to you on the ice I was told to make a phone call to the game and fish dept and they would clear it up.

Jeff Dosch

www.doschguides.com

[Paul]

I used to do a lot of road side fishing in the summers when i worked up there years ago on the res. I would fish on the non res part by the bridge below the casino. It would be funny watching the people from the res fish on the res side of the bridge and then they would walk across the bridge to were we were catching them and the CO would be waiting down teh road with some binoculars and get them everytime for no liscense.

[FishFace222]

The permit they require is only for access to the lake from reservation territory. It has nothing to do with fishing on the lake. Your ND fishing license is all you need to fish.