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Best destination trip?

bmeier

By bmeier
in Ice Fishing

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bmeier Explorer

bmeier

Posted
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I am looking to go book a good ice fishin trip or two this year and was wondering what people thought about Devils Lake, ND vs. Rainy Lake Vs Lake of the Woods. I would like to catch Walleye, Northern Pike and Perch.

Thanks for your input!!

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harvey lee Grand Master

harvey lee

Posted
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I would also maybe include Upper Red lake in your search. Eye fishing is great, crappies can be excellent and your chance of hooking into a northern of a lifetime is very good on URL.

I have never fished Devils lake before but with all the great things I have heard about this fishery, its on my go to list for this ice season.

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Blaze Experienced

Blaze

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Hard to beat URL in terms of numbers of walleyes and monster pike right now, with trophy size crappies in the mix too. That lake is phenomenal. If you're a serious percher, Devil's Lake is the hands down choice IMO, with good 'eyes as well. Not sure about the pike population on DL.

I usually make a trip to LOW every year around New Year's and drive right past URL. We've always done well on #s, but not size on LOW it seems. Not this year - I'm saving some time, gas, and will hopefully have as good of fishing on URL with a tipup or 2 setup for the big toothy pike. smile.gif

No matter where you go, you'll have a blast. Get out and enjoy!

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Random guy Grand Master

Random guy

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Quote:

Don't forget on URL there are perch pushing the 10 inch mark

You are correct, many nice perch to be had. Trouble is everybody gets crappie on the brain and drive right past the perch. I had some great perch fishing last spring/late ice. Let me look for some photos of last years URL perch.

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calli4120 Collaborator

calli4120

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My vote is for Devils Lake since that is where I booked my trip this year. A 3 day non-resident license for ND is $15 and you can have 4 lines in the water per person.

My plan is to set up a dead stick and jig for perch and then place a couple of tip-ups out for pike.

I booked my trip for the end of February and I can't wait!

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

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Its hard to beat the Winni to Red to LOW trip.

Devils lake has a less restrictive line and fish limit. If you go hire a guide for a day or get a good map and then buy bait and ask a lot of questions at the shops. Its big and can be kind of intimidating for a 1st timer.

We did Red for 3 days last year and caught more eyes than we did on LOW. Olus we got some real nice crappies, a few perch and a few pike.

If you have the time I would do Red Lake for a day, LOW for a day then Red again on the way home.

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TMF89 Experienced

TMF89

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I had a blast when I fished Devil's, with 30-40 perch caught between me and my dad, and several jumbos. I've fished URL mutliple times, and we usually catch anywhere between 8-12 walleyes per trip, with some perch mixed in. I have yet to catch one of the fabled pike, and have never hooked into a single crappie. I think we're going to head up to LOW this year.

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hanson Grand Master

hanson

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If my decision was restricted to the 3 lakes you had listed, it would be Lake of the Woods in a heartbeat.

If you decide to go to Devil's Lake, hire a guide! The perch fishing is not what it used to be although I understand it has been improving. Devil's Lake walleye fishing is world class right now and that lake is full of northerns, lots of them. Also remember that Devil's Lake is larger than many counties in Minnesota. I'm talking 60 miles from one end to the other. The majority of the shorelines are full of sunken timber and trees. Its a unique fishery, productive fishery, but very difficult to learn on your own on a short trip.

My other vote out of your initial 3 is Upper Red Lake. Been fishing it for a long time now and continue to go back! Love that place!

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hanson Grand Master

hanson

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Quote:

Hanson, so you would pick LOW over URL? Why? (I think we're heading up to LOW this year)

Hmmmm... Trick Question! grin.gif

I do have my permanent sleeper house on Upper Red, its been there for the last 3 winters now so this year will be my 4th. Hoping to make it up there about 6 weekends or so this winter as well

I do love Lake of the Woods and try to make it up there a couple weekends as well, alot of the time it's in conjunction with a Red trip.

I say its a trick question because out of the 3 lakes the original poster mentioned, Lake of the Woods would be my choice. If Upper Red was in the mix, that would be my first choice. I really like them both and wish I wouldn't have to pick just 1.

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TMF89 Experienced

TMF89

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I wouldn't either, but my dad's not quite up for a multiple day trip, we usually do 12 hours, we've done one 24, and I say we're thinking of LOW because of the "Fishing During The Day, Cabin At Night" thing, although we might stay a couple of days then. I've heard there's a sauger bite on LOW?

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sirsunnyslayer Enthusiast

sirsunnyslayer

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One thing to keep in mind is that URL will have a limit of two fish this winter and LOW will have a limit of 8. We don't even stop by Red anymore on the way up to LOW for our annual trip. Devils lake has been mentioned a few times lately, maybe next years trip. Don't forget that the season runs much longer on LOW and Devils lake as well.

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