9lb 4oz Oct 6, 2007

WALLEYE: Devils Lake continues to rank in the top 10 Walleye waters in the United States. Aboundant forage, plentiful spawning areas, and more cover than is possible to explore all have contributed to the fantastic Walleye populations in Devils Lake. Walleyes of 3-5lbs are plentiful in the lake with a chance at an 8-10lb fish not out of the question.

Daily Limit: 5 Possesion Limit: 10 No Closed Season or Slot Limits

WINTER: For Ice fishing early ice (December) and late ice (late February - early April) are the best. For Jigging good lures include Jigging Rapalas, Storm Wildeye Live Minnows, Salmo Chubby Darters, and Buckshot Rattle Spoons, Swedish Pimples, and Forage Minnows tipped with minnows or minnow heads. On dead sticks Genz worms, Frostees, and Doodle Bugs tipped with minnows all work well.

Spring, Summer, and Fall are a blast because of the many different ways you can catch Walleyes.

SPRING: (Late April - Early June) During this time pitching crankbaits and jigs into shallow warm water bays, shallow shorelines, and moving water can be some of the fastest fishing of the year. Slip bobber fishing shallow flooded trees and brush can also be a good bet. With every up side comes a down side. Fishing can really take a hit when cold weather moves in because fish activity this time of year is highly dependant on water tempurature. The warmer the water the more active the fish are.

Shore fishermen tend to fish the moving water in the coulees and bridges. Jigs are by far the best but don't rule out crank baits.

Spring Lures: #4, #5 Rapal Shad Raps and Jointed Sad Raps. #5, #7 Rapala Countdowns, #6, #8 Rapala Husky Jerks, 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 oz Jigs with minnows, 4 inch single white or chartruse tails, double white tails, or sliders. 3 inch Storm Wildeye Swimshad.

SUMMER: (Mid June- Early September) Mid to late June is the transition from Pitching cranks and jigs along shore lines to pitching cranks and jigs along weed lines and in the trees. Many years you can catch fish most of the summer doing this. Trolling also picks up during this time. Troll the edge of tree lines and weed lines, submerged roads, and underwater points and humps. Early in the summer 6-18ft of water seems to be your best option with depths moving to 8-25ft in later summer. Trolling with bottom bouncers and a spinners with a leech or crawler, Shad Raps, Wally Divers, and Salmo Hornets all work well. Slip bobbering and verticle jigging with leeches or half of a crawler in the trees, weed pockets, and deeper structure can also be very productive.

Shore fishermen concentrate more along the main lake bridges and rip rapped shore lines along Hwy 19, Old Hwy 281, Hwy 20, and Hwy 57. Leeches and floating jig heads or lindy rigs are a staple.

Pitch #4 and #5 Shad Raps, #4 Salmo Hornets, and #4, #5 Wally Divers on the shallower weed breads with #5 and #7 Shad Raps, #5 Hornets, and #5 and #6 Wally Divers on the deeper weed edges.

Trolling: #5, #7, and #9 Shad Raps, #4 and #5 Hornets, and #5 and #6 Wally Divers. If you need to get deep use leadcore or an in-line weight.

FALL: (Mid September- ice up) Fall can be some of the best fishing for large Walleyes. Fish can be found both shallow and deep this time of year depending on the day and part of the lake. Trolling deep structure with bottom bouncers and the crankbaits mentioned above work well. Also the fishing along the bridges starts to pick up, especially where there is a current. Once again jigs and crankbaits work well in these areas. Finally shallow shore lines where frogs are going into the water to hibernate can be a place to pick up a few big Walleyes. Try jigs, crankbaits, and frogs on jigs. The weather can be cold and the fishing can be slower at times, but the potential for a big fish is increased.