Author Jason Mitchell used a spoon to jig this walleye to the bite on the 150,000-acre Devils Lake. Photo courtesy of Jason Mitchell.

Devils Lake in northeastern North Dakota has become a massive body of water with several unique characteristics. Over the past 20 years, this natural lake formed by glacier deposit has risen over 25 feet and has more than tripled in size. It now has about 150,000 surface acres. If one word summarizes Devils Lake, this one word would be "change."

Productive fishing locations, lake size and even tactics are constantly changing as both fish and anglers adapt to the new water. Shorelines feature miles of flooded timber and don't be surprised to find flooded barns, silos, farm equipment and other buildings in the water.

Once known far and wide as a top winter fishery for jumbo perch, the lake has quietly earned a new and different reputation over the past decade.

"Anglers still catch perch, and they catch big perch, but we don't see the numbers of fish that we did in the past," said Kyle Blanchfield from Woodland Resort.

"We just have so many walleyes and pike in the system right now," said Blanchfield. "The walleye fishing we have right now in particular is the best it has ever been."

Walleyes here often bite all winter long, with the morning and evening hours often most productive, said Devils Lake guide, Steve "Zippy" Dahl of Devils Lake's famous Perch Patrol Guide Service.

"We don't see much after dark as far as a walleye bite, but the first three hours and last three hours of daylight are often most productive," said Dahl. "There are times, however, when we will catch walleyes all day long even in shallow water."

PATTERNS EMERGE
Ice-anglers often find walleyes relating to several different patterns. Perhaps the most notorious pattern on Devils Lake is the flooded timber.

Timber
Anglers often find fish relating to shorelines that have flooded timber in 5 to 15 feet of water. Classic shoreline-orientated structure will especially hold walleyes at first and last ice. But Dahl also said anglers sometimes find fish shallow long after tradition dictates.

"There is a general rule of thumb that the fish move toward the basin of the lake and onto structure in deeper water away from shore as the winter wears on. That is somewhat true," said the guide. "But we will also find fish shallow most of the winter, so keep an open mind."

Flooded timber is always worth checking all winter long. Also, don't be afraid to fish some holes in 8 feet of water or less, particularly during the morning and evening.

"Some of our best bites each winter are usually in less than 10 feet of water," said Dahl.

Fishing this shallow water might take a different mindset. Both guides said sometimes you'll have to drill a lot of holes until you find fish. Also, crowds of anglers and fishing pressure disperse these shallow fish quickly. Work the edges of crowds or stay away from other anglers to be most productive. These pods of fish will spook out of the area with too much commotion.

"There are times when you can actually sight-fish for walleyes, which is a great education," said Dahl.

When word gets out on a hot bite and a crowd develops, that spot is finished. Go find fresh ice and keep noise to a minimum.