The Peluso Report: A Return to Devils Lake

I reluctantly left Lake Sakakawea earlier this week to travel east to Devils Lake, and all the discussion as of late has been regarding how good the fishing has been on both of these waters. I'm here to tell you Devils Lake is holding its own.

Both bodies of water have been blessed with increased water levels this summer. Lake Sakakawea has risen over 11 feet since ice out and Devils Lake has gained three feet. Fresh water into these systems is a huge shot in the arm for the future of their fisheries.

Devils Lake, just like in summers past, is producing nice eater size walleyes and some bigger. The walleyes here on Devils Lake are super healthy akin to the walleyes on Sakakawea. The fish on Devils Lake are full of what I believe to be baby perch and fresh water shrimp. It amazes me they even bite with so much food, and the same holds true with all the smelt on Sakakawea.

Spinners in gold, firetiger, silver, and blue have all been good. Pulling these behind bottom bouncers moving around 1.3 to 1.5 mph on old shoreline structure near weeds seems to be doing the trick. Again, you can catch them other ways, but this is a fast producer and very productive. Crankbaits like Flicker Shads, Salmos, or an old fashioned Shad Rap will also work.

I have a couple weeks up here on Devils Lake yet so there will be more reports to follow from this water. I don't have a ton of open days, but a couple scattered dates here and there so get ahold of me. I do have plenty of openings for this fall on the Missouri River near Bismarck starting late October up until freeze up. This is an awesome time to fish out in ND. You can combine it into a fins and feather trip if you're hunting as well.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and licensed ND fishing guide specializing in walleyes on the state's premier waters.