Devils Lake, North Dakota, is a renowned destination for anglers seeking the thrill of catching jumbo perch. Known for its abundant fish population and unique fishing conditions, the basin offers both challenges and rewards for those chasing the that true trophy caliber JUMBO perch. Whether you're a seasoned angler or new to the sport, these tips and tricks can help you land the perch of a lifetime.
Know Your Waters
Devils Lake is vast and ever-changing, with submerged trees, flooded roads, and so much structure to learn one can easily be intimidated upon arrival to the 165,000-acre body of water on the prairie. Perch do not typically relate to any sort of structure, and this is where patience, mobility and weather can become your best friend on finding a school of perch!
Timing Is Everything
Perch are active throughout the year, but as we get into the heart of winter, we start to see them school up in large pods. These large schools are often easier to locate under the ice in deeper basins. The perch bite on Devils Lake is typically a daytime bite that can last anywhere from once the sun has peeked over the horizon until it starts dipping down beyond the western sky. The sunnier the day, the better the bite which also means if you can find schools in areas with little to no snow on the ice that will help the bite even more.
Go-To Gear
Fishing for jumbo perch requires the right equipment:
- Rod and Reel: An ultra-light rod paired with a sensitive reel will help you detect the subtle and finicky bite that Devils Lake perch often present
- Line: Use a 4- to 6-pound ice braid. Typically, perch will often be caught in depths from 25-45ft and the less stretch you get in the line the better your hooksets will be.
- Lures and Baits: Small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms, spikes, or minnow heads are perch favorites. Don’t overlook spoons or rattle baits to attract attention as an angler is allowed four rods on the ice at a time during the ice season. Also, it is legal in North Dakota to use a perch eye as bait, don’t be afraid once you have landed a fish to try this out, you might be surprised!
Jigging Cadences
Jumbo perch can be finicky, so nailing down your presentation can be the difference in putting fish topside or not:
- Keep It Subtle: Start with a gentle jigging motion a foot or two off bottom
- Move Up the Water Column: When you start to get fish to chase, don’t be afraid to keep raising your lure in the water column to entice the bite. Sometimes a perch may follow a lure up 6-8ft from bottom before it finally commits
- Keep a Second Rod Handy: The key to staying on an active perch bite is to capitalize when there are multiple fish down below at once. If you catch a fish it pays to have a second rod baited and ready to drop immediately once your first fish is topside.
Be Patient and Persistent
Catching a jumbo perch often requires time and effort. Stay patient, keep refining your approach, and trust your instincts. Pay attention to the subtle details, like weather changes or how much pressure is on the ice from other anglers. Perch can easily be spooked by the sounds of vehicles moving across the lake or even other augers punching holes.
Allow Yourself to Be Mobile
Being mobile with UTVs, snowmobiles, ATVs or even vehicles (when ice allows) can be the difference between finding a large school of perch or not. An approach that can pay off well is finding a spot in the basin, upon rolling up to this spot, drill a fair number of holes at once to reduce commotion. This can be anywhere from 20-50 ice holes; this gives you the ability to see which direction the school is heading. I usually give each hole about 5 minutes of hard fishing, if I haven’t had a bite or see active marks I move on to the next hole until I find what I am looking for.
Plan Your Trip
Devils Lake is more than just a fishing spot; it’s an experience. With local guides, bait shops, and accommodations ranging from cabins to hotels with indoor cleaning stations, your trip will be memorable both on and off the ice. There is no better time than now to get in that bucket list trip to catch the perch of a lifetime!