Report Summary

  • Location Pivot: The main lake water is currently super clear, making the daytime bite difficult and frustrating. To find active fish, move up to the North Water, where the water is dirtier and the walleyes are scattered but highly aggressive.

  • Trolling Depth & Speed: Target shallow water (6 feet deep) and keep your trolling speed locked between 2.0 to 2.2 mph.

  • Lure Selection: Use Rapala Shallow Shad Raps (SSR). Their distinct bent lip keeps them running shallow (about a foot off the bottom) so they don't dig into the mud. They also make excellent pitching lures.

  • Precision with Line Counters: Use line counter reels to easily repeat successful patterns. If you catch a fish with 80 feet of line out, you can instantly set your other rods to the exact same depth.

  • Crankbait Tuning: If your lure isn't tracking straight, "tune" it by gently bending the front eyelet in the direction you want the lure to go.

  • Line Choice: Use FireLine for trolling. It provides excellent sensitivity so you can instantly feel when the lure stops vibrating from catching on a tiny weed, which helps prevent fouled lines and tangles.

  • Current Results: Using these tactics, Dave's boat nearly caught their limit, bringing in a livewell full of healthy walleyes (mostly 16–18 inches, with the biggest at 20 inches) and one white bass.

  • Alternative Tactics: After trolling the shallow flats, switching over to slip-bobbers at "secret agent spots" is a great secondary strategy.

 

If you’ve been out on the main body of Devils Lake recently, you might have noticed some frustration at the boat ramps. The main lake water is currently running super clear, and the midday bite has been testing a lot of anglers' patience. Some guys are waiting until 9:00 PM just to find a bite in the dark, thinking that’s their only option.

But according to legendary local guide Dave Randash of Devils Eyez Guide Service, you don’t need to lose sleep to fill your livewell.

In the latest Devils Lake fishing report, Dave takes us out on the water to prove that the walleyes aren't gone—they're just scattered, super aggressive, and hiding out in the dirty water up on the North Water.

Check out Dave's top tips from his recent trip to get your rods firing on all cylinders.

 

 

 

 

1. Repeat the Pattern with Line Counter Reels

When fish are scattered across a massive prairie system like Devils Lake (which stretches a whopping 60 miles from end to end), efficiency is everything. Dave's go-to strategy right now is a precise trolling system.

"We run line counter reels. They’re a little on the spendy side, but if you can afford it, they do the work themselves. The biggest thing is being able to repeat the pattern."

If you let out a line and get a strike at 80 feet, you instantly know exactly how much line to let out on your second, third, and fourth rods to put your baits right back in the strike zone.

 

2. Dive Shallow with the Right Cranks

You might think trolling requires deep water, but Dave and his clients have been absolutely hammering them in just 6 feet of water. The secret? Rapala Shad Raps (SSR - Shallow Shad Rap).

These lures feature a distinct bent lip on the front. This design keeps the lure running shallow—about a foot off the bottom—without constantly digging into the mud or snagging.

  • Pro-Tip from Dave: If your crankbait isn't running perfectly straight, you need to "tune" it. Simply bend the front eyelet slightly in the exact direction you want the lure to track.

 

3. Keep Your Lines Clean

Dave strongly prefers spooling up with FireLine for this style of shallow trolling. Because you are fishing shallow water near structure, drifting weeds are an inevitability.

FireLine transmits the lure's vibration perfectly to your rod tip. If a tiny piece of weed—even one just a half-inch long—catches your lure, it will stop vibrating instantly. If you don't notice it, your lure will run sideways, ruin your presentation, and create a tangled mess. Keep an eye on that rod tip vibration!

 

4. Speed and Results

Dave recommends keeping your trolling speeds locked in right between 2.0 to 2.2 mph.

Following this exact recipe, Dave’s boat pulled in a beautiful limit of healthy, fat Devils Lake walleyes, with plenty of fish landing in the 16-to-18-inch range, and the biggest of the day taping out at 20 inches (plus a bonus White Bass for some extra action in the livewell!).

 

What's Next?

If you have exhausted your patience on the flats, it's time to switch things up. Dave and his crew wrapped up the day heading out to check on a few of his "secret agent spots" to see if the slip-bobber bite is ready to turn on.

The fish are out there, they are healthy, and they are hungry. Avoid the frustratingly clear water on the main lake, head north to find some color, and get those line counters clicking!

Want to skip the guesswork and get straight to the tight lines? Book a trip with Dave Randash at Devils Eyez Guide Service and experience the legendary Devils Lake bite for yourself!