Devils Lake has a reputation. A good one! Ice will be gone by May 1. Boats will be launched soon after. Walleyes will be shallow. And, biting, like this time every spring. Seasons are open year-round.
Early season tactics and techniques will be shared later, but first a look at what to expect of this North Dakota lake. Water levels are governed by Mother Nature’s moisture. Last year the lake held at a constant level due to heavier than usual rainfall – 25 to 30 inches throughout the summer. The Devils Lake area was one of the few areas in the upper Midwest that did not suffer drought conditions.
The current level, about 1,450 feet above sea level, according to Jeff Frith, manager of the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resources Board said, “I expect it to remain about that level, and the National Weather Service agrees, saying the lake will maybe rise one-half foot,” he said. The regional snow pack was considerably lower than the 56-inch annual average. About half that fell this past winter, which made for great ice and lake travel. But, little snow pack means very little current is flowing from the smaller lakes and coulees north of the main lake. There is enough water for walleye spawning runs to a few upper lakes.
Fisheries manager Todd Caspers works on Devils Lake fisheries topics nearly every day. “In terms of spring run-off, there can be good walleye spawning success whether it runs hard or is like this year with minimal current,” he said. In 2012, his research showed no run-off, but a very good hatch. “Taking the last nine years as a whole, we have experienced above-average hatches annually,” he summarized. “The long-term average is 25 young-of-year per net, but since 2016, we have averaged 34 young-of-year per net. The years 2021, 2022 and 2024 were exceptionally strong.”
Guides, tourism officials, local resorts, motels and casino, area businesses, out of town and out of state visitors and those who call Devils Lake their favorite place to fish are over-joyed. They know the walleyes are waiting. Walleyes will find their preferred spawning destinations. These are rocky, gravelly hard-bottom areas, and could be in the main-lake bays or in the upper lakes. Underwater railroad grades and old road beds attract spawners.
Something new for 2025 will be a tagging study to examine exploitation rates. About 1,000 walleyes from 13 to 29 inches will be wearing metal lip hardware. Each jaw tag will be numbered. Whether the fish are kept or released, Caspers wants to know when a tagged walleye has been caught. Call the fisheries office with the tag number in Devils Lake, 701-662-3617, or do it online at the ND Game & Fish website. Anglers may keep the tags.
Early season fishermen line the shorelines, the bridges, and just about anywhere they can cast out. Walleyes and pike roam close to shore. Typical tactics include dead bait on the bottom for pike, casting floating crankbaits, slip-bobbering with minnows or jigging. Local guides are willing to share their expertise in boats or even on land.
Cody Roswick, a 14-year veteran guide and owner of FinHunters Guide Service described his successful spring tactics. He leans on slip-bobbers or casting jigs and plastic. Keys to finding walleyes are locating the warmest water. Usually that means backs of bays with mud bottoms and some new weed growth. His go-to casting set-up – Small paddle tails by Northland or Berkley (Ripple Shad) on white, chartreuse or firetiger 3/16th or 1/4th ounce Northland RZ jigs. In recent years, he found two-tone jigs especially deadly. Those are either black/white, orange/white or chartreuse/white. Retrieve steady just above bottom.
For his slip-bobber fishing, his rods are spooled with 8-pound lime-green Fireline with the same size fluorocarbon leader. He prefers a 3/32nd ounce jig baited with a leech. “Pike like leeches, so if bite-offs occur, I switch to 15-pound fluoro,” he said.
Guiding starts mid-May for Roswick and most walleye guides. He can be reached at 701-840-5407 or finhunters.com.
Devils Lake may be the most welcoming fishing community in North America. Fisher folks flock to the area from around the world. With some of the most respected fishing guides and modern lodging facilities, visiting fishermen return year after year and each season hundreds of fishing groups cross Devils Lake off their “Bucket Lists.” And, they also make plans to be back.