Before the Blast.  Fishing on Devils Lake was good leading up to last week’s storm, and ice was solid. Now, colder temperatures and heavy snow cover have created a challenge. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso. 

By Mike Peluso

I wish I could say I had a better report for everyone this week. Unfortunately, it’s been a week of cancelations and shoveling.

I do have clients in this afternoon, and we will be venturing back out onto Devils Lake in the morning. My guide partners have been out and the word on the ice is lots of snow. It is not easy to get around and certainly not easy getting onto the ice. Another interesting twist this week is this massive cold front settling in.

I feel the tracks are going to be a must this winter. This is nothing new for the guides. We are prepared and have all the proper equipment. It just makes our jobs a little harder is all. The good news before the snow, we had really good ice forming. With the added snow however expect some slush to show up in areas.

As far as the bite is concerned, we were catching fish on an assortment of presentations. For the walleyes, any type of spoon with rattles is working well. The perch were chomping tungsten jigs with spikes and wax worms. Minnow heads were good for the larger perch. My days are filling in fast. I do have a few random openings left for the winter, so get ahold of me.

With all the added snow, it has limited the crew as to where they have been able to fish. I’m hoping to be able to get to a few areas this week that haven’t been touched and see if the fish are still around. They may be there yet, but with all the unstable weather, they may not be willing to eat, we’ll see. 

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