Consistently Inconsistent.  Devils Lake’s walleyes may require varied presentations to connect with them, at least until waters warm and a summer pattern sets up. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

I’m not sure where the time goes.  It feels like just yesterday I was writing my first report for the open water season on the Missouri River near Bismarck.  Fast forward and now I’ve made the transition over to Lake Sakakawea from Devils Lake.   It’s always crazy to me how fast the open water season goes. 

When I left Devils Lake this week things were a little off.  The water just doesn’t want to warm up with the lack of heat and sunlight.   This has really put the walleyes in a funky mood. 

However, you can still grind out your fish on Devils Lake. It’s weird because one day you will get them on slip bobbers, the next day they’ll come on spinners and bottom bouncers.   Of course, you can still catch them casting cranks and pitching jigs.  It’s just hard to put it together with the same presentation over multiple days.  

My guess is as soon as the water warms it will be game on, hopefully giving everyone a great opportunity to catch fish and good numbers. 

Now I slide over to Lake Sakakawea and it’s kind of the same but better.  I am seeing lots of walleyes, but the water is a little cold yet making them a bit moody.  The fish are really moving up and down the hills throughout the day.  One pass you will see them up in 5 to 10 feet of water, the next pass they’ll be out in 15 to 20.  I’d anticipate the bite really revving up in the next two weeks!  

I’ve had a couple days open for fishing on both Sakakawea and Devils Lake in the near term, so get a hold of me to grab a date.

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