Things have gotten a little better up here on Devils Lake. We got some cold weather and firmed the ice back up. Now the big question is this next warm spell? With sun, what will it do to our current ice conditions?

I’m hoping it holds out until at least a little ways into March. Time will tell I guess. The fish have gotten a little bit more eager to feed here the last couple of days. If I’ve told my clients once I’ve told them a 1000 times this winter. It’s been a winter of quality over quantity.

This lake contrary to popular belief, is doing extremely well. Second highest test betting this last fall, so we know the numbers are here. After the NWT tournament last year, we know the quality is also. So what’s been the problem?

A combination of an over abundance of food and nothing to get these fish bunched up. Normal winters, and this certainly isn’t one of them. Would have us in a deep freeze for 30 plus days at some point and at least some snowpack on the lake. We really haven’t had either. More sun penetration through the ice is another. All of these are factors.

Both the perch and walleyes seem to still like the smaller buckshots and minnow heads over everything else. Tungsten and spikes will work, but they definitely like the minnows a little better.

I wish I could give you a better idea of a certain depths. Unfortunately, these fish are scattered all over the place right now and it’s guess work day in and day out if they are going to be in 5 foot of water or 50. So for me I tend to lean towards the shallower side of things increasing my odds at active fish.