This fishing report comes with a very heavy heart. After hearing the news that someone went through the ice here in North Dakota, and didn’t make it, is absolutely devastating. No fish is worth it.
If you have been reading my MPO Quick Glance reports I’m really trying to emphasize caution and safety while venturing out. Be diligent and continue to drill holes and try study the ice ahead and it’s conditions. No ice is ever 100 percent safe.
So with that, I was able to spend a few days up on the Devils Lake system. I did fish some, but honestly for me with guiding starting up here hopefully soon, I wanted to find some really good ice for my clients. I also was trying to find pods of fish and patterns. I feel I accomplished all of the above.
Ice was anywhere from still open to around 9 inches in places. Some of the ice froze really hard and clear. We still need some cold weather to continue to build more ice.
Seems like the fish are still a bit scattered about. The low light times were definitely best for the walleyes. Did find a few perch but again they seem to be scattered also. Hopefully they will start to bunch up and make them a tad easier to catch.
I stayed pretty basic using the small buckshots with minnow heads for both the walleyes and perch. I can usually give you a depth range but that was all over the map for me the last few days.
Things are gonna heat up here and get busy. So the reports will continue to pour in. If your looking for a trip email me at mikepelusooutdoors@gmail.com