Mid Week Ice Fishing Report- February 23rd, 2022

Written by Mike Peluso

February 24, 2022

With the recent couple days of freezing minus below weather, and wind off the charts. It has done a couple of things for me. One it’s got me thinking spring walleye run near Bismarck, that’s just around the corner and hopefully warmer weather.

We did get a little more snow here and I have no idea what this will do to our mobility here as we go. I do know this, when the wind blows don’t forget your gps and shovel.

As far as the bite is concerned it definitely isn’t red hot. We are suffering the normal mid winter blues. Lower light penetration through the snow, lower oxygen levels and ever changing pressures from the weather all play into this. Like always, a light switch will flip and the bite will fire back up right before the spring thaw.

Perch up on Devils have been here today gone tomorrow. If you are marking fish you are better off staying on them and fishing those marks. The normal routine for Devils Lake is move and move and move. This year not so much. You can definitely mark perch in some of the deep basin of Devils right now. We are seeing a few true Jumbos showing up!

The walleyes have been everywhere. Not like catching them everywhere, but like catching them in 4 foot of water and also catching them in 40 foot of water and everywhere in between. Full minnows on a plain hook and spoons in the pink and white with minnows have been best. Perch just an old school tungsten and waxies doing the trick.

With this recent warm up we had, it definitely got me fired up for the open water! Taking bookings now for the early Missouri River spring run near Bismarck April/May. Also taking bookings for Lake Sakakawea July/August. Get ahold of me if you are looking to fish! I have other guides on staff to accommodate!

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