When Stars Align For Spring Walleye

Written By - Jason Mitchell - 06/15/2007

Link to Original Article here

Most anglers, from across the upper Midwest, associate hot spring walleye fishing with river systems. After all, most of the hottest ice out action does indeed take place in the moving water below lakes or reservoirs. The Rainy River, Mississippi River, Missouri River, Detroit River and a host of other rivers can load up each spring with walleye if conditions are right. Traditional mentality indicates that walleye are easier to find and catch where fish are concentrated. The funnel affect that rivers create, not to mention current, narrows down walleye location. Without moving water or an upstream destination that will concentrate walleyes into a smaller area, pre-spawn and post spawn walleyes can be much more difficult to pattern. Many anglers don't associate a strong walleye run with some natural lakes that don't have an obvious drainage. Many anglers overlook what just might be one of the easiest and productive cracks at trophy walleyes in the Midwest by only focusing on the traditional spring river runs. Let me explain... Devils Lake, North Dakota, is a phenomenal walleye fishery. The lake boasts several year classes of walleye with strong populations of truly big fish. Fish are actually borderline obese from unlimited forage and excellent habitat. Devils Lake doesn't have a very well known "spring bite" because there are no rivers flowing into the lake. Every so often, however, say once out of a handful of years; Devils Lake does indeed get a spring run that is honestly unbelievable if never experienced. The stars have to align and when the stars are aligned, hold on. What has to happen for Devils Lake to kick out a phenomenal spring bite? First of all, the lake has to receive at least moderately heavy snowfall through the winter. Rising water and a strong influx of water into the lake means concentrated walleyes. Devils Lake is a closed basin lake with no river leaving the lake. The lake does however have several drainage areas that dump water into the lake from the surrounding countryside. Winters with heavy snow means strong current dumping into the lake. The same heavy snow that might make many traditional walleye rivers too muddy or high makes the Devils Lake bite predictable and productive. Spring walleyes on Devils Lake sometimes move many miles up into ditches and ravines. Many of these places are indeed hard to get to with no public access. We will demonstrate how we get to these fish later. As of right now, everything is in place for a hot spring bite on Devils Lake. The high drifts of snow that have plagued North Dakota this winter means we are going to have plenty of current entering the lake. Any kind of stable weather this spring i Three springs ago, Tony Dean, the host of Tony Dean Outdoors, and I did a show together on Devils Lake around the beginning of May. The run was on and Tony and I were fortunate enough to have timed our day of filming perfectly. In three hours, we had the show done. We caught and released nearly twenty walleyes in that short duration of time that weighed between four and nine pounds. The fact that we were lucky enough to get all of these fish on film was fortunate in the fact that I still answer emails and phone calls every time the show airs. Not too many people would even believe such a story if we didn't have the proof recorded. The truth was, the fishing actually got better after Tony Left. The fishing remained hot for a solid two weeks before winding down. Even when the fishing was winding down, we were able to keep busy with numerous male walleyes that didn't realize the party was over. I have been in few situations where I honestly had as much of a chance at catching a truly trophy walleye. We honestly expected to catch at least one really big walleye each day. There are no guarantees in fishing but if you are a person that plays the odds, the odds are probably as good as you are going to get if you can time the spring run on Devils Lake. When the stars align, odds of hooking into a really big fish aren't too shabby. There are many areas on Devils Lake where anglers can fish from shore or small boats. From my experiences, the best areas are away from the crowds and aren't easy to access. We use four wheelers to haul small boats back into remote areas in an attempt to hit fresh holes. Many of these spots aren't even on the map or even have a name. Fishing these drainage areas is much like fishing a river. Current breaks, holes and obstructions corral fish. There are times when the fish are so thick in some holes; your jig will have scales on it every time you bring it back to the boat. Intentionally snagging is illegal in North Dakota but the scales do tell you just how thick the fish are below you. North Dakota doesn't have a closed season on walleye and no slot limits. The fishery is in good shape namely because of an awesome forage base and great natural reproduction. We also don't experience the fishing pressure that so many well-known wa Experiencing a phenomenal day on the water where several large fish are caught is truly unforgettable. I almost feel awkward letting the cat out of the bag because I know that some people will try and take advantage of the situation. Really good fishing for really beautiful fish is something many people dream of and really should experience. I can tell you that Devils Lake during the spring run can be such a destination and this year's spring forecast looks really good. I just urge you to use common sense. If we can regulate ourselves, we will be enjoying this spectacular spring fishery many years from now. Editor's Note: The author, Jason Mitchell, heads Devils Lake's largest and most respected open-water guide service, Mitchell's Guide Service. They are a team of professional guides that keep their customers on the hottest bite happening on Devils Lake. This guide service will start running boats right at ice out and will remain busy well into the fall. For more information on Devils Lake fishing or Mitchell's Guide Service call (701) 351-1890 or check them out on the web at www.fishdevilslake.net.