I’ve spent a lot of my life fishing on Devils Lake, and I can tell you this—there’s no such thing as a “bad day” out here. Some days you just have to lean into what the lake gives you. And when Al Lindner called and said he wanted to come up and fish, I told him straight: “We’ll catch ‘em. Might not be easy—but we’ll catch ‘em.”
Of course, the wind showed up.
Not just a breeze either. I’m talking that classic North Dakota blow—20 to 30 sustained, gusting close to 40. The kind of day where a lot of folks stay at the dock. But Devils Lake doesn’t shut down… you just adjust.
And that’s where this place separates itself.
A Lake That Just Keeps Getting Better
One of the things I always try to explain—especially to guys like Al who’ve fished everywhere—is that Devils Lake isn’t normal.
Back in 1993, this lake was sitting around 69 square miles. Today? It’s pushing nearly 285 square miles. It’s swallowed farmland, roads, trees… entire sections of landscape. And what that’s created is one of the most unique fisheries in the country.
Flooded timber. Endless backwater sloughs. Protected bays. Structure everywhere you look.
And instead of hurting the fishing, it made it better—way better.
Walleyes, pike, perch… they all thrive here. No carp. No drum. Just clean, aggressive gamefish.
Beating the Wind: Fish the Right Water
That day with Al, the key wasn’t fighting the wind—it was using it.
We tucked into shallow backwater areas. Little sloughs. Protected pockets. Places that warm up fast and stay stable even when the main lake is getting hammered.
And here’s the deal: early in the season, it’s all about warm water and food.
- Insects hatch
- Minnows move in
- Big fish follow
It’s a full food chain packed into a small space.
Al looked at one of those areas and said what a lot of traditional walleye guys think: “That doesn’t look like walleye water.”
But here? It absolutely is.
The Pattern: Numbers, Action… and a Few Gold Ones
Now I’ll be honest—we had a pretty funny ratio going that day:
Ten pike… to every one walleye.
And the pike? Thick. Aggressive. Bigger than average.
But when the walleyes showed up… they were exactly what people come here for. That perfect “Devils Lake eater.” Thick, healthy, and built for the frying pan.
We had doubles. We had chaos. We had fish flying in 40 mph winds.
And that’s Devils Lake in a nutshell—action. Constant action.
It’s Not About the Bait—It’s About the Spot
One of the biggest takeaways from that trip—and something I tell clients all the time—is this:
When those fish slide shallow, it’s not about what you throw… it’s about where you’re throwing it.
We caught fish on:
- Jig and plastics
- Hair jigs
- Shad Raps
- Rippin’ Rap
Didn’t matter.
When those walleyes are in two to six feet of water, cruising and feeding, they’re there to eat.
Find them, and you’re in business.
Simple Gear That Flat-Out Works
We kept it clean and simple—just the way it should be:
That’s bread-and-butter walleye fishing. Nothing fancy. Just dependable gear that lets you fish efficiently in tough conditions.
Boat Control: The Real Difference Maker
If there’s one thing that separated success from failure that day, it was boat control.
In that kind of wind:
- You want it at your back
- You want consistent casting angles
- You rely on Spot-Lock to hold you in position
Start drifting sideways or fighting quartering winds, and your presentation falls apart.
Dial it in, and suddenly you’re catching fish after fish.
Why Devils Lake Is Special
By the end of the day, Al looked around and just kind of smiled. Even in brutal conditions, we had caught fish nonstop.
That’s the magic of this place.
You’ve got:
- Endless structure
- Multiple species
- Shallow and deep options all season
- A community built around fishing
It’s not just a good walleye lake—it’s one of the best in the world.
Final Thoughts from the Lake
Fishing with Al is always special. The guy’s forgotten more about fishing than most people will ever know. But even for him, Devils Lake still delivers surprises.
And that’s what keeps me guiding here year after year.
You can show up in 40 mph wind… tuck into a back bay… and catch fish all day long.
Not many places can promise that.
If you’ve never been here, do yourself a favor—make the trip.
We’ll figure out the wind later.
Best baits for aggressive shallow fish:
Shad Raps
Rippin’ Rap Crankbait
Hair jigs