Heading to Devils in 2 weeks, anyone interested in a trip thread?

[pinelakeperch]

Hey everyone,

I'm headed to Devils Lake, ND in a few weeks to do a little perch fishing for three days. I've received some attention from my perch pictures and was wondering if anyone would be interested if I documented my trip on here with pictures and fishing information. If anyone is interested, I'll try to keep this thread updated in the days leading up to the trip as well as with fishing photos during the trip. If no one cares, mods can feel free to delete the thread.

[Rennich98]

I was hoping to get a trip in this year to try it out but maybe next year....who would say no to fish pictures, and especially 14+ inch perch...do u drive down and if so how long does it usually take??

[pinelakeperch]

I was hoping to get a trip in this year to try it out but maybe next year....who would say no to fish pictures, and especially 14+ inch perch...do u drive down and if so how long does it usually take??

I drive down, it takes something like 10 hours from Brooks, though that's with slow and careful driving. I'll be heading to Estevan then south to ND. I highly recommend fishing with the Perch Patrol, we had a 16 incher last year and a slightly shorter one that was about two pounds.

[snowman160]

I have been wanting to go for yrs,havin friends in sodak an havin been by devils goin pheasant huntin in sodak..I have seen the sign for the turnoff off the hey!!!!pm me pics an any info you may have to help a guy plan a future trip I would love to hear how it went..do's,dont's,an all that stuff..good luck im beyond envious.one thing I'm curious of is total cost or the trip,fuel to get here,accommodations,paying the guides,tips all that stuff.o know a week of pheasant huntin is about 1000$ per guy traveling with a group..

[pinelakeperch]

I have been wanting to go for yrs,havin friends in sodak an havin been by devils goin pheasant huntin in sodak..I have seen the sign for the turnoff off the hey!!!!pm me pics an any info you may have to help a guy plan a future trip I would love to hear how it went..do's,dont's,an all that stuff..good luck im beyond envious.one thing I'm curious of is total cost or the trip,fuel to get here,accommodations,paying the guides,tips all that stuff.o know a week of pheasant huntin is about 1000$ per guy traveling with a group..

I'll make sure to remember to put together a total cost for the trip. It'll be more than $1,000 in total for absolutely everything.

[omega50]

I went through in August on my way to Bismarck from Whipanegg. Where do you guys like to stay?

[Mike_W]

I would like to see a thread!!

Also I am curious do you or can you bring back fish?

[Marlin07]

Count me in as curious. Would love to go on a road trip like that, have a few friends who would be in as well. Please take lots of pictures and what not!

[pinelakeperch]

I went through in August on my way to Bismarck from Whipanegg. Where do you guys like to stay?

Woodland Resort, it's right on the lake.

I would like to see a thread!!

Also I am curious do you or can you bring back fish?

We brought fish back last year no problem. Not sure if that's proper protocol but I'll be asking when I enter the country this time. It would suck to risk it and have to waste a ton of fish.

Count me in as curious. Would love to go on a road trip like that, have a few friends who would be in as well. Please take lots of pictures and what not!

Will do! It's absolutely incredible. The walleye fishing doesn't get enough credit there, people catch quite a few in the high 20s. The pike fishing isn't anything too special, big numbers but nothing too big in size. As it is, growing up 10 min from Lake Newell, I wouldn't be spending money going to other lakes to fish pike.

[omega50]

The fishing is sooo good- they finally got an Applebee's- :)
We stayed at the casino, but I have been to Woodlands a couple of years back in August.
I am pumped for a trip report-especially the Vexilars used by the PP.
Sucks about Amtrack- That would have been a blast

[pinelakeperch]

Quick update: Currently packing and hammering out all of the details. Trying to get some tickets to a Fighting Sioux game as well, I went last time and it was fantastic. I've also decided to take my Volvo rather than a truck.

If anyone has any specific questions, PM me or post them here. I'll make sure to answer them all to the best of my ability and get answers for the ones I don't know.

[Safety D]

My buddy went a few years back. Had a blast caught some nice eyes and perch. Good Luck

[pinelakeperch]

Figured I'd post this video to whet everyone's appetite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwdGMDaC8Wg

Leaving on Friday:sHa_shakeshout:

[Esox]

Im looking to book at the end of march now that I know when my winter project will be over. Did you bring back the fish whole or in what form?

[pinelakeperch]

Im looking to book at the end of march now that I know when my winter project will be over. Did you bring back the fish whole or in what form?

Make sure to mention Joe Hutter from Calgary referred you:) I'm not affiliated with the Perch Patrol whatsoever I just want them to show how appreciative I am of their terrific service.

Last year we brought them back filleted. Woodland resort has a large cleaning shack.

[pinelakeperch]

The most recent fishing report is now up: http://perchpatrol.com/fishing_report.htm

I hope it stays that way for us!

Here's a picture they recently put on Facebook:

http://i.imgur.com/hlYfmFq.jpg

[Mike_W]

Looks good ....did you find anything out about the legalities of bringing fish back into Canada?

Also curious what the regulations are on the lake? What can you bring back?

Edit** just checked it out looks like a guy could bring back 10 Walleye and 80 Perch - Five per day 10 possession with no size restriction on Walleye and 20 per day 80 possession for perch

[pinelakeperch]

Looks good ....did you find anything out about the legalities of bringing fish back into Canada?

Also curious what the regulations are on the lake? What can you bring back?

Edit** just checked it out looks like a guy could bring back 10 Walleye and 80 Perch - Five per day 10 possession with no size restriction on Walleye and 20 per day 80 possession for perch

Last time when we crossed the border we told them that we were bringing fish back and they didn't seem to care. When I'm at the border either on Friday or Saturday I'll ask again to make sure that it wasn't simply a case of a lenient patroller.

[pinelakeperch]

Made it to Estevan, SK. I'll be in Devils Lake tomorrow afternoon:sHa_shakeshout:

[chriscosta]

Oh man you must be stoked drive safe and good frign luck buddy cant wait to hear more

[pinelakeperch]

Oh man you must be stoked drive safe and good frign luck buddy cant wait to hear more

So pumped! Thanks!

[laker taker2]

Looking at their website, am I the only one that thinks that can't be sustainable?????? They are taking an insane number of fish out!

[pinelakeperch]

Looking at their website, am I the only one that thinks that can't be sustainable?????? They are taking an insane number of fish out!

I have thought the same thing. The one and only thing I don't like about the place is the mentality most of the locals and visitors there have about conservation. They have no problem keeping any size fish, the amount of high 20s and low 30s walleye they keep is insane.

I remember when I caught my one of my two 30+ in Walleye in Ontario we didn't have a camera on us and were about five minutes by boat to the cabin and I refused to let it potentially die so that I could get a picture. We ended up releasing the fish and running back to the cabin to cool down (I caught the fish on an UL rod with 4 lb test, 30 min fight) and grab the camera in case we happened to catch something else. Not 5 minutes after returning, I hooked into a 30.5in Walter (the previous one was about an inch to and inch and a half longer). I'm not sure what to think but I like to believe that I was being rewarded but who knows.

Anyways, that was way off topic, I just love telling that story:sHa_shakeshout:

I've talked to the guides and many of the locals and they tell me that that lake just keeps growing and growing and the perch's food source (freshwater shrimp) are absolutely teeming in the lake. The lake has also nearly doubled in size over the last ten years and they are having their best year numbers-wise in twenty years of guiding.

We made it to town today at around 3 then drove to Grand Forks on the ND/MN border to watch the Fighting Sioux play Miami Ohio. Great hockey, around 12,000 people in the rink that the Great One called "The Taj Mahal of Hockey". Every seat in the rink has leather sitting surfaces and the arm rests are cherry wood. The bathrooms have marble countertops!

I'll update everyone tomorrow afternoon with our catch. Until then, tight line:)

http://i.imgur.com/7uW4kIu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9qExVIU.jpg

[pikester]

Looking at their website, am I the only one that thinks that can't be sustainable?????? They are taking an insane number of fish out!

I think part of the reason there are high populations of fish is due to the fairly shallow, fertile lakes in North Dakota but the biggest reason is they actually give a crap about outdoorsmen getting bang for their bucks. North Dakota alone stocked 13,797,753 fish into small & major fishing waters in 2013; can you imagine! That's almost 7X what gets stocked in Alberta lakes & ponds & Alberta is more than 3X the size of N.D. Plus they don't just stock walleye & trout; they also have perch, catfish, bluegill, musky, salmon, & even pike in their annual stocking program.

They even take their fisheries stocking program another step further; they monitor all waters closely & if they notice an obvious decline in certain size or year class of perch or walleye, then they bump up that particular fishery with the corresponding size of fish the next season or 2 to balance out the population.

Serious hands-on fisheries management- what a concept!

[Esox]

Updates dammit, we need UPDATES!! Haha

[pinelakeperch]

Updates dammit, we need UPDATES!! Haha

Have I ever got some updates for ya, just give me a few min:sHa_shakeshout:

[pinelakeperch]

Well, it's time for an update.

Fishing yesterday was a little slow, we iced about 12 perch and missed quite a few. Nothing to write home about, average was 10-12in.

Today we killed it! Iced about 20 perch, ranging from 8-~14. Got 5 or 6 walleye as well, the biggest being 20 inches. The shack ten feet behind us got a 28in walleye that was an absolute pig. I've caught a 31.5in walleye before and this thing still impressed the hell out of me.

Tomorrow is our last day, although we're considering trying to get in for a fourth day. We're going to target perch all day rather than start the day on walleye as we did today. Lots of the other guests want to go for pike but with Newell ten minutes from my door, it doesn't make sense to me. I asked if we can look for some white bass, hopefully time will allow for it.

Weather was incredible today, +2 and not a lot of wind. Yesterday was very crappy with weather warnings late in the day.

If you guys have any questions, please ask. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask the guides.

Now for some pictures!

http://i.imgur.com/ohrYvPC.jpg
I wish I could've taken a better picture of this fish, it was absolutely massive. It weighed in at 4lbs, which is just slightly more than a pound short of the state record. It really was incredible.

http://i.imgur.com/pR7pPow.jpg
Girlfriend with 20in 'eye.

http://i.imgur.com/s71kApC.jpg
Pigs!

http://i.imgur.com/GKz3AwB.jpg
This is a size 10.5 wide Sorel boot.

I'll get some more pictures tonight when I head to the cleaning shack. I'll be there a while, 25 fish to clean:budo:

[Esox]

Do they ever go after the crappie in the lake? I know it's not a big population in there.

[pinelakeperch]

Do they ever go after the crappie in the lake? I know it's not a big population in there.

Not really, apparently it's pretty rare to hook into one. They say if you're going to catch one that it's going to be quite big.

[pinelakeperch]

More pics:

http://i.imgur.com/RL90PPj.jpg
Biggest was a fat 14, smallest 12.

http://i.imgur.com/Zlz91vu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/S4BBP7w.jpg

[chriscosta]

Holy crap dude them are some nice perch thats sweet

[Habfan]

Pics not working for me !! I'll just fill in the blanks !! Lol

[Habfan]

Got em !! Nice !

[pinelakeperch]

Today was good, I don't feel like posting pictures tonight. Let's just say we limited out with 40 perch. It's going to be a long night in the cleaning shack:)

[Esox]

Today was good, I don't feel like posting pictures tonight. Let's just say we limited out with 40 perch. It's going to be a long night in the cleaning shack:)

biggest?

[pinelakeperch]

biggest?

A hair under 15in. We caught about ten or more that were 13-14.5. Countless at 12.

http://i.imgur.com/j8Kf9hj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xSDVguN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/n7cHQpi.jpg

You have to see these fish in person, pictures don't do justice.

[Hunter Trav]

Looks like you had a great trip, might have to look into getting down there someday...:cool:

[EZM]

HOLY CR#P ......... those are humpies .....

Definitely on my list of "go to" places.

[pinelakeperch]

Thanks guys, you have to experience it! I'll definitely be back next year, it's addicting watching your Vexilar knowing that your next bite could very well be a 2 pound perch.

[TroyLang]

Those are some slob perch!!!:sHa_shakeshout:

[Esox]

I'm heading down mid march for 3 days. Originally had the perch patrol booked at the end of marćh but had to change dates and unfortunately they weren't available then, so we decided on Brys Guide Service. Did you have any issues bringing fish back? Filleted with any skin left on them?

[pinelakeperch]

I'm heading down mid march for 3 days. Originally had the perch patrol booked at the end of marćh but had to change dates and unfortunately they weren't available then, so we decided on Brys Guide Service. Did you have any issues bringing fish back? Filleted with any skin left on them?

Damn, that's too bad! I'm sure you'll be fine, I haven't heard of Brys but with the quality of the lake you'll still kill it. No issues bringing nearly 80 perch back. Didn't leave any skin on.

[Alberta Bigbore]

Tanks!!!

[pinelakeperch]

This weekend I'll be booking a 3 day trip for early January:sHa_shakeshout:

[Walleyedude]

I'd love to go down there and spend a couple days at Woodland Resort having the legendary "Mr. Tiller" Pete Harsh guide me around and put me onto some of those jumbos and really nice 'eyes.

That would be a blast and I'm sure a guy could learn a ton from Pete and the other guides.

[pinelakeperch]

It took longer to find the time to book than I had expected but it's done! Leaving the 2nd of January, arriving on the 3rd to watch the Sioux play the US under 18 team, and fishing the 4th, 5th, and 6th! Can't wait!

[chriscosta]

My gawd ....thats just awesome

[Jamie Black R/T]

I might have to do this trip sometime soon.

How far ahead do these guys typically book?

[chris1]

Which part of the lake did you go.

[Rennich98]

How much does a trip like this cost? Not including gas money just the couple days on the lake?

[pinelakeperch]

Which part of the lake did you go.

No idea. The lake is absolutely massive. It grows each year due to flooding. At one of the best spots you're fishing beside partially submerged power lines.

How much does a trip like this cost? Not including gas money just the couple days on the lake?

http://perchpatrol.com/packages.htm

[Esox]

I use Brys Guide Service when we head down. Another good one is Jason Feldner with Perch Eyes guide service. Lake is massive but after a few trips you can do it yourself. One think I like about the guide I use is that generally we're not fishing in a huge group of people like a lot of the other guide services. We spend most of the time in the eastern basin and east devils lake. If you are doing it yourself, just look for the large groups of people or the tahoes/suburbans with grey clam ice shacks strapped on the back, that's the perch patrol crew. Theres lots of maps and info to check it out yourself and find good spots without following people around. I like to use the guide service because its relatively cheap and they've been fishing the lake all winter, so theyre pretty tuned into where the fish are and where theyre biting. I highly recommend the trip, it will ruin you for perch fishing. I like to make this trip a week long adventure and hit up lake Winnipeg for giant greenback walleye to. Takes one day to drive down to devils lake (day 1), fish 3 days (days 2, 3 and 4), after the 3rd day, drive to Selkirk (just north of Winnipeg). IT takes about 3.5 hours from devils to Selkirk. Fish lake Winnipeg for 2 days (days 5 and 6), then drive home on day 7. Its pretty much the same distance from Edmonton or Calgary to devils lake as it is from Edmonton or Calgary to Selkirk.

[pinelakeperch]

Less than 5 weeks away!

:sHa_shakeshout::sHa_shakeshout:

[Esox]

15 days.....

[pinelakeperch]

15 days.....

Lucky!

[pinelakeperch]

15 days.....

Are you fishing tomorrow?! Make sure to post updates!

[dmac]

That is some good eats! I just love a big feed of perch.