different year...

[raider]

just watched the vid v posted by jason mitchel and started thinking... like he said, on devils, without the snow pack this year, it could really change the early season... he said the fish won't run up stream as far to spawn, and the water is really cold because of the lack of the warm runoff coming in... he also said the fish aren't even close to spawning... hope we don't lose a year class cuz of a bad spawn from weird weather...

 

[Brian Renville]

I wouldn't doubt that could probably be the case statewide for quite a few species. Most of the places I have seen there just isn't any stream to run up at all to spawn. Forage might take a beating as well.

 

[Kickemup]

There is enough riprap along that lake along with all the bridges that always have current. I think there should still be a decent spawn.

 

[shorthairsrus]

This spring is supposed to be warmer than normal. Jason says the water temps are rising -- they are and the temp will raise a lot more than when the lake was ice bound until may. I think you continue to see fish come into the system as the northern reaches of the lake start to dry up. If you fish the west side of the state you will know exactly how to handle lower water conditions and make it a success. One bad ass june and your right back to where it was before with water lapping up and starting come up on the dikes; one dry long hot summer and you could see dry'd up rip rap and dry salt flats for miles.

 

[dean nelson]

Fish don't need creeks or current to spawn. Any place where there gravel and sand and good oxygen levels will be good enough. Like was pointed out the lake may be cold but it's now open which is early and will be up to temp in the north west part soon.

 

[Brian Renville]

I've never fished Devils but it it possible that without the normal spawning runs flowing could it actually be beneficial by preventing the "fish in a barrel" slaughter that goes on there in the spring? At least that's what I have heard about it.

 

[Captain Ahab]

This spring is supposed to be warmer than normal. Jason says the water temps are rising -- they are and the temp will raise a lot more than when the lake was ice bound until may. I think you continue to see fish come into the system as the northern reaches of the lake start to dry up. If you fish the west side of the state you will know exactly how to handle lower water conditions and make it a success. One bad ass june and your right back to where it was before with water lapping up and starting come up on the dikes; one dry long hot summer and you could see dry'd up rip rap and dry salt flats for miles.

The areas to get back to the system will dry up long before it gets shallow enough for northern fish to look to return. Those fish will become trapped.

 

[shorthairsrus]

The areas to get back to the system will dry up long before it gets shallow enough for northern fish to look to return. Those fish will become trapped.

Pelican is absolutely pounded with the number of boats on that area of water ------ and it continues to kick out nice fish. They come from some where -- it isnt some sota or sconi practicing catch and release nor is it the tourney people playing c & R

 

[PrairieGhost]

Look at the other side of the coin. Without the snow pack there is more light under the ice. More light and more photosynthesis. More photosynthesis and higher oxygen, and more food for aquatic macroinvertebrates. More macroinvertebrates, more food resources for small fish. More small fish more food resources for big fish. I'm not sure less snow pack is a negative. The only negative is the lake doesn't rise and flood upland plants along the shore adding to the nutrient base. Perhaps Devils Lake already has a high enough nutrient base from ag runoff. It's just missing the right nutrients and cellulose that provides fiber to some of the invertebrates that brake down biomass.

 

[Davy Crockett]

If water levels dropped a bunch would it bring back winter fishing to where it once was ? The name " Perch fishing capitol of the world" went away with the high water levels.

It wasn't uncommon to catch 50 or 100 nice big perch in a day. The flats west of Ziebach pass were 3 or 4 feet of water under the ice back then.

Good Memories of those years, Lone tree was the furthest from Ray's bait shop I ever went for many years, There was no need to go any further. Not many will many recognize that language.