This has been years in the making but I believe we are truly seeing the repercussions currently of it. I think if a person thinks back 10 years to what has been going on in Devils Lake it starts to make sense. We are currently in the midst of a very tough ice season on Devils Lake, Weather no doubt has been a challenge this year but there remains pretty big issues with the "Perch Capital Of The World".
I firmly believe that the perch simply are not there in numbers anymore on DL. The G&F has not stocked any perch in DL in many, many years and the results are now showing themselves. Ice fishing is not the same as it was even 10 years ago with the massive advancement in technology and now wide use of forward facing sonar technology. Currently there are MANY guides operating on DL and the constant "perch problem" is being talked about. With the absence of perch, the focus turns to walleyes which are also starting to feel the effect of increased angling in my opinion.
The NDGF has operated under a "minimal restriction" method in regards to Devils Lake for many, many years. No regulations on size, no regulations on fishing timeframes, no regulations on the numbers of guides and outfitters and no stocking of the yellow perch. I firmly believe that the NDGF needs to change their operating plan for Devils Lake. I asked 5 years ago at the spring advisory meeting on the status of the Devils Lake perch population. NDGF Fisheries Chief Greg Power's response was that we needed more water in Devils Lake to flood vegetation. Now remember, 5 years ago we were less than 10 years from the all time high in DL and if you go back 30 years, 25+ FEET above that level when Devils Lake had a booming yellow perch fishery going on.
I question the creel studies done on DL and seriously question the management plan on this lake. There remains many walleyes but the general size is in decline with most of the pressure now on walleyes with the absence of perch. I look forward to future advisory meetings and would like to hear something from the NDGF on the results of their current management. The fishing deal has changed greatly. Non residents largely hire guides and are taken to the fish that exist. Gone are the days that many come and look for fish on their own. Currently there are over 150 winter guides operating on Devils Lake during the ice season. For the future of this fishery when history would suggest we continue to trend lower with lake levels, I really think some focus needs to be put on and ramp up stocking efforts and in the meantime look at different management strategies than what have been practiced for the last 15 years.
I have ice fished Devils Lake for 25 years and it has changed greatly. I, along with others hope to see some change on this body of water.
Interesting read,been years since ive fished d.l.,years ago our goto perch hot spot was 6 mile bay,evening hours our ice holes filled with fresh water shrimp attracted to our shack lights.
As far as creel surveys,been thru this on our premire walleye lake from years passed ( mille lacs lake) before trible gill netting which all but shut down our non native sport fishing.
But before slots started creel ppl were at every public and resort access,no problem at first checking our catch until we were informed dnr was compiling data for slots,so when checked...slow fishing sir,no fish. By mid 90's slots,first year 6 fish daily limit 14 to 16" walleye limits and no possession limits for non native sport fishermen, then following year 4 walleye limit,then two walleye then catch and release only,we had a couple years of no live bait or night fishing all this as natives slaughtered the walleye population.
My point is maybe ND gfp folks are leaning towards slots? And if they are creel ppl are not your friend but looking out for lake health and species population. Just a thought that slots might be on the radar,,no more catch and keep breeder females,ideal healthy spawning female eyes 19" to 25"s is what these ppl told us.
Today mille lacs is busting at the seems walleye population two fish keep limit 19 to 21"s or one over 28"s trophy eye.we ice fished last winter during a no keep winter season just cpr'd walleye bite hot n heavy on mid lake structure all fish caught were 25" to a couple 28's big perch mixed in.,this slot deal killed the tourist business around the lake,mom n pop resorts and restaurants belly up,alot of places burnt down mysteriously local natives plan has been to take land back around the lake and 12 mid mn counties by choking off the tourist business local tribes with a pocket full of casino $$ buying up lake shore property for pennies on the dollar. So curious if slots will ever hit the mega ND walleye lake D.L..
